sorry for my delay in replying I have just come out of hospital (unrelated op)

We were told by the staff that upstairs wouldn't take us. But my husband went up there and managed to talk them into it. It was £££ something like £600 but a quick call to them in advance would confirm what it costs now. They were nice as pie once we got up there.

I also had to have surgery 8 months later as I developed a polyp in the vaginal stitching, easily fixed though.

Next time I am minded to try St John & Lizzies but need to read up on its reputation.

i think it depends on the midwives on duty. Mine were initially awful and I had to fight to get a measly codeine out of them. Gas and air were not offered and when I asked I was told not to start it too soon, though I felt ready to push at that stage and was having contractions every 45 seconds for a minute. In any case, it was never hooked up for me.

I ended up with a baby in trauma once anyone could be bothered to check his heartrate (after five hours being left alone and regularly going out to the midwives station to beg for some care), and was rushed to operating theatre. There I got the much-longed for epidural and was put on a drip to slow down labour and let my son cope.

The care got a lot better once there were problems, though in retrospect the epidural was very much a blessing and curse because it meant i really couldn't push at all when they wanted me to try to give birth naturally (hours later, after being put on another drip to start the contractions up again), then was given a heavy duty epidural back in theatre in case i needed a c-section. baby finally came with forceps ...

the doctors were great, but i had to have surgery six months later because i'd been stitched too tightly to have sex again!

ah, the memories.

Not heard that - they do have a 'natural' midwife led unit without epidurals etc but you can transfer into the consultant led bit whenever you want. I gave birth there and had a lovely epidural!

i had really good care at st. thomas - most of the midwives i had were excellent. I was on the hospital side because of bleeding during labour, had epidural within minutes of requesting one - anaesthetist very good.
post -natally i had my own room because my baby was on special care unit, i think it looked very stressful on the shared wards tho.

City angel, do you mind letting me know how you went about paying for a private room at tommies? I was under the impression that you had to book the full monty of private midwifery etc in advance for your pregnancy and that ends with the private room. CAn you just ask for one once baby is born then and if there's one Available just pay for it??? Also how much was it? You'll see from my post above that while I had a good birth experience the post-natal ward was hell on earth and I'd love to avoid it this time! (due in nxt few days). Thanks.

I gave birth at St. Thomas in 2008 and they run pain relief antenatal sessions where all your questions will be answered.

www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/services/managednetworks/womensservices/maternity/antenatal/antenatalwork shops.aspx

If you're not able to attend one of these courses this might help and your midwife should be able to go into more detail.

www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patientinfo/womens/painreliefduringlabour.pdf

I had a water birth with gas & air in the home from home section. I tested Group Strep B positive using a home kit so I also had anti-biotics administered.

Unfortunately I had a 2nd degree tear so I had to go to the medical side to be stiched up and didn't want to go on the main ward so paid to go on the private ward so my husband could stay.

I was lucky to give birth when it was quiet as my parents saw a number of women in labour waiting to get in. When I rang and explained how frequent my contractions were they told me not to come in. I did anyway and was 5cm dilated and gave birth 5 hours after my first contraction (fast for a first). Go with your instincts and be firm.
Good luck

I had both mine there. First time they saved my and dd's life by doing the swiftest cs known to man after placental abruption, second time I had an elective cs and they were magical then too.

The best advice I can give you is for your dh or dp to be completely on the ball. He is your representative in any difficult situations. My dh watched as dd's heart rate dipped lower and lower down on the monitor, and made an immediate fuss, I had an internal exam, and they found the bleeding and whipped me into surgery, almost within seconds.

In the unlikely event of dc3, I would be back there like a shot even though we now live 100 miles away!

Actually, yes, whilst I couldn't fault the actual birth and I was in birth centre not the home from home due to inclductiom, and as I said they were great, but I totally agree the post natal ward was hell on earth and to be avoided at all costs. Rude over-stretched midwives who offered zero help, mucky loos and showers etc. I couldn't escape fast enough. Such a shame because the post natal night totally ruined what had otherwise been a good experience (despite a long knackering birth).

Hi there. I gave birth there 3 years ago.

Home from Home was lovely, unfortunately once at 10cm my son was still posterior (and had a massive noggin) so had to go to theatre for ventouse (failed) and eventually forceps. Anyway, it took the best part of two hours to get an epidural, during which time I was mostly flat on my back on a trolley begging for help as contractions came. Anaesthatist was "busy" apparently. I asked them to wait until the epidural was in to catheterise me, they did not, and decided to shove it in without even warning me. Contraction hit like a train and I don't remember much after that until theatre.

Aftercare just awful. No help in the night when I couldn't walk and baby screaming needing nappy change. Shower had no wall holder so had to stand holding it over my head and washing with one hand. I could go on but won't! To say I felt violated and traumatised after my time there would be an understatement.

I don't say this to scare anyone, simply to make sure that unlike us, you are a bit more prepared, to stand up for yourself. This is often the way in inner city hospitals as they are so busy. Second birth at Kingston I felt like a VIP!

I'm so glad they remembered their human sides to treat Tinkerbelle with the respect and care she needed...

Tinkerbelle sorry to hear about your loss. I do think you're right though, it's fair to say that when you're in dire circumstances there are few better places, if any, to be than St Thomas's.

It's just a shame the standard of care for those not at crisis point is not so good. But then it's a big London teaching hospital and NHS resources being what they are it is right and proper that the service is best for those in the greatest need...

To the OP, you will need to make your requests known loud and clear. If I was doing it again, I'd hire a doula who knew the labour ward well to be my advocate. It was too much for my DP who had never been through it before and just wanted to be there for me rather than having to order people about.