[Nirvanaliz]

I'm due on 9th March 2007 but am really nervous about going into Jessops as I've never been in hospital before. I'm hoping I'll get to leave after 6 hours providing everything is okay. Can anyone give me any idea what it's like there?

I'm also a bit worried about getting parked near Jessops when I'm in labour, does anyone know where you are supposed to leave your car in this situation?

[Ginger_Kitty]

The carparking situation at jessops is abominable! they built the damn thing on a car park and whenever i've been the bit thats remaining is packed (unless you get there at 6 in the morning lol!)
I've only been an outpatient at Jessops so can't tell you about the maternity stuff, but all the experiences i've had there have been fairly positive.

[Nirvanaliz]

Yep I'm really hoping I'll go into labour during the early hours of the morning or something but knowing my luck it'll be during the 9am rush-hour when it's snowing.

[torin8]

How far away are you - worth getting a taxi?

[doodle]

I can't help with Jessops as I had mine in Derby City Hospital. But just wanted to say that I relate to the wanting to get out of hospital as soon as possible. Try not to pin your hopes on a 6 hour turnaround, if it is your first child they prefer you to be in for at least 24 hours (well down here they do). I ended up being in for 3 days as my blood pressure would not go down and I know that some of that was because I was so worked up about being in the hospital in the first place.

The best thing you can do is to try and relax about the hospital stay. Make sure you have everything you need, including telephone money etc in your hospital bag and if you can, see if you can get a tour of the ward and ask them all your questions, including how long you will be in and if there is any chance of a 6 hour turnaround. I unfortuanlty went in for my child before my hospital tour (I was early) and didn't know anything about the hospital including the telephone policy, it made things much harder for me as I didn't have a clue and no money for the phone.

Good luck, it wasn't as bad as I thought and I'm sure you will be fine.

[yummyyumyum]

when i was in labour and went to jessops there was a carpark available for such but you could only park there free for 2 hours then the car had to be moved.
im sure if you contact jessops with your queries they will assist you best they can.
i was the same as you, never been in hospital before and wanted to leave asap. unfortunately for me my daughter came at 5pm so there was no one to discharge us...i had to stay over for the night.
while i was there i have to say the stay was good.
the staff were helpful and i had no problems at all.

hope all goes well with the rest of your pregnancy and beyond!,
lisax

[Nirvanaliz]

Originally Posted by torin8

How far away are you - worth getting a taxi?

Beighton so it's a fair trek if the Parkway is busy.....especially if I'm trying to strangle my hubby whilst he's driving.

[Nirvanaliz]

I'm starting anti-natal classes soon so might get to visit the labour ward at Jessops with a bit of luck. Just nervous about staying in but it's getting there in time and finding somewhere to park which is my biggest worry.

I know what you mean about your blood pressure doodle - I'd be the same. I'd have chosen a home birth but with it being my first I thought it'd be better to be in a hospital just in case.

[babychickens]

aww, honey, don't worry about the parking - they'll let you into the ambulance bay, right up to the doors, they're hardly going to make you drive around and around between contractions looking for a space. most ladies go into labour at night anyway (or so said my midwife when i raised this problem). plus, you really oughtn't be driving whilst in labour, so i guess you ahve someone to drive for you. they can drop you off at the entrance, come in with you, then when the midwives have settled you a bit, your driver can go and look for somewhere better to park, if needs be. just between you and me, they don't have anyone monitoring the car parks after 5.30pm anyway... . don't call an ambulance, though, it'll just p**s the paramedics off! taxi if you need. don't worry about staying the night, either, i've stayed there for a few nights (before the baby was born) and the staff were lovely, but the food wasn't - arrange for someone to bring you food if you need it. AND, if you do have to stay the night, you won't have to have so many visitors! my husband's whole blasted family came and descended on us within 2 hours of mine being born, and they're all loud, messy, hungry, and thoughtless (yes, i've seen far too much of them over christmas, can you tell?), and didn't leave until about 9pm, when i'd not slept for over 40hrs (and had cleaned the entire house from top to bottom, mowed the lawn, weeded the garden, then had a baby). at least the midwives will regulate how many visitors you can have when you're too weak/tired/emptyheaded/overwhelmed to do it yourself!

actually, i was quite worried about the hospital until i looked around the labour ward. i fancied having a nice big room, so decided to try a birthing pool (although wasn't convinced i'd actually bother getting into it). best decision ever! fantastic HUGE amount of pain relief just getting in the water....so supportive. and cleaned thoroughly with milton between each use, too.

and GOOD LUCK, don't worry, you were built to do it, and you bally well can! get some nice codeine down you, and jump in the birthing pool. i had a fantastic birth (i may almost be the mythical pain-free birth person, as even when it hurt, it was entirely bearable and controllable) at the jessop, and don't think there's much anyone could have done to make it better. other than improve the food.

