Hastings or pembury?
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Congratulations on your pregnancy. We are booked in for Pembury for our birth! I would advise getting registered sooner rather than later with them as it took a while for them to get us on their system. We have still had all appointments for midwife and scans in Eastbourne. Hope this helps.
Pembury was fantastic for me! Everyone was so nice. Was there 3 days; induced and ended with c section but was lovely people throughout x
I didnāt have a problem with Hastings, the only thing I will say is after Iād had my stitches etc they didnāt help clean up the pads I was laying on, which wasnāt exactly very helpful, but all the midwives were really lovely and so were the doctors, I was meant to have my little girl at Eastbourne then it all went a bit wrong and unfortunately had to transferred over š
Conquest was great apart from the bank staff on overnight, so if you don't have to stay in I think it will be good. Haven't heard anything about pembury so couldn't say
Majority of the midwives were good at conquest. Birth was fantastic. Only downside (which did traumatise me a bit) was I was in Labour, didnāt want to go home (was only 1cm). They admitted me to the ward, sent my partner home, moved me to a bay on my own (think I was too noisy but ya knowā¦ Labour isnāt pretty!) and left me one side of the bed with gas and air and all of my belongings the other side of the bed, along with the call bell. I knew I was due pain relief (Iām a nurse) but they wouldnāt give me anything. Also when I called for help she came and said āI canāt come at the moment Iām on the phone to an interpreterā. The delivery suite was great though but I think they lacked empathy. I was also having back to back Labour and they said āno wonder youāre in painā. They even told me to contact my partner to get him to come back, which I think they shouldāve done.
I had a consultant led birth at Hastings and had a great experience. In fact, one of the best hospital experiences Iāve had. I had a great midwife (Kerry) and student midwife (Davina) and I couldnāt have been happier. Went in at 3cm and they kept me in as contractions were constant. Whilst consultant led, the midwives very much kept control of the room until the end when I needed an episiotomy. Dr tried to explain the after care I needed for stitches but asked her to tell me again in the morning as couldnāt think straight and she came back at the end of her shift when I was on the ward. The matron of the delivery ward came to see my baby too. The midwifeās and HCAs were angels, the paediatricians doing the checks with my LO were thorough and really loved babies. I honestly donāt have a bad word to say about Hastings, even with birth partners not being able to stay overnight. I hear with Pembury that they can stay as all have separate rooms afterward.
Iām in Eastbourne and everyone I know thatās been to Hastings has said itās so hectic and not calm and the consultants will always try and get involved or will push for things just to make it faster when you should be relaxing and be calm to help it along. Every midwife in Eastbourne says to avoid Hastings if you can but as Eastbourne is only a midwife lead unit Iāll need to go to conquest if thereās any complications before, during or after birth x
@Kirsty I live in Eastbourne and had all my antenatal apps there and no midwife said that to me and my experience was positive to be devils advocate. I have heard mixed reviews for both hospitals (besides pembury)
@Lauren when did you register? I have my next midwife app in two weeks, did you go through her or direct to pembury?
@Shayne that sounds a but traumatic, sorry you had to go through that but glad they called your partner back
Im at pembury now been here a week so far, not sure if Hastings do this but here you get your own room and your partner can stay with you x
@Emily Iāve been in Eastbourne for all appointments but was sent to Hastings a couple of times for my HG and there was quite a difference, maybe just as Hastings is so busy. But the atmosphere in Eastbourne just seems so much calmer in general
@Maggie you need to register through them yourself. I just googled it and filled in the form.
@Kirsty I agree Eastbourne is calmer, I was under their care post partum and it was lovely. I went to Hastings for reduced movement and suspected pre-eclampsia pre-birth and it was admittedly busier. I only encountered one rude midwife in Hastings. For delivery and recovery that was amazing. As I was giving birth the home birth offering was pulled and midwife strikes were happening, Eastbourne defo has its perks
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@Maggie I had to text him as I was in too much pain to phone, but only because they realised my Labour had progressed and I was going back to the delivery suite. They didnāt even offer to call him.
@Shayne that's so bad!!!
@Ellie no, I don't think partners can stay
Pembury was amazing when I was in labour and during and after my c section and hasting was amazing for the NICU unit as my son got moved there as it was closer to home xx
I live in Hailsham and opted for Conquest. I had a long labour so spent a few days there & had a C section when I didnāt get past 6cm but every single staff member we encountered was incredible. They were all lovely, nothing was too much to ask. So can highly recommend.