Where to give birth in central london - can't afford private

[IlanaK]

I have just found out I am pregnant with my thrid child - it was a bit of a shock!

My first was born in Basildon and my second was born in London at St Mary's. Both were c-sections (an emergency and than a planned).

I am only 5 weeks pregnant, but need to visit my GP to "register" and as I am considered high risk, they will want to attach me to a hosptital straight away for consultant appointments.

The thought of going to St Mary's again is too much to bare - they were just aweful last time.

What are my other choices? How does it work? Do I have to be local to a hospital (obviously this would be more convenient) or does a hospital further away have to take me if I choose it? Last time I picked St Mary's as I moved from Essex half way through pregnancy and it was the closest. This time I need to think more carefully about it.

[drosophila]

I wanted to use Kings in London as my nearest - St George's - was a place to be avoided I thought. I had a battle to get in and had to write a letter saying how much I wanted to use their fantastic hosp. They agreed in the end and I had dd there.

Not sure if they were so fantastic though. They were very busy and I nearly had dd in the car park. Having said that once I got in to the hosp for the 30 mins before her birth I had 2 fantastic midwives and they picked up a rare condition DD had that they treated straight away and oculd have made her brain damaged had they not picked it up. I suspect they were quicker than most at picking it up. Having said that the condition would probably have been avoided had they admitted me when I first turned up. Swings and round abouts....

[IlanaK]

Where is Kings and what was the postnatal care like?

Thanks

[artichokes]

Where do you live? I would highly recommended Queen Charlottes. It is a specialist NHS maternity hospital. It is in Hammersmith, West London.

[IlanaK]

I live nera Baker Street station. I could get to Hammersmith if they would take me.

[artichokes]

Oh, they may not take you if you are in Baker Street as it is a very popular, and over subscribed hospital. No harm in asking though.

I think your nearest hosital is UCH. I am not sure what their maternity unit is like but you could search the archives here as I know people have discussed it in the past.

[frogs]

I've had three at UCH and rate it highly. The Birth Centre is particularly good, but may not be an option if you're high-risk.

Mine were all born pre-the move to shiny new building, though.

[artichokes]

Ah - no need to search the archives, a UCh expert has found you .

[ScottishMummy]

some links for you. i hear UCH is ok, and St Mary's paddington
healthcare commission

review of maternity services",

[Egg]

I liked Chelsea & Westminster and it's not too far from Baker St. I think you are supposed to choose one that is most local to you. My GP told me each time what the options were when I told them I was pg, and I then chose which I wanted. However it is worth asking if you would prefer a different one, esp as you are considered high risk so want to get the right care.

Congrats by the way!

[frogs]

Though last time we had one of these, the UCH-ites were trounced by the Whittington-ites. Whittington probably not your manor, though in Baker Street. Sound your GP out re UCH, they usually have opinions. Or make an appt to go and see.

[MarsLady]

UCH!

[MarsLady]

Why are you high risk? If you don't mind me asking?

[stepfordwife]

the birth centre at queen charlottes

[tigger15]

Do you want to have another elective or a vbac? If you're high risk for any other reason then you can find out if any of the hospitals have specialist clinics for that specific thing.

Your are very close to UCH but as with most hospitals there are people who love it and hate it. 2 of my friends went there recently both had cs (one was trying for a vbac the other it was her first and went rather wrong and she was very unhappy about some of the treatment she received during labour). The maternity wards had cockroachs.

I went to st mary's and would agree that certain aspects were not great particularly the aftercare but at least no crawling insects in the showers!

Whittington is accessible and some people I've known have had good experiences there. Kings you could get the tube to but it's not that close, same goes for C&W and QCs.

I think you can request anywhere but it has to be done early as they get quite booked up. If you have any special medical condition and the hospital runs a specialist clinic that might help you get in.

[IlanaK]

UCH is definately close. I thought they were building a new maternity unit there - anyone know if it is finished? Coackroaches does not sound good!

I just can't go back to St Mary's - too many bad memories. The doctors were excellent and I can't fault the c-section team. The after care was appalling and the ward was absolutely filthy.

I am high risk for a variety of factors. Thyroid problems means needing to be seen in thyroid clinic regularly throughout pregnancy. Very very overweight puts me at high risk too. Last section had some problems (not doctors fault) so I imagine that is going to be an issue too.

[tigger15]

Try calling all the hospitals people have named and ask them if they do specialist thyroid clinics, what tests they'll run, how they'll monitor, how often they'll see you. You'll know what the important things are.

Then chose on that basis.

I'm afraid most London hospitals aftercare appears to be pretty poor. I also have rather bad memories of aftercare in st mary's in particular one member of staff but a friend of mine who was there a few months later said that person was really nice to her. Just a matter of luck I guess.

There's a thread on how to discharge yourself early here...

[Bundle]

i'd say UCH. friend just had c/s there and no problems, even though it was in the "old" bit of the hospital (margaret pyke)

other centralish option is st thomas's but don't know a lot about it. but it is sarf of the river

[Bundle]

there's a lovely endocrinologist at teh royal free, mr vanderpump.

[TheBlonde]

Thyroid clinic at St Thomas' is fine
I doubt you will find great aftercare and lovely clean wards anywhere in London alas

[NoviceKnitter]

I had DD at St Thomas's and it was excellent. Post natal ward overstretched, as everywhere, but I was glad they prioritised the labour ward in terms of resources.

[TheBlonde]

yes I thought George's was dire and wouldn't go back

[wilbur]

Another vote for St Thomas's here. I had a "high risk" vbac there (high risk due to other medical factors not the vbac) in 2003 not long after its major refurb. Slightly understaffed on the night I went in, but the care in general was great and if dd hadn't insisted on having such a speedy labour, I'm sure they would have sorted the staffing out before she arrived!

[MarsLady]

Having doula-ed in most the hospitals mentioned I think that you'd be fine in UCH. I have yet to see a cockroach etc but don't think that many (if any) of the hospitals are much good with the aftercare and the bathrooms etc. Whittington also a favourite of mine. The new unit in UCH wasn't finished when I was there last (about 6 weeks ago) but the staff are lovely.

[artichokes]

Out of interest Mars, as a person that has seen most London materney units, which would you vote best overall (irrespective of location)?