Chelsea and Westminster vs Queen Elizabeth Woolwich

[newmamaP]

Hi there! I’m a new mommy to be, rather new in London only a few months and I’m really having a hard time to decide about the hospital where I’m going to give birth. I started with the C&W because it was the nearest to my previous postcode. Now I have moved in Greenwich and I self referred to QEW. Did I make a huge mistake? I saw the QE hospital today and it’s nothing like C&W. Also, I have already meet with the new midwife. What should I do? Thank you 🙏

Have you been to see Lewisham hospital? It is in the same trust as QEH and the birth centre there is supposed to be amazing.
I wouldn't like to travel across London in labour!

@SE3mum Thank you for your response. No I haven’t. I went only to QE. Do you suggest to visit and the other hospital too? The distance is one thing that I’m concerned, but if the C&W is better, I don’t know what to choose.

There are several other hospitals between Woolwich and C&W, so you do have other options! Lewisham is nicer IMO, and St Thomas' also good.

@SockQueen Thank you so much for your reply. Yes you're right. But I am really confused, I read a lot of good and bad reviews for each hospital and I don't know which is the best option.

The differences between the larger London hospitals are not that great, and things can go well (or not) on the day wherever you are.

The key factor is having a hospital you can reach reliably when in labour. Trust me, that's exactly the time when you don't want to be facing a journey that is long, complicated or with bottlenecks.

This is true. I can't control what will happen. I should stick to the nearest hospitals to me.

I gave birth at QE. I had the option of QE, Lewisham or Dareth. I went for QE because it was easier to get to.

I've had friends and family give birth at QE more than once so it can't be too bad but I didn't have the best experience. The day midwives and doctors/surgeons (EMC) are absolutely lovely but when it came to the evening and I was on my own with a baby they made me feel like I was a burden. Everyone else had their partners staying with them but when I couldn't move to get my crying baby no one came when I buzzed and when they did I was treated like a lazy mum who didn't want to change her baby. The midwife changed the baby in a huff and didn't acknowledge me at all. (I physically couldn't reach my baby due to EMC).

I was hospitalised a couple of times during my pregnancy and during one there was sick on the bathroom sink for a couple of days. It was cleaned once i pointed it out (I was too out of it to realise what it was). During another there was blood on the toilet and a used sanitary towel on the side for at least 24 hours. Can't fault the day midwives and theatre staff but it's not the cleanest place to be.

@mightskys Thank you very much for sharing your experience. I have noticed that cleaning issue, too, when I visited the QE. I am planning to do the maternity facilities tour at both QE and Lewisham Hospital and then I hope to decide. As for the hospital staff you never know what you are going to face. Finger crossed!

The Lewisham birth centre is lovely

Lewisham every time. I chose it a long time ago because it was a teaching hospital with a specialist paeds dept which is where your baby ended up if the shit hit the fan at QE. If you're in Greenwich itself (rather than just in the borough) it's also probably faster to get to. You can probably choose st Thomas's as well, but I'm not sure I'd be up for getting a train across London at 40+ weeks. C&W is madness.