Uch, Homerton or Whipps

[Whichplace]

I'm 24 weeks with dc1 at the moment and currently registered at Uch (for slightly complicated reasons it was the easiest place to register when I first found out I was pregnant) however I live out in the wilds of east London and whipps and homerton are my nearest hospitals. I really can't decide whether to stay at uch or move somewhere closer and wanted others thoughts!

Uch: advantages - had excellent care so far, prefer to be here if any complications arose (so far no probs and I'm deemed low risk), seeing the physio for spd which has taken ages to be referred and I don't want to start the process again at another hospital!
Disadvantages - 45 mins away, don't really want to do this in the late stages or when I'm in labour

Whipps: advantages - closest hospital, have the option of home birth through them which I'm quite keen on
Disadvantages - heard very mixed reviews about it, both in general terms and maternity care (over stretched and harassed staff etc.), know one of the midwives who I don't like and really wouldn't want her at my birth - I worry she may be representative of the other midwives in coming across as very uncaring

Homerton: advantages - only 15 mins away, heard some really good things about it, midwife I spoke to today there was really lovely, website has lots of helpful info which is hopefully representative of their whole approach, dp was treated there after an accident last year and they were brilliant (obviously not in the maternity unit!)
Disadvantages - can't have a home birth with them

Maybe I'm overthinking this but I'm really struggling to make a decision. If I wasn't thinking about a home birth I think I'd go to homerton, but it is something I'm really keen on. However I'm realistic I may well end up in hospital and I want it to be somewhere I'm happy with

Thanks for any words of wisdom!

Not Homerton. I have read repeated stories in the press about their terrible maternity care.

www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/shocking_number_of_maternal_deaths_at_homerton_hospital_prompts_yet_another_review_1_3783126

and here is another very recent piece

I had to check that I hadn't written your post and forgotten about it because I was in exactly the same position: living near UCH when I got pregnant, then moved east about when I was about four months. Not sure that I can be any help because I still hadn't made up my mind when circumstances meant that we moved (temporarily) nearer UCH again so I've decided to stick with them.

Maybe the first thing to think about it how much you'd like a homebirth. I've heard the Whipps homebirth midwives are lovely and I think they have a regular meeting for women thinking about homebirth at Langthorne Health Centre. The odds are on your side that you'd be fine at home (according to this page 30-40% of first time mothers transfer in www.homebirth.org.uk/transfer.htm) - and if you did transfer in you'd already be halfway through and it would be because you needed pain relief or extra help, so maybe you wouldn't be thinking much about where you are?!

For what it's worth, I had a homebirth with my first (this is my second) and it was great - would definitely recommend. I'm only not having one this time because our house is having lots of work done on it (that's why we had to move out again!) and the place we're currently living isn't suitable for one.

I had also heard mixed reports about Whipps - though they really are mixed, in the sense that plenty of people have a fine time there. If you're anywhere near Walthamstow, there's a very active Facebook group called Walthamstow Parents (www.facebook.com/groups/walthamstowparents) with several threads on the subject. Perhaps join and have a look.

Friends who've had babies at Homerton have been happy and I agree that their overall approach seems reassuring - I think that's where I would have ended up had we not ended up moving again.

With a first labour you'd probably have time for the trip to UCH - but I agree that it probably wouldn't be much fun (and then there's the prospect of being sent home again...)

Had my second at whipps a few weeks ago and had really good care through out. Was a high risk pregnancy and elec cs plus 5 days in post natal for complications (me and then dd).

Was impressed as a lot better than my experience 5 yrs ago.

Yes it's busy but all the staff were professional and caring. I think wherever you go the care will be very dependent on the individuals - so always a chance of it being poor.

One thing I was shocked at was how rude a lot of the patients were and how staff kept professional despite being given a lot of agro!

Whipps does also have private rooms you can pay for. I couldn't have this due to level of monitoring but would have if I'd been able to (would have also helped with sleep - I ended up in a bay with the worlds loudest snorer and barely slept for 2 nights until they could move her to a side room).

I would also say don't underestimate the differnece going to your nearest / easiest to travel to hospital can make if there are complications. My first was in SCBU for over a month when I couldn't drive and this time I was at appointments 3x a week for the last month and again couldn't drive so being at nearest hospital and able to easily use public transport was a massive help.

I had excellent care during labour and birth and atrocious post natal care at Homerton two years ago. A friend had excellent care for both at the same time.

