Where did you deliver your baby? How would you rate you hospital, clinic or centre?

[GoTowerHamlets]

Hi Tower Hamlets Mumsnetters,
I would love to know about your experience at the hospital or centre where you delivered your child(s). Was it good or it could have been better? Would you recommend it or absolutely not? Why?

[GoTowerHamlets]

Come on Mumsnettes, need your help here! No one keen to tell us about their adventures in Tower Hamlets hospitals? Should I offer you a treat so you speak up :)
Alright then. I have a a decaf coffee sample, a decaf tea sample, a few Baby & Me coupons... can look for more stuff if you like...

[Whereisthevalium]

I haven't given birth in tower hamlets but I have heard good things about the bark anytime birth centre.

Oops, autocorrect ^^ Barkantine birth centre.

[GoTowerHamlets]

ha ha ha! Autocorrect can be tricky sometimes. bark!

Thanks for your answer Whereisthevalium. What would you like me to send you? Need a £20 coupon for a pushchair or a £10 for a baby monitor?

Barkantine. It seems great and with a very relaxed atmosphere with birthing pools in the rooms (love to try that!). Looks like a great choice if you have a normal pregnancy. Yet it doesn't have any doctors so in case something goes wrong, you'd have to be transferred to a hospital. I cannot imagine the anxiety and fear of going through that...
Anyone here has given birth in Barkantine?
And how about the Royal London? Do you think the new building will make a difference?

[Whereisthevalium]

I'm thinking about transferring to the Royal London; the new building seems good and I heard the ante natal and birth care (but not post natal) is good. My experience with other medical issues there has been mixed though. But I guess that's just the NHS..? I can't go to the Barkantine because of previous c-sections but would probably try it if my body wasn't so rubbish at natural births.

[GoTowerHamlets]

Oh, so you have a bump right now! :) Congratulations! When are you due?
The maternity services in the new Royal London building will only start working in late February. When are you planning to transfer there?
For what I've heard of this hospital, it's pretty good as you have all the services and good doctors, but it's very crowded and it all depends on the midwife you get. A friend of mine says "you have to fight your way" there. If you feel something is happening or something is wrong, you must make your point.
I guess that happens in every public hospital in London, right?

[Whereisthevalium]

Well, I need a c-section so it will all be arranged beforehand. But I had a friend who was induced in the old royal London and the midwives still didn't believe she was in labour till she started pushing. She coughed up for the Portland next time round...

I am not due till June so ages to make my mind up. What about you?

[GoTowerHamlets]

I'm not sure yet, but around the same time. In the summer. Maybe we even go in at the same time.
I'm going for the scan at Royal London and I'll try to decide after that. A friend really recommended the University College Hospital in Euston, but is a little far away. Do you know anything about it?

[Whereisthevalium]

That's where I'm booked in at the moment. Had a c-section there before and the medical care was great, post natal care was diabolical, truly awful. On the other hand, you're only in for 24 hours so perhaps that part of it is less important. Unless you or the baby have a complication, because I very much doubt those nurses would pick it up.

[GoTowerHamlets]

Oh God! So what to do?! Seems like nowhere is good enough. But babies are born perfectly well everyday, right? I guess we'll just have to trust our female instinct... and fight like mother tigers if something comes up (starting to sharpen my claws...)
I'll let you know how I feel after the visit to Royal London.
Thanks for your opinions! If you have more experiences, anyone, please tell me. Specially if they are reassuring

[GoTowerHamlets]

Oh God! So what to do?! Seems like nowhere is good enough. But babies are born perfectly well everyday, right? I guess we'll just have to trust our female instinct... and fight like mother tigers if something comes up (starting to sharpen my claws...)
I'll let you know how I feel after the visit to Royal London.
Thanks for your opinions! If you have more experiences, anyone, please tell me. Specially if they are reassuring

[GoTowerHamlets]

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby

[GoTowerHamlets]

We are all going to deliver on the same day, wanna bet? ;)

[E14blondie]

Annoying, just lost a long post. 

We moved to Kent from East London, partly as I was worried about having our baby in Whitechapel Hospital. I heard bad things about the standard of care and attitude of the midwives. I also heard that although the new maternity hospital was much bigger, it had the same number of staff - so they could be overstretched and impatient. They did a good job with both of our scans though and it did seem very clean. That said, they also lost my blood results!

I've had mixed reviews on the Barkentine which was up the road from me. If totally trouble-free then it's super - one friend had a great birth there. Another had terrible blood loss and had to be rushed to Whitechapel Hospital. They don't have any doctors or medical facilities if there are complications; you can't have an epidural for example. But I believe they have private rooms and you can tailor your birth how you want it (birthing pool, etc).

[GoTowerHamlets]

Hi E14blondie, thanks for your message!
I've been to Royal London for the scan and for now everything seems good enough. New building, not much waiting. The midwife at first seemed quite unfriendly but it turned up to be very professional and helpful.
At least my first impression hasn't been bad. Yet the problem seems to be once it gets to delivery because you never know who you will find that day...
Yet I think I'm going to stick to hospital even if the pregnancy is normal. Last time I took me around 14 hours (yes, hell) and I feel much safer knowing that if anything goes wrong all of a sudden, we don't have to loose a second being transferred anywhere...
Would love to try the experience of delivering on a birth pool, but baby's safety first.
Let's see what comes. Still 6 month to go... :)