Experiences of the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson hospital in London

[Loulou000]

Hi. I'm booked into the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson in central London and would really like to hear if anyone has given birth there and what it was like. Also, I haven't given much thought to independent midwives or doulas so far, but I've been doing some reading and would like to know whether it might be useful to have one at the EGA if the NHS care's not so good. Thanks a lot.

Poor Conni, what a nightmare.

Hi HappyMum, glad it was better for you! Experiences seem really mixed. Good to hear we can get in a taxi, too - keep worrying about that one.

I had my son there last year in the birthing centre. The midwives do tend to leave you alone a fair bit in the early stages but, for the last couple of hours, I had a fantastic midwife and a student with me the whole time. She really helped me cope and encouraged me to stay in the pool until the end. Couldn't have done it without her.

On the other hand, the post natal care was appalling though - the showers were out of order so I had to wash in the pool I'd just given birth in (which was now empty, thank goodness), by pouring water over myself with a jug. No-one was around to help and my husband was holding the baby so I had to get in and out myself, despite having just had stitches. Not pleasant. I was pretty much left alone on the ward too, which wasn't particularly clean - couldn't wait to get out of there afterwards.

Still, on balance, I'd much rather have had a great birth than good aftercare so it's not all bad...