Princess Royal/ Farnborough Hosp Bromley - any experiences?

[lubella]

Due to give birth there very immanently and would like to hear from ladies who have recently....

ta muchly x

[Nellycake]

Hope this isn't too late. Had my dd there in July. Midwives from admission to delivery were fantastic, couldn't fault them. Two of them on the post-natal ward were a bit over efficient (came across a bit short, but probably just busy). All the rest were lovely. Facilities were good, toilets and shower room were always clean, food was ok. If you have to stay overnight you won't get a lot of sleep because wards are noisy places, but there's not a lot that can be done about that. Good luck.

[lubella]

thanks nelly - I gave bith there on the 13 Dec and yes I did find it to be fantastic, I was sad to leave the aftercare was so good!

x

[DeckthehallswithboughsofhollyL]

Well, those are different experiences from the one I had!

When I arrived at the hospital I was in tears, first baby, contractions, frightened, exhausted (had early labour for about 4 days previous to going in). Was met by a stroppy midwife who told me in a nasty voice that there was no need for me to cry then left me in the waiting room outisde the delivery suite. For 2 hours.

When eventually I was called in, I was left for a further 3 hours and told that I was not dilated at all. When eventually they came back in and checked I was about 7 cms.

Then they found me a lovely student midwife who sat with me for ages, right up until the main event I think.

I don't remember any more than that until DD and I were in the post natal ward. The midwives came round and checked me over, and were really short and abrupt. Didn't give DD a second glance and left her in a bloody towel that they had wrapped her in the night before when she was born. I had to ask for her bedding to be changed and I had to ask for formula for her - none of this was forthcoming.

DH and I had to beg them to let us see a dr for DD as nobody had come to check on her to make sure she was ok. We waited about 4 hours for our request to be met. And then a further 2 whilst they decided whether or not we could go home.

DD was born at 12:13 am and we eventually got out of there about 10pm two days later.

I would never voluntarily go there again and I will ask my GP next time if I can go elsewhere. It was absolutely disgusting.

[lubella]

i agree with the midwife thing deck - my first two were really abrupt but the third was wonderful. However the aftercare I found great - sorry to hear you had a bad exp. when did you have your LO?

[margo1974]

Hi Lubella, I was at the Pru to be induced on the 11th - I had dd #2 in the early hours of the 12th - although I don't think you were on my postnatal ward as 2 other mums on my ward had c-sections and one had a spinal block whilst giving birth.

For others who are interested in the PRU - when I came to the hopsital for induction of labour for my first baby (I get gestational diabetes and have been induced at 38 weeks for both) I went to delivery ward to have my waters broken first thing in the morning. I didn't need gel as I was already dilated. I assumed that I would go straight to delivery suite again this time - WRONG.

This time my poor mum was sent out of the pre-natal ward and had to wait in reception until visiting hours started again (she waited 5 hours on her own). And I got told off because I didn't bring insulin with me - but then again I thought I would be in well established labour by the evening. Both of the prenatal MWs were initially abrupt but seemed to mellow in the time that I was there. The same went for the MW in the delivery suite, as she asked me a question and she didn't get much sense out of me as I was having a contraction when I did answer she then said you could have saved a bit of time by answering me the first time. Again she was better once everything was settled and was very encouraging and delivered my baby without any further intervention. My first was a ventouse delivery. And she stitched me much better than the doctor did with my first - I hardly know that I have stitches this time!

All of the post natal MWs were great, looked after me and dd perfectly.

I think that, sometimes, I have quite high expectations and would like people to be more empathetic than they are, especially in this line of work. But they were efficient and did their jobs and once we got over each initial meeting the MWs were lovely.

I personally opted to have my children in this hospital rather than Lewisham as the parking is crap in Lewisham! The community MWs are great here. It's funny what sways your decision one way or another.