Any advice on how to choose between Chelsea Westminster and UCH (Elizabeth Garrett Anderson)for water birth?

[Danielle26]

Have any of you given birth at Chelsea Westminster or Elizabeth Garrett Andersen (UCH)? Am nearing end of my first pregnancy, no complications, and hoping to do a drug-free water birth. Trying to decide between UCH and Chelsea Westminster as to where to deliver the baby. Any advice or experience would be extremely appreciated!

Do you have a choice at this point? Shouldn't you be registered at your delivery hospital now? Some friends have used UCH and recommend although both were not intervention free.

I had a v good experience at UCLH last summer. Although the antenatal care there involves a lot of queuing and waiting around, the birth experience was excellent. Plenty of midwives and doctors, very quick response time for pain relief and other help, excellent breast feeding assistance before you're discharged. I was in the labour ward, not the midwife led birthing centre, although I have heard from a close friend that that is also excellent. Feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.

My sister had her baby at C&W, have several friends who have done so at UCH. Would choose UCH every time, not least because their maternity/birthing centre is nearly brand new.

UCLH in the old building but nearly 4 (!) years ago. How did that happen?!
Would echo handmini's post.
MWL unit v good - helped me stick to my birth plan and managed with v little intervention and no drugs
(usual MNHQ disclaimers apply)
Very best of luck with the impending arrival

Have you checked out how many birthing pools each has and how popular they are?

Thanks for all the feedback, ladies. I was also interested in Edgware Birth Centre and when I went to check it out I was very impressed. My dream is to do an all-natural, intervention-free water birth, and that certainly seemed like the ideal place to do it. 70% of the their births last year were water births.

My only fear was that if anything went wrong, I would have to be transferred to Barnet Chase, and I didn't think it had the best of reputations, nor would there by one-on-one midwife care there, which there is supposed to be at UCH and Chelsea Westminster.

The Chelsea Westminster virtual tour is very impressive, and seems to have a very high approval rating by women who did deliver there, in addition to excellent neo-natal facilities. I am a new arrival to London, so don't know anyone who had any personal experiences at any of these three places and it is quite difficult to make such an important decision! So I very much appreciate all of your feedback and advice.