[samc]

Ooh agree with babychickens - take some chocolate and snacks in your bag. Food was rubbish.

And Babychickens is right about the parking - I worried about it but you go to the doors and then my partner went to move it later.

The labour rooms are lovely and the midwives great. If you get to have a room to yourself - brilliant. But the wards are ok. And like BabyChicken - don't listen to the scary birth stories. It was a breeze. Well ok I admit it stung abit with the stitches so they gave me some gas and air for that.

[SamMT]

I can relate to this as I am a little hospital phobic (odd as I work in one! but thats different!) but what I can say is that whilst it may not be the most appealing accommodation if you think about it from the point of view of you and your babies health the there is arguably no better place to be. The people there are trained to take care of you and have all the knowledge, equipment and expertise there for you. Despite the romantic ideal of a home birth lurking in the back of my mind (and I know this is a personal choice) I think this is one time when I do want to be in hospital
p.s. stuff the parking, i work up that way and always find somewhere, besides worst case what's a parking ticket between friends and contractions?!

[scoop]

When Scoop jr was born, they had a ambualnce bay that also doubled as a car park for those who are bringing a labouring woman, though I believe your partner is expected to move the car at the earliest oppertunity.

I thought the food in Jessops was delish, tryordering off the halal menu, I had some lovely curries while I was there, I always had to order the large portions cos Mr Scoop always seemed to turn up at meal times

Now down to the nitty gritty, this is only my experience, but I didn't find the midwives or obstetricians to be the most helpful. Be prepared to ask WHY, if they want you to do something that you dont agree with or dont understand, and always ask what the alternatives are.

You need to be assertive, and if you're not feeling upto it, your partner neeeds to be assertive on your behalf.

[cosywolf]

Everyone else has told you about the ambulance bay parking, so hopefully that has allayed your fears.

As for the stay, you never know how things will turn out - I wanted out ASAP but ended up with a c-section and cosycub wouldn't eat and I had to stay 6 days. My tip if something similar happens is that they get quite busy with everything going on, and you can get stuck there because they don't get around to you before it's time for them to go off (despite all they say about rushing you out, lol!). What I did, as I was considering tying knots in my sheets and climbing out the window, was tell them very clearly that I was leaving the day after, I was planning to go home early in the day, (and I think I said quite firmly that I was prepared to discharge myself or go over the wall, but I WAS desperate, lol!!! it's probably not necessary.), and I would like to see someone early on about it. They very kindly saw to it that I was seen early on and out by lunchtime.

Don't worry, it's really not as bad as all that, and I met some very nice new mothers. I even let them borrow cosycub to scare the expectant mothers who were coming for a visit - he was 3oz off 11lbs (!!!!) and by the time I left, one of them had popped and we had a laugh about how he scared her into labour, lol.

[PIF_Tails]

Originally Posted by cosywolf

My tip if something similar happens is that they get quite busy with everything going on, and you can get stuck there because they don't get around to you before it's time for them to go off (despite all they say about rushing you out, lol!). What I did, as I was considering tying knots in my sheets and climbing out the window

I know what you mean, I hate hospitals and planned a home birth and after being forced into hospital and having a long and nightmare labour (even my doctor said whatever I went though for future children, it would have to be better than my first labour...)

I ended up in Jessops for a week, one night I was taking my daughter to the Neo Natal ward for her antibiotics and blood tests (every 12 hours) and for some reason they asked me to come back an hour later after the midnight trip.

So at 1am in the morning I am pushing my daughter in her goldfish bowl on wheels from the ward, down the lift and back to the Neo Natal ward, when I saw an exit sign and I really had to fight the urge not to just leave the building but I got out a couple of days later. I hated the place but the staff where nice.

[oracle]

Parking - for mums being admitted - use the front entrance. No need to drive round looking for a space. Once admitted, hubby needs to move the car to let other similarly disposed mums to get in!

The place isn't too bad. It is busy though! There are 7000+ mums having babies here each year. Bear in mind that it was built for 5000-5500 mums per year and you can see why there may be some delays.

Both our younger two were born there. 12 hours for one and 27 minutes for the second. Eldest born in Barnsley 18 hours. Staff at both hospitals were great - couldn't fault them. The docs left us alone and let the midwives get on with it. Nice to know they were there if needed though.

Speak to your midwife if you have any worries. She can answer your questions.

- Oracle

[Nirvanaliz]

Many thanks for all the advice - the tip about parking out front of Jessops is great, what a relief. I was having visions of my hubby driving me round looking for a parking space whilst I was swearing and throttling him.

