Royal Free - any recent experiences?

[firstimer30s]

Know they have apparently improved in last few years. Any recent experiences/ tips?
Thanks!

I had my dc3 there. The best birthing experience I've had. The other 2 were in Cambridge and Chelsea and Westminster

Good luck

I had DD1 there in 2012 - started in the midwife lead centre and after 30 hrs transferred into the labour ward as failure to progress then ended up with EMCS. I found the care to be brilliant except for one midwife who I requested to swap (turned out she was a loccum) which they did immediately. I also agreed for a wonderful student midwife follow me and she was a godsend as she knew all the staff and was a great emotional support, almost like having a doula I imagine. The post-natal ward wasn't great but I imagine like all London hospitals they are far too over stretched. Going in tomorrow for an ELCS so will update. Haven't found the community midwife care as good this time as they swap teams regularly but that might be because it's my second pregnancy as well so you don't get as many check ups. A lot of my friends have gone to UCLH and found it to be a good experience too.

Thanks both! Good to hear positive experiences. Nellie good luck with the ELCS!
Agree with you eye community midwives - I never see the same one twice!

I have had DC at 3 different hospitals. In this neck of the woods both Royal Free and UCLH. They were both great in their own ways. My only complaint of I had one would be that the royal free lifts are always so packed, however there is M&S/Starbucks etc close by! Also they are on the fifth floor and when if it is all a but slow you should be prepared to walk up and down them - I have fond memories of this for some reason.

All the staff were great at Royal Free but I do expect it depends on who is on duty etc.

Good luck.

An update for you firsttimer.
Had a great experience with my ELCS on Monday, terrific team in surgery. It helped that I was the only one booked in and there had been no EMCS needed, so very relaxed atmosphere. I was VERY nervous even though second time and they did everything to put me at ease.
Post-natal ward was fine and didn't seem as bad as last time but filled to the rafters again. Not sure if my expectations had been managed by last experience or if it was much better. But managed to be discharged within 2 days and it didn't take all day like last time.
Only thing I really think is shocking is that evening meals are announced but you have to walk out into the ward and collect food from trolley yourself, not great if you are bed bound by epidural or CS. I had DH there to do this for me.
Had the head of my community midwife team do my checkup yesterday and told her about my experience this time around of community care hadn't been as good as last time and she was really responsive and thanked me for the feedback. Said it was good to know as she doesn't know what goes on with her team unless she gets feedback.
All in all if I was to have DC3 I would go back there. Can't highly recommend enough how good it has been to have a student midwife follow your case. Had the same student again as she is now in third year and needed more caseloads.
At the end of the day I think your experience on the day just ends up being who you are lucky enough to get for your care and the birth experience itself.
Good luck! Being a mum is the best and the birth is just a small part of that.
Nellie

I had dd1 there in april 2013. It was my first so don't really have anything to compare to. ante-natal clinic was great in that I was never kept waiting but my mw left half way through my pg and I was never assigned a new one so saw someone different ever time which led to confusiion with test results, although having met so many midwives there I can tell you they were all lovely. I was induced at`41 weeks, was told to come in at 6pm that evening and was sitting around till 11pm waiting for someone to bring the pessary by 3am I was having strong regular contractions but the mw said she couldn't examine me or give me pain relief till the morning! At 7am I finally persuaded her to bring me gas and air but wasn't examined till 11am when they found I was 7cm! The mw and student I had on the labour ward were lovely, I progressed really quickly but they did their best to try keep me comfortable even though I couldn't have pain relief as it was too late.
The post natal ward was very busy I arrived on it late afternoon and stayed overnight both me and dd needed monitoring, I wouldn't say there was anything specific to criticise about the post natal ward but nothing too great either. I was feeling very ill as had really low iron levels but there wasn't really enough staff to help properly especially in the middle of the night when I couldn't stand up (from dizziness) to comfort dd. The mw on duty was lovely and really tried but I could see she was way to busy to deal with me properly. The next day I was suposed to be discharged but nobody really came to deal with anything despite me constantly asking. Finally after my DH came and made a fuss I was discharged at 11pm but they forgot to give me my pain relief (I had episotomy and stiches) so had to send out DH to the pharmacy to buy some in the morning.
Overall I would say it wasn't the most amazing expirience, I will definately try out somewhere else next time but it wasn't as terrible as some horror stories you here. I guess like someone else said up thread they are just overstretched and understaffed to deal with everyone as thoroughly as they would like.
Depending on where you live I would think about other options or at least go for a tour of a few hospitals. I went to visit someone in Barnet about 5 months after dd was born and when I saw the facilities there I was quite upset I went to the royal free but it could be just as busy there I don't know.....

Thanks for taking the time to update Nellie and congratulations! So glad you had a positive experience! I have heard generally that food is not easy to get hold of so planning on brining lots of cereal bars and anything else that may work. Shocking they expect you to fend for yourself, I'm glad you had your Dh with you.
Generally, I've heard that after care in most places is "thin" at best and again, it's a case if fending for yourself (or having someone support you.)
Why was it good having a student midwife follow you?