UCH or Whipps X.

Personally, I wouldn't touch Homerton with a neighbour's bargepole.

I gave birth at uch in November despite living less than 5mins from whipps. My decision was largely based on trust, I work at uch and I felt safe that if anything went wrong I would be in the best place. I know whipps were under CQC review for maternity. Homerton didn't make sense as I'd still have to travel to all appts (I don't drive), and during labour, but didn't have an established relationship there.

The care at uch wasn't perfect, DS born on Saturday and difficult to get BF support until Monday. Postnatally I wasn't a priority and they were busy. But during labour the care was excellent. I was in the MLU and met two wonderful MWs plus a student who made me feel very safe and confident I could give birth. Also prenatal monitoring due to elevated BP was also superb. I also have a close friend (another HCP) who's baby needed the resus team at birth and he couldn't fault uch.

From my NCT all the other 7 couples were at whipps and most are writing official complaints. No one felt particularly safe, with a few crappy rude MWs and a huge breach if confidentiality when one lady was given someone else's discharge summary. But the care wasn't dangerous. And everyone's opinion of good care varies - I was also the only one to give birth without intervention so I'm sure that shapes my view too!

As for the journey, it didn't feel very long because my mind was elsewhere, and it was 3am. Parking is a real PITA, we took the ticket because I was very close at 8am when the car needed moving! Whipps obviously have a car park as a plus. Go with your gut OP, you need to feel safe & confident in your decision

Hi there, I was in a similar situation, I live minutes from Whipps I really didn't want to have my baby there, had heard too many off putting experiences of others. I chose the Homerton and had the most wonderful experience from beginning to end.
I had one midwife through my whole pregnancy so there was consistency. She was very calm, sensible and kind and very positive about my choices. On one occasion when she was ill, the other midwife that I saw was equally brilliant.
I was considering a home birth but didn't go for it ultimately because I wanted to stay under the Homerton's care. When I tried to call the maternity dept at Whipps once I couldn't get through for 6 hours, so was concerned that there wouldn't be anyone available when I was ready at home as they are so under staffed. I went there to take my baby for her hearing test a couple of weeks ago, and walked through the maternity ward which was so bleak and depressing, and didn't deem very clean to me.
I used the midwife led birth centre at the Homerton and even though I had to have intervention at the end, giving birth to my daughter 6 weeks ago truly was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, and a lot of that was down to the staff and their ethos and attitude. She is now 6 weeks old.
I couldn't recommend it more highly.
Feel free to pm me if you have any questions! X

UCH for me. Impeccable service

I am so surprised at the negativity around homerton. I've had 2 births there and found them absolutely brilliant. One in birthing centre that ended up in theatre with ventouse, and one elcs. I had nothing but positive experiences both in hospital and with the pre and post natal care. In fact I delayed a house move so I could have dd2 at homerton. I have a number of friends who say the same and have had babies in the last 3 years there. I don't know anyone who had a bad time there. On the other hand I have a friend who had a very bad time at whips cross. She has heart trouble so was seen a lot there Inthe run up to birth and was consistently messed around, made to wait 6 hours in waiting rooms, told different things by different doctors, no continuity of care etc.

I'm also surprised you think you can't have a home birth with homerton. One of my closest friends was under homerton care and was all geared up for a home birth with pool ready to go at home, etc. unfortunately baby was so late it went to elcs in the end but a home birth was certainly possible. Maybe ask again?

Yes I'm surprised about the home birth too. Obviously things may have changed, but living in Hoxton when pregnant, I had to repeatedly rebuff offers of home birth! "no no, you're fine, I'll go to hospital and take the drugs, thanks"

Also fwiw my c section scar from a homerton surgeon is the business. Docs and midwives said its one of the best and least obtrusive they've ever seen!

Not really that surprising Senorita

www.hackneygazette.co.uk/news/shocking_number_of_maternal_deaths_at_homerton_hospital_prompts_yet_another_review_1_3783126

Home birth availability is based on catchment area. So, Whipps X will be the NHS hospital OP falls under for homebirth, by the sounds of things.

