Walthamstow maternity choices, homerton, whittington or UCLH

[vfe21]

Hi, TTC atm and looking into maternity options for when it hopefully happens. I live in walthamstow (no car) and have heard bad things about whips cross. Although Homerton and the Whittington are closer as the crow flies, on public transport it is quicker to get to UCLH. I have heard good things about these three hospitals and am struggling as to how to choose a maternity ward - whether it is silly to go for UCLH as it is convenient for me to get to ante-natal appointments when it is 8 miles on a car in labour on the day. All views appreciated.

I had my DD1 in May 2010. My NCT group were mainly Whipps and all v. good. One friend had a bad experience, but I'm not sure it would have been different elsewhere. There have now been 3x DC2's at Whipps. One girl went to St George's and a neighbour has just been at UCLH. UCLH, Whipps and Homerton are all teaching hospitals so should be better. Are you high risk? There's a natural birthing unit fairly close to you, that another of my group was booked into, but had to have a CS. Good luck x

The big problem with choosing a distant unit is not just getting there in time (not a prob usually with first babies) but being sent home when not in established labour. Whipps do community based midwife clinics for most antenatal care.There is probably one walkable from where you live. There is a low-risk birth unit at Whipps (Lilac) that now does a lot of waterbirths. There is also the option of home delivery.Another option is the rather lovely Barkentine birth centre on the isle of dogs.

Hi there, just came across this as I'm 5 weeks pregnant for the first time and also live in Walthamstow. I've narrowed it down to Whittington (a friend had a really good experience there, though the post natal ward is busy and loud, your partner can't stay - that may be normal I don't know! - but she just wanted out as she couldn't rest) and UCH (I work in Old St so appts will be much easier for me and I don't know whether I'll be living at mine or my boyf by the time it comes and it is OK from both).
Would be glad to hear any more opinions.
thanksx

Very few units have the space for partners to stay post delivery. The 2 that I'm aware of are The Home from Home midwife unit at St Thomas' and Barkentine birth Centre on the isle of dogs. That's because all rooms are unshared, so partners don't intrude on other womens space.

Hi there, I'm not too far away from you in Wanstead and have chosen to go to Princess Alexandra in Harlow. All my antenatal midwife care has been done locally in Wanstead, only had to go to hospital for routine scans, blood tests at 28 weeks, and two other appts due to minor pregnancy niggles that needed consultant follow-up, have been v happy with my care there on all occasions. I chose PAH not from personal experience but going on the advice of a few close friends who also live around here. That said, most of my antenatal yoga class went to Whipps and were happy with it. We're a 30 min drive up the M11 from PAH, have had tour if labour ward etc and loved it. I have a friend currently attending Homerton with high risk pregnancy and says it's excellent. If you choose UCHL do check with them whether your antenatal care will be done by community midwives in Walthamstow or at the hospital! Baby due shortly.. if thread still here I will post back with my experience

Whoops OP just read you've no car so Harlow might not be an option for you... if we didn't have a car I would probably have booked at Whipps

I had my first at UCH and am going to have my second at Homerton becasue it is closer as the crow flies.
UCH was fine ante-natal but didn't think post-natal care was great, although this seems to be a criticism levelled at most London hospitals. Partly chose UCH because of convenience for work but in reality this works out at about 4/5 appts before you start Mat leave. When I came to have ny baby found the distance a bit of nightmare, especially when things weren't progressing quickly and got sent home for 24 hours after waters had broken, then had to go back again. And this was 24 hours after having gone for my scheduled appointment on my due date. Then got readmitted when baby was 4 days old for another 3 days so DH had to come back and forth a lot. There was also some confusion throughout about living in a "Homerton" area with their midwives and having a baby at UCH.
Homerton is a lot closer to home and have so far found it very efficient. Looks like I will be moving to Walthamstow before this baby comes but think will stay at Homerton as haven't heard great things about Whipps Cross (although no personal experience).

Generally I would say go for somewhere nearer/easier to get to and keep in mind you need to get baby home with various paraphernalia afterwards!

I had my baby 2 years ago. It was a homebirth but they were Homerton midwives and I had all my antenatal care there. No problems at all - they were great.

I'm now a doula so have had a chance to experience births on the birth centre and labour ward as well as other homebirths via Homerton. While it isn't perfect (but where is) I'm a big fan of Homerton and always secretly prefer it to UCLH. I've found them to be responsive, interested, keen to improve if a fault is pointed out.

The facilities are new and shiny and the new birth centre is lovely. They also, unlike UCH, have a real commitment to water birth. If you can't get in one of the pool rooms because they are too busy, or you end up on the labour ward they have mobile pools that can be brought in. At UCH they won't do this in case of flooding so your chances of water birth (if that's what you plan) are lower.

The postnatal wards are a bit grim, but again they are in most places. You can pay for a side room at Homerton if they have one available. It's currently £70 unlike UCLH which charges £250 for a side room.

I've got 2 homebirths with Homerton midwives and a birth centre story on my website here if you want to take a look: hackneydoula.co.uk/?page_id=26

Whipps has quite a few problems at the moment and the facilities, staffing and attitudes are IMO lagging well behind UCLH and Homerton.

I think in terms of travel-time it can sometimes be useful to think about whether you might find yourself wanting to go in earlier than necessary if you have a longer journey (i.e. to UCLH). Most people, once they've learned a bit about the physiology of birth, want to do a big chunk of their labour at home where they are nice and relaxed and not feel any pressure on themselves to leave earlier than necessary in case their labour is still in an early, disturb-able stage.

All that aside, only you know what's going to make you feel comfortable and relaxed on the day!