Babychickens - I know exactly what you mean about visiting relatives....mine are the same and I have a feeling they'll be making an appearance before we've even cut the cord.

Think I will pack a well stocked hospital bag fully of yummy snacks and something for hubby - who will probably be like a rake when I get home having lived on a diet of lucozade and pot noodles.

[stmatt]

Hi

I had a 5 night stay in Jessops 2 years ago and due another in February (but hopefully not as long). I found the food to be okay but its probably good to take snacks with you unless you want to leave your baby alone (with midwife) while you go downstairs to the cafe. They have breakfast rooms on the wards where you can make toast and tea but I never found time to use it because my son always needed a feed. However one of the orderlies used to go and make me some toast and a cuppa and bring it to me.

You'll need plenty of money for the phone and TV station. Its one of those things where you buy a pre-pay card and top up as necessary.

I would defintely reccommend doing the hospital tour because it does allay your fears of parking, where to go etc...

[monstermummy]

Hi,

I was the same, I was adamant that I would go as soon as I could, well, it worked out differently and I ended up staying 4 nights and I felt very well looked after.
The good thing about having stayed that long was that we had breastfeeding cracked by the time I left and I am not sure how well we would have done with that if I could have gone home earlier.
The only thing I would advise you to do is asked if you need anything. I found that everyone on the ward except one member of staff went out of their way to help when asked.

Good luck.

[heartshaped1]

Hi, agree with other posters that in and out in 6 hours probably isn't going to happen, especially for a first baby. Don't worry about the car - you can use the emergency parking and partner / family can move it once you're booked in (or if you have a baby in a rush like I did - after you've given birth!).

Food portions are VERY small - always tick as much as you can or you'll be starving! Also, the wards are VERY hot - take flip flops and don't bother with a dressing gown unless it's really thin - it's too hot.

Totally agree with monstermummy - although I wanted a short stay was in for 3 days as child has a heart murmur but it did really help me to crack the breastfeeding. There's no place like home though! Good luck!

[Liose]

Had both my two in Jessops and I absolutely hate hospitals. With my first, I discharged myself (had her at 10.35am and came home about 8pm) and with my second, had him at 2pm Friday - stayed on the labour ward overnight and discharged myself agains medical advice on saturday... however, if I hadn't been in there for my second, we probably would have lost him.

Here is my little guide...

Parking - just park in the emergency bit and don't worry - that will be the last thing on your mind when those contractions kick in!!!

Midwives- on the labour ward they are absolutely amazing - seem to be much more experienced, sympathetic, empathetic, caring and generally fantastic (as are the support staff) - get to the ward and I personally found a different breed...I had one who was almost just out of college and not really the caring sort and I wondered why she ever decided to become a midwife!

So - am I that stupid you are thinking to go against medical advice?

As I said, I can't stand the sheer hectic life on the ward, particularly with everyone elses visitors, screaming babies and a stuffy midwife. Even though I had had a pretty bad time and they wanted me to stay in - I knew that my best chances of recovery would be at home. I signed whatever I had to to go home. My baby was fine (I had the check from the paediatrician and from a couple of wonderful midwifes who had been in on delivery) and I knew that we would both be better at home...If you are like me and would stress on the ward - just get out of there - obviously don't be stupid and put your baby at risk - but you get visits daily from your community midwife. I found that being at home and being able to use your own clean bathroom and not having to squat over toilet seats and sleeping in your own bed with your own soft sheets much less stressful (not to mention the home cooked food and quiet!!)

I have given these tips before - they sound silly but make sense once you are there...

Take your pillow - there are shortages and the midwives will generally tell you this - if I hadn't took mine for my first, I wouldn't have had one!

Pair of water flip flops for the shower - I couldn't bear putting my feet on the floor - at least with flip flops you can keep them on whilst you shower...

Robinsons juice - after you have given birth you are are generally desperate for drinks and it's good to get fluid back in your body to help you pee...they give you loads of iced water but after labour a little flavour is nice - the only drinks in the machines are fizzy or concentrate fruity which are the last things you want! Use your iced water and robinsons and drink loads!

Always Ultra Sanitary Towels (the blue extra long night ones)- you get the big maternity pads which are like bricks and do do the job - however, use these mega extra large ones as panty liners and you feel more "secure" and don't leak.

It's a hard thing - but you do what you want to do and what feels right and if you don't like what they are doing - tell them! Also - let your birthing partner know your thoughts too just in case anything happens...My other half has always known that if anything were to happen to me - he must never ever leave the babies or if they had to be whisked away - he should go with them. It just so happened this time, I had to be whisked away but I one thing I didn't have to worry about was who was looking after my new baby because other half was under orders never to take his eyes of him.

Neurotic mother rant finished...
Good luck!