In 2010 I gave birth to DS1 at the Royal Free, and it was a very bad experience: the antenatal was fairly rubbish (doctors and midwives who couldn't give a damn, basically), but the birth itself was traumatic.
I was told the birthing pool was being used and the birth centre was full and was then taken to the labour ward. I later found out (from more than one reputable source) that they were probably lying: they do that because they can't be bothered with water births and prefer to send mums to labour ward.
I asked for an epidural, but wasn't given one. They kept telling me to try this and that before and never gave me the thing.
Midwife broke my waters without asking! And then she didn't tell me what she was doing. I remember her poking my insides with something and when I asked "What are you doing?" she just remained silent. (I was told I should have made a formal complaint about that, but then two years have passed).
I said I wanted to do the pushing upright. Midwives just forced me to lay down on my back (despite my complaints). I've had a 2nd degree tear (and later what was considered a "mild prolapse), maybe because of the position.
After that I was taken to the postnatal ward, were seen by a very rude midwife but by then I was already so pissed off that I just left and went home, as I couldn't entertain the idea of spending the night there (they tried to bully me into staying, though, and DH and I had to be fairly assertive to be discharged).
A few days later I thought I was having a prolapse, went back to hospital, and was seen was a horrible and rude doctor and an equally nasty midwife. Decided not to bother anymore and paid a private physiotherapist to check my bits and help me fix them.
(Only good things: I was offered several sessions of counselling with a very good counselor because I was considered "at risk of post natal depression" and one midwife stitched me very carefully - she just took the needle from the other midwife, and did it properly. I wish I had asked her name to send her a thank you card!)
This year I found out I was pregnant with DS2, and booked myself in the UCH. It was the best decision.
I've had good antenatal care, most midwives, sonographers, etc were attentive, all the professionals I've met treated me with respect (what a difference).
When I was giving birth I was taken to the birth centre, had my baby in the pool, upright, and - surprise! - only had a first degree tear (which was stitched because that's what I requested on my birth plan). The midwives were respectful, and afterwards I was taken to a room in bedroom, where I spent the night with DH and the baby, leaving the hospital the following morning.
It was a very good experience all around. All the health professionals I've met throughout the pregnancy acted in a professional and respectful way, which shows the difference in ethos between the two hospitals. (at the Royal Free they just treated me as if I was an idiot all the time. And I'm a science journalist over thirty. I can't imagine how they treat a teenage mother...)
I hired a doula this time, as I was so afraid of being treated this time like the Royal Free people treated me. It may have helped (hospital staff tend to treat you better if you have an advocate, like a doula), but the difference in the behaviour of people in both hospitals couldn't be clearer.
I decided to write this post because I see there are some posters here, who work at the Royal Free, who claim the maternity services there are being improved, but that was not what I've seen. Said poster has been in MN for years, and during all this time it seems things at the Royal Free have mostly have been the same. In 2009 I made the mistake of believing things were getting better and decided to give it a try. I wish I hadn't.
If you absolutely have to give birth at the Royal Free, make sure you meet a supervisor of midwives beforehand, hire a doula if you can afford it, make it clear (way before the birth) how you want to be treated and that you're not buying their bullshit when it comes to the birthing pool or the birthing centre (or the epidural). And have in mind some midwives are not remotely bothered about your well being, but more concerned about their own convenience (hence putting me on stirrups to push), and you will have to challenge that.
Or maybe you can try a home birth, as it seems that the community midwives are better than the hospital ones. And pray for not having to be transferred to hospital during labour.
Well, hope this rant is useful to someone. And, well, thanks to the staff of UCH for the healing experience.