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Pregnancy

Anyone with a positive Mayday Hospital experience?

8 replies

NoseyHelen · 25/01/2008 13:04

I will be having my second child at Mayday Hospital Croydon.

I'll be having a VBAC or an elective C-Section. Whilst I'd prefer a VBAC I have no faith in the staff on the labour ward.

Is there anyone out there with a positive story - I can find lots of negatives ones on the internet.

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serenity · 25/01/2008 13:11

My BF has had two children at Mayday - first time was truly awful, dirty (blood left in the showers), uncaring MWs etc. She was really apprehensive about having her next one there, but she actually had a really positive experience. The rooms were far nicer (I think they'd had a refurb inbetween) and she found most of the MWs to be really helpful. That was nearly 7 years ago though, unfortunately I don't know anyone who has had a baby there since.

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ZakuroFujiwara · 25/01/2008 13:21

Hi.

I know 4 ladies (all close friends) who have all given birth there over the last 4 years - the most recent being November 2007.

All of them have had fairly positive things to say - and have had experiences ranging from straightforward natural delivery to emergency c-sections.

They certainly had no better/no worse treatment than me who gave brith in July 06 at the Princess Royal in Farnborough which is roundly thought to be a much better hospital. Our experiences were all pretty similar.

If you've got any particular questions I could probably ask them for you (none of them are MNetters)

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NoseyHelen · 28/01/2008 10:07

I'd particularly like to know if anyone has had positive experience of a VBAC in the labour ward in the last year.

My friend and her baby both almost died int he Autumn due to their mistakes so I am understandably apprehensive and my own midwife has told me she wouldn't want to give birth there.

I'd like to think I'd have a friendly midwife, who I could understand and who would smile, would monitor me correctly and be aware when things go wrong. A bit of cleanliness might be quite refreshing too!

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NoseyHelen · 14/04/2008 10:06

I thought I'd bump this again.

I visited the labour ward at the weekend and wasn't overly impressed but I am still keen to hear positive stories of the labour ward at Mayday.

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KMUN · 14/04/2008 15:20

Hi Nosey Helen

I posted this (below) on another doom-laden thread. Agree the labour ward looks a bit manky, but in reality it just needs a paint-job to cheer it up. Was there recently for an appointment and heard that they met all their targets last year, so will be getting more cash in near future.

Anyway, here's what I had to say (by the time I got to the Labour Ward, appearance was the least of my worries )

I had a very positive experience at the Mayday in Dec 07, despite a complicated birth, at a really busy time for the hospital just before Christmas. I started off in the very lovely birth centre, but was transferred to the Labour Ward when things became complicated and foetal distress detected. Despite my 18-hours of strenuous effort, my daughter was eventually delivered by emergency c-section. The team were super-professional in the early hours of the morning, performed the op very efficiently and were v. reassuring throughout. As there was no space on the post-natal ward, I was kept on the antenatal ward afterwards, not ideal, but the staff were great and as helpful as they could be, given staff shortages. No stay in hospital is ever a fantastic 5-star experience (food, tiredness, feeling rotten and wanting to go home) and unfortunately some people have difficult births. A lot of this can be down to biology and an understandably anxious state-of-mind if things don't go to plan, rather than treatment from a particular hospital or so-called "mean midwives".

Talking to other London mums, you can expect much the same (hectic) experience from any big, busy London hospital, so don't assume the worst from a few individual horror stories. Take an antenatal class, do the tour, and you'll feel much more able to make the right decision for you. When you're in labour, you'll want somewhere closer to home, for sure, as maternity units generally won't accept you until you're a long way through labour, making that last journey pretty awkward.

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NoseyHelen · 14/04/2008 16:21

Thanks KMUN. I did do the labour ward tour on Saturday (not that impressed to be honest). I think I have to go with Mayday because I don't want to travel etc - as you say.

I'm not allowed to use the birth centre (it sounds wonderful).

How did you feel you were treated by the midwives on the labour ward? Presumably because there was foetal distress you were treated really well.

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KMUN · 14/04/2008 16:30

I had a fab midwife on the ward; ideally didn't want to be on my back and trussed up on a monitor, but just the way it went in the end. She helped me get up every so often when I needed/wanted to and cf. the birth centre where I was left to my own devices at times, she was around all the time and very supportive. Was lucky that there was no shift change with timings and she accompanied me to theatre and dealt with all the stuff afterwards in the recovery room. Couldn't fault her. After patchy ante + post natal midwife experience (different borough), felt very confident with Mayday staff.

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Seeline · 14/04/2008 16:34

I had my 2 there - one 6 years ago (not good) and one 3 years ago - much better. Having said that, i think alot depends on the actual birth. My first was a very long labour and the baby ended up in the special care unit. I have to say the care he got there was excellent. The second time was a much easier birth which i think automatically makes you think you've had a better experience! However, the MW was brilliant and stayed with me all the way through and explained every stage. I think in any hospital you have good and bad experiences. Good Luck!!

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