KINGS vs MAYDAY vs ST GEORGES

[nurse95]

I am pregnant with my first baby and have just visited my GP. Due to the baby boom at the moment it is unlikely that I will be accepted at St Georges or St Thomas' which is where I had thought I would like to go to. She has referred me to St Georges anyway and i will find out in a couple of weeks if I am accepted.

I am now worried about where to go to if I'm not accepted. Should I push for St Georges - have any of you got good/bad experiences. If I can't get in there should I go to Kings? I have heard bad things of Kings and Mayday and now am in a fluster.

Any advice would be truly appreciated.

Thank you
First time Mum!

Hi,

I gave birth at St.George's yesterday and cannot fault them. I was very, very lucky to have arrived on a quiet night. The birth was slightly off plan due to a minor complication. But my midwife talked me carefully through various options, checking with me at all points. I ended up having an epidural and the anaesthetist arrived immediately. My midwife was with me constantly and for about two hours after labour to help establish feeding. Because of this I didn't need help overnight so can't really comment on the postnatal ward...but they did make me a lovely tray of tea and toast when I arrived on the ward.

All in all an extremely positive experience. I hope others are as lucky as I was- and fortunate to be in the care of an amazing midwife!

Congratulations cocoachannel! Sounds perfect. Fingers crossed where ever I end up I have the same experience :)

I'e had both of mine at st georges - can't fault delivery with both of them. both ended up as EMCS - second time they were so on the ball and from arriving in the hospital to baby being born was 3 hours. did not have to wait for an epidural and they took me to theatre straightaway once it became apparent that i needed a c section. lovely, lovely staff.

post natal care was much better the second time round. the ward was hot hot hot (it was july) but got better breast feeding support but i think that was because i was insisting for the midwives to stay with me until i got the hang of it.

good luck with whatever you decide. it does really depends on so many factors what sort of experience you have. I just wish the govt would put more money into maternity services...

I had my first at King's, 16 months ago. I think it is similar to any busy London hospital - they are over-run and don't always have time to apply a good 'bedside manner'. However, I can't fault the ante natal care eg scans - I know from friends in different parts of the country that the scans you get are so much more detailed than a lot of other places, both my routine 12 and 20w scans lasted a good hour with the sonographers taking time to explain everything to me. I valued this a lot. As for the delivery, I had to tell them I was about to deliver as an hour earlier she had told me I was 2cm and would be there 'until tomorrow'. MW didn't believe I was pushing until she saw his head.... Not great. And the post natal ward was like a farce. One nurse told me to 'get titty out' and yanked it from my top and shoved it in DS's mouth! We couldn't wait to get out to be honest...
I am now due any day but we are in a different part of the country and am hoping the hospital is a little less frantic.