Thanks everyone - lots of useful information. I think part of the problem is that I want to know that everything will be ok in terms of not being traumatised by the whole thing - I don't particularly worry about death rates probably because I'm low risk and it is something on my list of worries about birth, and I know this is actually an impossibility no matter where I go! I think it's also hard as I when I hear stories online, I don't know the people involved and if they have an axe to grind. Katnipp what you said about people being rude makes real sense - I work in the public sector and often when we hear complaints it does the attitude and expectations of people makes a real difference

I can't have a home birth through homerton as I'm not in their catchment area. I've tried to contact the home birth team at whipps but had absolutely no response which isn't that reassuring. Still mulling it over this weekend - anymore thoughts gratefully received!

There was a lot of info on home birth at the antenatal clinic at whipps - seems like they are keen on it.

As you can see from all the posts its a real mixed response. Impression I have from friends elsewhere is the same - all comes down to individual staff. Probably even more so when considering a busy city hospital. Think whipps is meant to be one of the busiest in the country.

One thing I liked post natal - especially as I was in for a few days was continuity is care. I has the same day Mw for 3 days and the same night mw for 3 nights. Then same day mw for 2 days. Meant they knew me and baby and our issues. No explaining things 5x a day!

That was one of my main issues about Whipps, I tried to find info and advice re homebirth and had no response either....

I had my son at uch by emergency csection in august he went straight to the nicu who were amazing. So I cant comment on postnatal ward as only was up there a few hours before discharge spent my time in hdu. I was consultant led through pregnancy and my ob used to text me which was nice throughout. I felt safe and taken care of. I know many people who had babys in whipps and its allways been a bad experience. When I was in the nicu a lady had fought to get her baby transferred out of homerton and to the uch.

I had my DD at UCH in 2012.
Excellent ante natal and care during delivery. Post natal was a bit hit or miss. Overall I recommend them but I am undecided whether to go back for DC2 because, like you, it's a bit of a distance and I am terrified of being stuck in traffic and giving birth in a taxi!

I had my first baby at homerton 4 weeks ago.
My experience is mixed but I think that's representative of nhs as a whole, not just homerton.
I was low risk all the way through until midwife happened to be reading my notes at 38weeks and noticed that my placenta was mature (and had been since 34weeks but no one told me) and said I needed to be induced right away. That was the first oversight to piss me off. A few hours later I was given a persary gel to induce labour, midwife said I was 1cm dilated, but docotor came to examine me and said I was 4cm and needed to have my waters broke immediately.
There was just a lot of midwives saying one thing, docs saying another. My partner was also not allowed to stay with me because of strict visiting hours, but not all hospital staff seemed to be on same page, some were happy for him to stay, others weren't.
Both my mom and MIL work for NHS so I understand how understaffed and under resourced they are so no matter where you look there will be inconsistencies in care.
My baby was delivered safely and she is healthy so I can't complain to much about homerton. One thing I would say is be prepared for any birth plan to change. No matter where you want to be and how you want to go about childbirth, your baby is the one that's in control. (I wanted a water birth at home)
My baby kept tugging at the cord and then it got wrapped around her neck so she needed to be delivered with the use of foreceps. I then lost 1litre of blood when the placenta was delivered, so thank god I was in the hospital and staff could rush in the room, normality resumed in 15mins and baby was none the wiser!!
There are always going to be good and bad stories unfortunately.

Visit a couple of places if you want, but don't let the odd story panic you because if you looked for them you could find a horror story about any nhs hospital!

I gave birth in the Homerton about 4 months ago - first baby - had a mixed experience. Positives - took my pain in early labour seriously and admitted me for morphine when I wasn't v far along, supported me really well in actual labour, fantastic care immediately post-birth and truly outstanding NICU that our daughter was unexpectedly admitted into.

Negatives - left to our own devices until things really got moving (understandable but I could've done with a bit more support/encouragement/regular checking up), bit slow to listen to me when I asked for an episiotomy (though very quick when it became clear that this was medically necessary as the baby was distressed). I was able to pay for a private room on the postnatal ward which I'm really glad about as it looked pretty grim. I was deeply unimpressed with the support I was offered in trying to express but this probably won't be an issue if your baby is with you and you can try to breastfeed.

As our daughter was unexpectedly admitted to NICU the hospital is carrying out an investigation and I've been really impressed with how that's being done too. Though if they find her problems could've been prevented it might make my views on the whole experience to a bit more negative.

Some of my NCT group gave birth at UCH (like you we fall between areas) and two of them nearly gave birth on the way to the hospital as they kept being told they weren't ready to come in. But that could be unlucky coincidence!