"Very good birth experience April 2014"

I was thoroughly impressed with how Homerton managed the difficult birth of my first baby last week. I felt very safe and secure amidst the hustle and bustle of Templar Ward during my 5 day stay. Overall, the midwives and doctors left me with huge respect for maternity services in general. Once I got to delivery suite I was handled with the greatest care by wonderful Drs and my epidural happened minutes after my request. I enjoyed the good humour an efficiency of anaesthetist and the midwife was a calming and encouraging presence who helped me push when ready. However, I failed to progress and went to theatre for an em, where Drs continued to treat me excellently and offer constant information on what was happening. After my delivery I developed very high blood pressure and temperature, hence my long stay, and was well looked after by the team through my stay. Midwifery and help with baby was outstanding from this point on delivery suite and Templar. Baby had some concerns and the NICU staff were also brilliant and kind. I am also under the care of the perinatal mental health unit and they have been excellent. I have seen the same nurse and consultant from months before birth to my inpatient review - have every faith that postnatal care will continue as same. I felt the care at Homerton was really well co-ordinated for my rather complex case. There were a few negatives - my baby's notes went missing between NICU and Great Ormond St where he had a short stay. They are as yet unfound. I also had a less than positive experience at the very start on 2012 ward, where I was roughly handled (examined) by a midwife while in the throes of labour and made to feel that my cervix wasnt dilated enough to warrant the pain I was expressing. I felt that the 2 midwives on this ward didn't take mine and another woman's labour pain seriously enough or move us out to a delivery suite quickly enough. Templar ward is also very noisy and sometimes too bright late at night depending on who is on duty. However, I felt very safe and happy there and able to call on the midwives for anything I or baby needed.