Are you booked into Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich?

[LadyBee]

Can you tell me what the official name of your purple maternity notes book is? I delivered there in April, and am in the process of requesting a copy of my notes and want to make sure the request goes through smoothly by using whatever name they call them...I just don't know what that is!
If anyone out there could tell me what it is, I'd be really grateful. If there are different sections for antenatal care and the actual delivery bit, could you tell me that too?

[LadyBee]

anyone?

[Forensica]

Hi, I have swapped under their care recently (from RL). I am looking at the notes and they do not have anything written on them which would give them official name. Sorry. From Royal London the notes are called Antenatal/Labour Casenotes, so I guess you could try to call them like that.
Also the QE purple book contains several sections - Antenatal appointments, Antenatal Admissions, Labour/Birth Notes and Postnatal Notes.
Hope that helped. Also, I hope that you had a good time there I am being curious as I am giving birth there in January.

[LadyBee]

Thanks Forensica, that's really helpful - especially the divisions of the notes. I can just imagine them not sending me all of it because I only asked for antenatal or something.

I found QE absolutely fine, you've probably been for a scan there already? If not, it's a nice surprise after the Royal (I also transferred there from the Royal after moving house). It's a new hospital so the facilities look clean and spacious - the delivery rooms are all ensuite, there are some private rooms available that you can request (although I think if you have a c-section they prefer you on the ward so it's easier for them to keep an eye on you). I had the room with the pool, which is what I wanted. I did end up with a c-section, and I want to ask the head midwife a couple of things about what happened, but it was not a great disaster, so please don't worry
I had a painfree and effective epidural when I asked for it and the surgeon who did my c-section gave me a small scar and I had a quick recovery.

I think my biggest tip for QE is to make sure that if you aren't getting the support you think you need from the midwife assigned to you, don't be shy about asking for someone else. Maybe get your birth partner to do it. And if you're not happy being on the ward (it can be a bit noisy), ask for a private room!

[Forensica]

ladybee - thanks for the tips, I will remember that :-) I had one scan private and the second one at RL and that reassured me that QE must be better. The creepy cellar like feeling from RL was just horrid. I am glad that you had a good experience, even though it ended with CS. Hope you will find out why this was. Good luck!