which hospital in Herts: Lister, QE2, Watford?

[orlando35]

I am in WGC and having read some not so good comments about the QE2 am unsure whether to go for this option. I am actually thinking of having home birth with birthing pool but would be transferred to QE2 if necessary. Am wondering if this unit is being 'run down' as it will close next year? Any experiences of any of these hospitals?

Yes I work in your area and echo your feelings about QE2, from my experience they are not greatly supportive of homebirth either. TBH if you're just transferring in from a homebirth it doesn't matter really where you go as you'll be going in for a reason and QE2 is by far your nearest.

What about Harlow? you could probably do that in less than 45mins (no further than Watford?) - or an independent midwife?

meant to say, have been at homebirths with Watford midwives and they are ace, obv you'd get QE2 midwives, but if they are indicative of the care at Watford it might be worth considering.

I've had 3 at Watford and was very pleased with them - my only disappointment wasn't their fault but complications kept meaning I had to transfer from birthing centre to delivery suite. Last autumn they had even managed to make post-natal ward reasonably ok (usually the cinderella part of the whole service wherever you are, although if you go to the birthing centre you should be able to stay there until discharge and it won't be a problem).

As an added bonus, I am a very fussy eater and the food on the ward was actually edible, something I have never before experienced in any hospital setting .

I had an ELC at QE2 for DD1 - the consultant and his team were outstanding, capable and calm and full of experience. I was home after two days and healed very quickly, and am going to do exactly the same for DD2 in August.

Thanks for you comments everyone. I am going to look round edgware birth centre and QE2. My only concern with Edgware is that if I did need to transfer out it would be to Barnet and I have not read anything good about that either!
Did anyone else find this decision incredibly hard to make? I change my mind everyday, but it is my first baby.