Which hospital to choose for delivery: Lewisham/PRU/QE Hospital

[PallaviNM]

Hello ladies,

Need some opinions and advice from Mums in South East London. I'm currently aligned to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich but have heard Lewisham University Hospital is really good! A friend also had her baby at Princess Royal University Hospital and I quite liked the look of it. Plus, she gave the labour ward great reviews even if after care in the general ward was a bit of a letdown.

Now I'm really torn and would love some first hand advice from people who've had their babies at either.

Please do share. I'm looking to make a change at the earliest.

Thanks a bunch xx

Are you interested in using the birth centre at Lewisham. I think the labour wards are pretty similar.

last I heard Lewisham had no useable breast pumps or sterilisers in the postnatal ward. Birth centre is supposed to be great though.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom I would've loved to but I think the birth centre is not an option for me since I've been advised that I might benefit from an epidural. Which is why I'm keen to know about the delivery suite instead.

Fair enough. You didn't say you were only interested in delivery suite

I don't think that there is much in it to be honest. They are both very, very busy London hospitals. Post natal is likely to be a bit shit.

The only thing I'd worry with Lewisham is that I heard rumours lots of good staff left when it was threatened with closure. My experience only goes up to about 18 months ago, so I don't know how true that is.

Oh, I'm also not sure where you live, but I'm guessing that at least one of those hospitals is a bit of a trek. I'd weigh that very heavily in the balance with potential traffic.

I had to be induced at Lewisham in October with my first and the guys in the labour ward were absolutely fantastic. They were upbeat, kept my spirits up, asked what I wanted and tried to provide it every step of the way. What was a genuinely frightening experience was made so much better by their attitudes. Postnatal ward was a bit rubbish if I'm honest - far too hot, cramped, LOTS of staff wandering in and out and only one who really tried to engage with us and find out how we were doing. Saying that, as there were no complications, I only stayed for the day and then insisted on going home so the after care didn't really bother me. I would def go back there again as I really did feel safe even while my birth plan disappeared line by line around me

I had my second in the labour ward in Lewisham in May. It was a long labour ending with forceps delivery and the care was great. I also found the staff caring on the post natal ward, though we only stayed one night and didn't make many demands on them (no problems with feeding)

Oops! My bad PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom :) I should have specified straight out I couldn't consider birth centres.

Both Lewisham Hospital and Queen Elizabeth are within 20 mins by car, so I'm good with either. PRU is definitely a trek but the facilities looked really great so I haven't ruled it out yet.

Honestly, facilities mean very little.

Bar if you probably want an epidural you want to know anaesthetist staffing.

What will make the biggest difference is how supportive the staff, how many women they are looking after and getting there easily.