UCH or local hospital in Kent

[cmsmith]

I'm now almost 31 weeks pregnant with my first child and moved from London to Kent early December and have remained at the UCH hospital for antenatal appointments as it's close to work. I can't fault the hospital in anyway, other then its now a good hour or so away from where i live.

Cant decide whether I should transfer to my local hopsital (which i've heard positive things about and will view with my nct class in a few weeks) which is 5 mins away or stick with what i know and so far love.

I keep changing my mind about what i should do and what will be for the best running through a number of what if scenarios, but i really dont know and keep going round in circles.

My midwife suggested i make a decision by the time i have my 36 week appointment.

thoughts ?

I had both of my children in the WHH and it was absolutely fine. I couldn't really fault them. This was 10 years ago, but if ever I have another baby, I wouldn't hesitate to have it at the WHH, especially now they have a MLU.

It would take me a good hour to get to UCH from where I live in Kent, and that's not counting any unforeseen delays. No way I'd do that.

Grumpty I had my first there.

The ante natal care was good.
Labour care excellent
Surgeon was a bit of a pompous twat whilst I was freaking out (Epidural didn't work but he insisted I was numb enough to be cut)

Post natal care- utterly shocking- the lazy arsed nurses thought nothing of leaving me twice in a piss and blood soaked bed because they were too lazy to come and change my bag- yes they were busy talking about Eastenders and the like...they tutted when they were buzzed

So called lactation expert- a lemon who had me in tears and told me my baby was starving, then had a go at me when I asked for some formula to cup feed my starving baby. In front of a full ward who all tutted in turn (except for the wonderful woman next to me who disagreed vocally with the "expert" when she saw me in a heap).

The ward- so disgustingly filthy that when my mother left me she went back home to get some cleaning stuff for my ward (she was a hospital housekepper in Maternity for 15 years)

I would never recommend anyone go there. Ever.

Blimey Meggle - I had a good experience up until being on the ward, when I felt totally in the way (had to stay longer due to complication) and like a fussy mum - she's not feeding/ she's yellow/ she's sleepy etc etc. Turned out she had jaundice and spent ages in a light box thing! Wonder if it's changed - this was 12 years ago.

Just remembered ds born there 3 years ago and all fine.

I gave birth at the William Harvey just three weeks ago and can thoroughly recommend it. I had planned to give birth in the MLU but pre-eclampsia meant a hasty induction, followed by emcs and unfortunately a night in the High Dependency Unit. All I can say is how wonderful the staff were on all the wards and how flexible they were - even opening up fire exits to allow my daughter to visit me on the HDU (thus avoiding the swine flu patients). They are incredibly busy on the labour ward, but very capable and supportive. I'd be happy to go there again.

ds born there 6 years ago.

Would be delighted if no woman had to put up with such shoddy care from the nurses anymore.

I chose to have my dd elsewhere. It was wonderful! Another level.

William Harvey is good. The new birthing unit is lovely. Previously worked with local midwives in Ashford who are lovely.One advantage of having baby in Ashford locally you will get to know the midvives locally.Which will be great post delivery. William Harvey also has a large neonatal unit.

We had the same issue but I have always been sure to stay with UCH vs Kent. Firstly it is closer to my mums where I would likely be but mainly because if something goes really wrong UCH is one of the best hospitals and is a teaching hospital.
Two counter arguments... proximity-well documented above. Also I do agree with the comments that with a normal labour I think the local hospital would be better, more personalised, less people etc etc. In case of something strange or awful happening I would rather be at a leading hospital.
I dont mean just because it is a hospital in London by the way but because it is a world renowned teaching hospital. I was at a previous London hospital before and the care was very different. It was just as big but my midwife appts were short (booking 10mins with what I thought was an administrator vs over an hour at UCH with a midwife from the labour ward and her student). Some people dont like teaching hospitals as there are students and trainees. Personally I have always found that midwives and doctors behave much better and more thoroughly if there is someone watching and learning from them.
I will also caveat with the fact that a)I plan for the worst and b) females in my family had difficult births and both me and my cousins were saved likely because of the over presence of trainees at UCH. Send me a message if you want the details.
If your local hospital is a teaching hospital with the same standards, ratio of night time staff, and emergency care facilities (some hospitals outside of London have amazing facilities, some inside dont!) as UCH then I dont see why not. If not or you have any likeliness of having a complex birth then personally I would stick with UCH. But then I would say that as I had to make the same decision!

The strong chances are that if I have a normal labour and delivery I will be on here not being happy with UCH with the lack of one to one care, breastfeeding support, being left alone etc etc If I have a complex birth Im quite confident I will be praising them.

Best of luck with whatever you decide. Only you will know what is right for you.

I had DS by CS at UCH. He was extremely premature and the neonatal care was absolutely world class. The wards were not pleasant, although like anywhere it depended on who was on (the midwife who rolled her eyes and thought I was making a fuss when I said I hadn't felt DS move and could I be monitored stuck in my mind- I had been told we could lose him at any time and I should alert them to any change in movements ). I am an hour away too and was transferred in because DS was so small. I would go back for antenatal care next time (the foetal medicine unit saved my son) but assuming all goes according to plan I wouldn't deliver there, just too far.

Sorry bit of a ramble! I would go local in your case I think.

Hi, bit of a sidetrack but somebody on here mentioned looking at hospitals stats to compare them - where would I find these stats? Thanks and good luck OP with making the choice