Does anyone have experience of the Nightingale Birth Centre?

[JL Dulwich]

Hi

Has anyone given birth at Kings College Hospital Nightingale Birth Centre? My baby's due in December and, after poor experiences with the Early Pregnancy unit last year and the booking appointment midwife this year, I'm considering whether I should go elsewhere.

Thanks

[Sherry]

I had my LO there last September. It was a good experience. I did go with community midwives which may have made the difference. The facilities were great, although the pool took a long time to fill! I would definitely have my next one there. There is also a monthly meet and greet there. I think it's on the first Tuesday? Double check. And you can see the facilities and ask questions.

[Yan]

I had my two children there and I would use it again if I have to. I highly recommend it. The Community midwife was excellent the first time and good the last time. But better that other places for what I hear talking with friends.

Yes, you an attend the labour unit greeting.

Good luck

[JL Dulwich]

Many thanks, Sherry and Yan!

[minette]

I had a baby at the NBC in January. It was a difficult, induced labour and my baby (who is fine now) was very sick when she was born. I cannot fault the professionalism, calmness and friendliness of anyone - midwives, obstetricians and pediatricians - who helped me give birth in the labour ward. Right up until that point (ante-natal ward for instance) my experience was very poor. The NBC are hugely risk-averse and thus let me have practically no control over my labour, they seem to be understaffed as a norm so I was usually waiting hours and hours (6 hours each time on average) to see anyone. This meant that for a considerable part of my labour I laboured on an open ward, which is something they promised wouldn't happen. They wouldn't let me go home, and they wouldn't move me somewhere more private, I spent a loooong time strapped to monitors, which is hugely uncomfortable when in labour. By the end I had to be very assertive and demanding in order to get the support I wanted, which was unpleasant for me, but which they finally did give me.

Would I go again? If I could not find anything better - maybe a hospital which is less busy? I was initially attracted to the excellence of the pre-natal care I received from the community midwives and other specialists that I saw in my (completely normal and drama-free) pregnancy. It is also close to where I live and I did not consider going elsewhere, but with that experience under my belt, I definitely would not go back in a heartbeat. I spoke to my health visitor about it, and she suggested my experience was not atypical. You should go an visit, see how you like it. If you have a straightforward and spontaneous labour your experience is likely to be better, I imagine.