Whittington, North mid or UCH??? Help!!!

[Babycino81]

Sorry for a post that has been answered in the past but I'm looking for recent experiences from each hospital. Ill be living nearest to the north mid when I'm due (I was born there too) but am worried about the reviews which are fairly dated now and things may have changed??? Also, although stupid, parking at Whittington and UCH seem to be a recurrent theme in negative reviews???

Ultimately, I would really like a water birth for various reasons including that I've geared myself up for this and would appreciate any (good or bad) shared recent experiences.

This is my first baby so I will be visiting the hospitals but due to DH working away and me being up north, it won't be possible to do so until nearer my due due ( sept 2013)

Thank you in advance x

I had a water birth at the Whittington and it was fantastic. The midwives were all so great, I was relaxed enough that I could do it with no pain relief which was down to both the water and the general atmosphere. Afterwards they brought us tea and toast and we were able to stay in the room all day until we were ready to leave. I can't recommend it enough! I've written my experience in a "birth story" thread on this board if you want to read it. Congratulations and good luck!

Avoid North Mid.

I had DS at the Whit in early 2011 and spent 7 days on the post natal ward. I can't fault them other than the usual little niggles experienced in all London hospitals under pressure.

I'll be having DD there by elcs in October this year and have so far had very good antenatal care (consultant les with extra scans).

I don't know anyone who drives to appointments (but I did get dropped off by car in labour and will do again for my cs). It's got good tube and bus access.

I had a great experience at UCH. The antenatal care was really good (always seen by doctors for all my scans) and because it's a teaching hospital I think they attract a really high standard of doctors, which is important if things don't go quite to plan - I ended up having an emergency c-section and although it was scary I felt totally confident that the staff knew what they were doing and it would all end up ok, which it did. For that reason I can't tell you about the birthing centre because I didn't get to go there, only to the labour ward. Aftercare was as good as can be expected in a busy hospital, I think.

Parking is obviously a problem because there's no car park, but if you go in at night there's usually somewhere to park in a metered space nearby. There's an NCP car park between Euston and Kings Cross stations (I'm not suggesting you walk from there in the throes of labour but maybe DH could move the car there if you're in for a while?) We were lucky that I went in on a Sunday so no parking problems. You can also park up outside for a few minutes to drop off and to collect you and the baby and the car seat when you're on your way home.

One more good thing: the food is godawful but you're a minute's walk from Tottenham Court Rd so DH can bring you in supplies! I could have wept with joy when mine turned up with a takeaway

Good luck!

Thank you all for your replies!!! Think the north mid is defo off my list now! X

I had my ds 6 weeks ago at UCH. I was induced, so on labour ward, but midwives & facilities were great. After-care was great too. Couldn't fault it.

I had both my DC at the Whittington in their fabulous Birth Centre (water births each time), the first 3 years ago and the second 2 weeks ago. I can't rate the facilities or staff highly enough. Both times I felt fully supported and enabled to have exactly the birth experiences I'd been hoping for (in part down to luck though, as there's only so much they can do to help you have your water birth if the baby decides it's not coming out or you start wanting an epidural/need intervention etc). But I had absolute confidence and trust in the midwives there, which was very important for me, and during labour and post delivery the care and attention we received was exemplary.

The parking though was a pain - we found a spot on site outside the labour ward, but it's £3 an hour and we ended up with a £30 fee to pay! Didn't seem so important really in the grand scheme, when you're taking a new baby home with you at the end of it, but it was undeniably expensive, and also not many spaces available. There is meter parking on Highgate Hill not far from the Labour Ward, but in day time hours this can be limited to 2hrs max, and the traffic wardens are very hot on their job - I've been done there before! Probably okay to leave your car overnight on Highgate Hill/surrounding streets though as it should be free after 6.30pm?

Hope this helps! And good luck with making your decision!