St Marys or Chelsea and Westminster

[acmahony]

HI there,

I had requested to give birth at Queen Charlottes but they are full :-( and my doctor has asked me to choose between St Marys and Chelsea and Westminster. Im from NZ so don't know about either and reviews online arent overly helpful, if you have any recommendations i would really appreciate it.

Thanks so much and good luck with your pregnancy
x

St Mary's is supposed to be the best public maternity hospital in London, I would go with them, have many friends who gave birth there.

I've heard better things about St Mary's (especially the birth centre).

I had mine at St Marys. C&W looks more glam but the obstetric care at St M's is brilliant even though it's shabby and the post-natal wards aren't great, the quality of the staff is superb

I might have to disagree here. My DH works at St. Mary's and asked me to chose C&W over it (and his colleagues agreed). So far the antenatal care at C&W has been excellent I'm 25+4), never had to wait too long, friendly midwives etc. Had no problems with it so far. Yet to go on the tour etc but so far no complaints. I've never been to St. Mary's but I have had heard some horror stories esp about the post-natal wards. And DH's lack of enthusiasm about it has put me off. Incidentally is UCH an option for you? I've heard good things about it and DH recommended it.

Depends what kind of birth you're hoping for. Check out the statistics for both on www.birthchoiceuk.com/BirthChoiceUKFrame.htm?www.birthchoiceuk.com/England.htm. C&W doesn't look so good - nor does UCH. If it were me I'd be at QM's birth centre like a shot.

I asked your question of a couple of student MW's (KCL) this evening - they both said QM without hesitation. C&W doesn't have a good reputation in South London - unless you want a C section, or are going private (for your C section).

St Mary's birth centre was fabulous. Get a private room to avoid post natal wards. Staff were amazing esp after my first birth disaster at kingston. Never did I feel like a problem nothing was too much hassle fabulous.

QM is not the same as St. Mary's though. Kingston has a tie-up with QM so you get your ultrasounds there.
Also look into putting your name down for a private room if possible (post birth) wherever you choose. No guarantee you'll get it though but worth doing.

I'm an expat (if that makes any diff to how one views the NHS!), and another expat friend should be giving birth at UCH any day now. Will be happy to let you know how it goes.

I am pregnant with my 3rd, have had all my care with C&W and can only say good things! The community midwives have been great, and all my hospital appointments etc have been very efficient. one hospital birth and one home (so far, planning a home birth for this one too) have been fine, the midwives were great in both cases! also - i have heard that some hospitals have cut their post-natal midwife home visits down to 1 only, C&W still do the full week / until baby regains birthweight which is a huge help afterwards - i'd definitely check that.