Have to choose hospital - Whipps cross or King George near Chigwell

[carriemumsnet]

My friend (without computer access!) has been told she has to have a c section because her baby is breech (and large!). She's been given the choice between Whipps Cross and King George hospitals - anyone got any experience/advice?

Hi, I had my 1st 2 at Whipps X. I have to say that the labour suite care was good - and i was expertly stiched up after both deliveries ( episiotomy and 2nd deg. tear). I was induced with the 1st and had a long medical labour and the 2nd was straightforwrd and I came out of hosp. the same day. Saying that.... when I was there (certainly in 2001 with the 1st ) I was in for a few days beforehand due to high BP and the ward was FILTHY. Dirty maternity pads on the toilet floor, baths that were grey with grime, broken showers etc. Blood stained sheets they wouldn't cahbnge. Yuk. I had my 3rd in nottingham and the diff. in cleanliness was vast. And the aftercare wasn't up to scratch - v. little help with breastfeeding - just a trolley of formula came round every so often - almost encouraging you to take some. I asked a m/w or asst. to hold my baby for a couple of mins. because I was feeling v.v. tired after 2 days of no sleep and was told that if I was going to breastfeed then that's what I should expect. If I were your friend I'd go and have a good look around with an eye on how dirty it is!With all the MRSA stuff it has prob. improved enormously in 6 yrs.. My friend had a CS at Whipps and her aftercare was faultless - she just found the labour suite bit poor - had emergency CS after VVVVVlong labour. She had a private room. If she goes to Whipps tell yr. friend to pay for a private room - only £60 or so back then. So - mixed reviews from me, but all said and done I had a safe, supported labour and the labour suite were very good - which is the crucial element!

Thanks so much for this... anyone else have any experiences? She had her first at the Homerton (she's since moved) and had really bad bf advice (ie none) - why do these hospitals do this to women

I avoided both and went to Homerton. BF advice wasn't great, I agree, nor was it outrageously clean. But the IM that I had worked in Whipps for years and years...and said go to Homerton... Mixed reviews for King George's.