St James - Leeds - a few questions?

[Mandyblur]

Hi everyone,

I wasn't sure which section to post this in to try and get as many people that have given birth in St james as possible.

A few questions really if anyone could help.

Do st james provide bean bags and floor mats for labour? I want to try and stay as active and as far away from the bed as possible as i have posterior labours due to the shape of my uterus.

Also regarding feeding, i have chosen to bottle feed, will i need to provide my own bought milk or do st james provide it? Will they try to force me to breast feed? (i had this with a previous birth in sheffield)

All in all did you have a good experience?

Sorry for all the questions but i want to make sure everything goes smoothly x

 

[Numero_uno]

Hiya, I had my lo here in September, I don't know about the bean bags as I Was induced as my waters went and 24 hours I still wasn't in labour so was stuck to a bed but the staff on the delivery ward were fantastic, they really made me feel at ease and comfortable.

I don't know about bf and bottles either, as I did manage to bf so didn't need any formula but we didn't take any in as it was something I forgot about completely, try giving them a ring as you don't want to have to get someone to rush out for some when baby is born. The midwives didn't pressurise me at all to bf. they were all lovely, I think they we quiet that night as I had loads with me but honestly they were all amazing!

I wasn't too keen on the ward but think that's because I couldn't wee and the mw kept coming in and pestering me every 30 mins until I weed unless I would end up with a catheter and stay in for 24 hours so I think that's why I didn't like the ward. Plus I'd never been in hospital before so I just didn't like it in there, I was lucky and came out the same day, I'd have gone mad otherwise!

 

[alicecooper]

I've had all three of my babies at St. James. However I was induced, and I did breast feed lol, so I'm probably not going to be able to answer your questions that well!

I DID see them bring in a birthing ball for somebody who was contracting on the antenatal ward when I was in to have my DD (before they moved this lady to the delivery ward) - so I know at least that they have birthing balls. As for bean bags and mats I'm not sure.

I shouldn't imagine they would FORCE you to breastfeed. When I had my babies, nobody asked me if I was going to breastfeed. I was passed the baby and told that skin to skin is good, but they didn't mention about feeding.

You're welcome to read my birth stories if you like (just say if you'd like to), but as I say, my situations weren't much like yours.

All in all though, the midwives were excellent. Almost all of them had a very good bedside manner. The ones that were in with me to actually delivery, were lovely. Had a very nice lady for my first called Dee. For my second, I had a lot of problems as the cord was around DS's neck. The staff couldn't have acted quicker - they immediately rushed in a lady who knew exactly what she was doing (don't know her name - think she was a surgeon or ob or doctor or something (as opposed to a midwife). Without her it's possible both DS and I might not have made it. And with my third I had a lovely lady and a student lad (he was only about 19) who were very patient and kind and nice with me.

No real complaints about St. James to be honest. They knew what they were doing and got the job done. I wouldn't have gone back after having had DD to give birth to the other two there if I hadn't been happy with it there.

This baby is going to be my first in a different hospital and I'm dead nervous! I'm used to St. James!

 

[superbecks]

There are bean bags and floor mats, birthing ball etc. Also depending on when you are due they are having a new active birth room and birth pool fitted. They provide formula milk too, sma, aptamil or cow and gate x

 

[Mandyblur]

Fantastic! thank you for the replies ladies its very much appreciated x