I've chosen Queen Charlotte's for this baby's birth, now my friend has told me a horror story

[arabella2]

Should I change? I am only 11 weeks and have not had a booking appointment but have told my GP that I have chosen Queen Charlotte's (because they have a birthing centre there)... Since then my friend has told me of her friend who had a caesarian when having twins. They forgot to give her the injection which forces the uterus to contract afterwards and start expelling blood and so it filled up with blood. It was only when her SIL noticed her very low blood pressure and said something about it that something was done and her life was saved because she could have died.
I figure this has happened in most hospitals, or certainly all hospitals have their horror stories so there is no point in changing????

arabella2, I should imagine that every hospital has hundreds of similarly horrific stories. I would stick with Queen Charlottes if I were you.

I had a similar experience at Chelsea & Westminster.

I would stick with QC too, I'm booked in there and they've been excellent. Every hospital or practice will have screwed up somewhere down the line, but I don't think that has to reflect on the overall standard.

Arabella - I had totally brilliant care at Q.Charlottes (elective caesarian). All the theatre staff were wonderful, good midwife, and post op care was good, and if you can, try and get an amenity room. You can only book them "on the day" but it really helped me to have my own bathroom etc. Having said that, it is all so brand new there that the ward facilities are really good too. My only gripe was the ante-natal appointments - had to wait ages every time!

I was at Q.Charlotte's and the care we received was fantastic. If you're lucky enough to be on the one-to-one midwife sceme its even better. AS mimsmum says the amenity rooms are lovely and really clean - get one if you can.

Their advice sessions/talks are good too - the doctor's session (was with a consulatant obstetrician when I wnet) was particularly helpful & very reassuring.

Ii've heard nothing but good comments on Q.C. If or when I am next pregnant I intend to go there, my genetic consellour advised it as well as they have the best equipment re scans etc and basically everyone has only ever sung their praises. However 'mistakes' will happen everywhere it's just one of those things, people are only human!!! The story you told is awful and that poor woman must have been in all sorts of a mess and I doubt she'll ever set foot in the place again, but I don't think it should put you off going there, thy have an excellent reputation.
good luck with the pregnancy, and the birth - enjoy!

This happened to me at St Mary's and my friend at the Portland. And that friend said it happened to a number of her friends at different hospitals. In our cases we did get the injection but the failure of the uterus to contract still happened--we had to get another injection afterwards. Like Thomcat I've heard nothing but good things about QC. And like SamboM said, all hospitals have horror stories.

Although I too, had a bad experience at a hospital. I suppose that every hospital is bound to have horror stories. After all unfortunately not all doctors/nurses/midwives are infallable. I think that as long as you are well informed about the reasons you are in hospital and read as much info as possible on childbirth, then at least if you think something is not right you could question it/ get 2nd opinion. Make sure your birth partner knows the score as well as they are less vulnerable and more likely to kick up a fuss.