Royal London Hospital birth experience?
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I think every hospital will have its good and bad ways dont go off what i say some mums would have had a better experience this was in 2022 x
Where are you giving birth? On the ward or on Lotus?
No idea, but I read 3 months old negative reviews so I am very anxious
I gave birth on the lotus ward it was amazing. All natural though apart from pethidine. Huge room with bath ball and loads of other things
I had my other son in the normal delivery ward was terrible and understaffed
I’m also considering the lotus birth centre that is at the same hospital. I wonder if it is possible to arrange a visit there
@Ornela it's so worth it
How do I apply for Lotus Ward??
I had my baby in February in the Lotus Birthing Suite. Very large and spacious and my midwife was absolutely amazing! Vaginal delivery with paracetamol followed by gas and air.
I’m sure everyone will have had varying experiences and it’s pretty difficult at the moment with staffing and various strikes. But I had a really good experience and will be going back there in the future for my second baby
I had my 2 kids there, 5 years ago and 11month a ago. Essentially it really depends on who is caring for you. I found some midwives very nurturing and empowering, some others were cold and rude. Being under staffed and under lots of pressure does not help. But both birth went smoothly even though first one was very long. I think it will be the case in any hospital really, so just stick to it as it is a great hospital 🏥 and just make sure you and your partner advocate for yourself in case you don’t like something. Good luck with everything !!!
😘thank you all for sharing your experience
@Lea if you are low risk you automatically go to the lotus birth suite which is midwife led, however if you are high risk or need/want intervention (epidural etc) they will move you down the the delivery ward. You don’t need to “apply” for the lotus. My care at the RLH so far has been great, I’m due mid July and plan to go into the lotus birth centre. When speaking to neighbours who have birth there in the last year they said care was good but the post natal ward wasn’t the best (I get the sense it’s like that at most hospitals). All hospitals are understaffed and it will largely come down to who you have on the day and the circumstances that arise. If you’re uncomfortable with the RLH, look into Homerton perhaps as an alternative? You’ll be looked after wherever you go but will likely need your birth partner to advocate for you and what you want, that’s just a reality.
@Ornela they currently don’t do visits but they have an Instagram account so you can follow and see the rooms/facilities.
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I'm going to be at RLH too. I'm a nurse locally and I've heard the worst and the best stories.. but to be honest other hospitals nearby and also very mixed in reviews.. not an awful lot of option!!
I gave birth at RL in September. I was low risk but then had to be induced at 41+6 and I ended up on the normal delivery ward not the Lotus Centre. My labour was great I laboured through the night and it was quiet they left me too it but then didn’t believe I was ready to push! So it was a very very mad rush to the delivery suite but all that was fine the midwife’s were great. I found the waiting time for postnatal ward/ postnatal ward the not great experience x
The staff are absolutely horrible, glad i had mine at St Thomas x
I didn’t have a good experience at the royal London mainly the postnatal ward to blame for that x
I had a planned csection at RLH due to breach position and had a very good experience. The team of doctors performing the procedure were fantastic, the aftercare could have been a bit better but overall I was very happy
I had an emergency induction due to having covid the nurses/midwifery team on the maternity ward where amazing However they were definitely understaffed I was helping them upkeep safety protocols e.g getting them to test my partner everyday and cleaning my own bits so they stayed separated as some of the cleaners were mixing towels bed sheets etc but once moved onto to labour ward it was incredible the girls there were so patient and understanding amazing team After care was a little shody
Really bad experience!
@Damiana why
Horrible, understaffed so the staff who ended up working was overworked and stress so patient care wasn’t the greatest. Put me on a word with a covid positive mum after 32 hours of labour ended in a emergency c section. I had severe anxiety about if i swaddled my newborn correctly i was look at funny by the night midwife on ward . But i did have a great experience with a lady called alice! She was amazing.