Recent experiences of birth/post natal care at UCH or Whittington?

[loobylops]

I'd be interested to hear if anyone has recent experience of giving birth at UCH or Whittington? I am due in June and currently registered at Whittington and have had good care from midwife and a doctor in a moment of crisis, but the facilities are pretty ropey/dirty. Although I have slightly raised BMI, I've been told that I am low risk enough to go to the birth centre (initially they told me labour ward only, hope they will let me in to birth centre on the day). I'm wondering whether to change to UCH, which is all sparkly and new. My specific worries are: if I end up in Whittington labour ward it doesn't have en suite bathrooms/toilets so that means traipsing to a shared loo (have all been dirty so far). Will either hospital have the time/staff to show me how to breast feed after the birth? I've heard they're often too busy. What is post natal care like in either? Should I head to UCH as they have better neo-natal ICU, just in case baby needs it? Am I just being silly and lucky to live between 2 top hospitals, and stick with Whittington?

Don't think UCH has loads of en suite postnatal rooms OP. I've got my 34 wk mw appt though on Saturday, so I will check! My understanding was they have a limited number of what they call 'amenity rooms' that are massively oversubscribed so they give them to women who've had a bad time of it in labour. Afaik it's £250 a night or £500 for the 'amenity plus' room where your partner gets a bed and is allowed to stay over. But I have pregbrain so might be remembering it wrong. Will have to find out on Sat although I reckon i would probably stick it out on the ward and save the cash given the choice.

Oh and I wouldn't count on loads of BF support in any busy London hospital although it seems to depend on which mw you get and how kind they are. I had DD at C&W and was lucky that she just took to BF quite quickly. Basically if you're prepared to make a big song and dance and ring your bell and demand help you'll probably be fine .

I have only good things to say about the care I received at the Whittington. DS was born in the birth centre last year and it was wonderful. A water birth that went exactly to plan, and then DP and I stayed overnight in the room and went home the next day.

However the labour ward didn't look so nice with the lack of ensuite rooms and the postnatal ward, like most in London, is apparently not very nice either. The Whittington are doing a huge renovation of the maternity ward but that's not due to finish til next year.

I have friends who've had their babies at UCH and said it was good there but again, that was in the birth centre rather than labour ward.

OP, I'm surprised to hear about dirty loos at the Whittington. Granted I only used the toilets there when I went to see the midwife and for acupuncture but those were always very clean.

Hi OP, I've had two babies in the Whittington (both c-sections, although was deemed 'low risk' and hoping to use the lovely birthing centre the first time) and have been transferred post-birth to UCLH, and would agree with your assessment that the UCLH is basically a bit cleaner and shinier (not really the Whittington's fault, its just what you get with a dusty old Victorian building). Staff in the postnatal wards did seem incredibly busy in both, although there was good breastfeeding support post-birth in the Whittington (can't comment on UCL as my baby wasn't with me).

If I were you, I would be led by practical considerations like getting to the hospital in an emergency, parking (if you have a car), how easy it will be for you DP to visit you if you have to stay in for a while, etc.

The Whittington also allows partners to stay overnight on the postnatal ward. Not something I'd be happy with (the last thing I'd want after giving birth would be to be surrounded by several strange men) but it's worth considering if it's something you'd prefer.

DP stayed with me overnight but it's a bit different in the birth centre as you have a double bed. On the PN ward it's just a chair.

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Still dithering a bit here! judysbutler, I think if I've understood you correctly you were transferred to UCH for unexpected complications that were beyond the Whittington to deal with? I've heard this before and it is an important consideration as obviously I'd want to be in the best place possible if I had complications.

I had dc1 at Whittington in Jan 2012. I was on the labour ward and had lots of complications during birth resulting in emcs and a pretty terrible time on the pn ward.
I have however heard so many stories of what an amazing time people had who managed to give birth in the birthing centre. I even have a friend who had dc2 there after having dc1 privately and she says how wonderful it was.
I am now pg with dc2 and have chosen to go to UCH this time. I just feel that as I already know it is very unlikely to be straightforward for me that I want to be in the best place I can be. I have also moved a little way meaning the Whittington would no longer be a direct bus ride and now live near a tube meaning a pretty easy journey to UCH at Warren St for appointments.
It's so hard to know what to expect during birth though isn't it?! At least I have my previous experience to guide me but certainly first time round I was expecting an idyllic water birth in the birth centre so I know these decisions can be so hard to make!

I had my youngest at UCH. I was booked for a VBAC, but my pregnancy became high risk half way through and ended up having a c-section.

The whole experience was great. The postnatal wards were very clean. Staff were busy but nice and helpful (don't get me started on my DS's at the Royal Free...horrible staff). I didn't need breastfeeding help, but I noticed that two other women on my ward got lots of help from the midwives.

They were strict about visiting hours, so I couldn't have DH and family hanging around for long periods, which may or may not bother you.

My only gripe was that they turfed me out within 48 hours! I would happily have stayed there a few days longer. Even the food was quite decent

I should also say - UCH has one of the best neonatal care units in the country.

I think I've made my mind up to move to UCH. Feel a bit disloyal in a funny way to Whittington, because they have given me good care. However there is no reason to think I wouldn't get good care at UCH, and the facilities are by all accounts much better. I figure that not much will be within my control in labour, so at least knowing the loo is clean will make a bit of a difference! Also makes no difference in terms of travel from where I live.

I was at the Whittington last autumn. Medical team amazing and saved both our lives.
The postnatal ward, where I was for 8 days, was not great, but I don't think any are. The staff are run off their feet. The ward is huge, maybe 20 women plus partners. Some very inconsiderate, watching TV on tablets loudly, arguing. A couple of toilets and showers between loads. They do private rooms, I got one towards the end of my stay.