Recent experiences at UCH or Homerton?

[ChaserSquirrel]

Hello all, looking for some advice.

This will be my first. I'm six weeks and I need to choose a hospital.

My closest is Homerton but I've heard bad things about it e.g. an acquaintance had a stillborn because of an oversight and the maternal deaths from a few years ago.

For that reason, UCLH sounds like a better choice, but it's 35 mins away during rush hour according to Googlemaps, whereas Homerton is 20 mins away during rush hour. I won't be driving, I'd take a taxi, so not concerned about parking.

I'm not so bothered about travel time for regular appointments, more for an emergency or when in labour.

Does anyone have any advice? Has anyone had a recent experience at either hospital?

Thank you :-)

Had a baby in homerton in 2018. It was a great experience. The hackney demographic is such that there are more high risk pregnancies and births, plus it had an excellent neonatal unit, both of which skew the stats I think. Also, having traveled in a taxi in labour I’d recommend a short journey if possible.

I had both my DCs at the Homerton, in 2017 and 2019 and had great experiences both times as have several of my friends.

My last labour was an induction with drip and my midwife was called Nettie. She was absolutely fantastic and it didn't feel like an induction at all. I could have been in the birthing centre for the calm, hands off environment Nettie created. If you do go there I hope you get her!

Post-natal ward wasn't great but I think that's the same everywhere

From what I have heard, you are often in labour for a long time esp with your first baby. So an extra 15 mins in the taxi probably wouldn't be an issue at all... you labour at home for a few hours first usually anyway. If there is an emergency, you can also call an ambulance.

I'm only 10 weeks so can't speak from experience. But I would choose the hospital you feel most comfortable with. My local hospital has a bad rep as well, so I've opted for a home birth (there is a dedicated home birth midwife team in my area who are fantastic.) and I feel reassured that if anything goes wrong I can transfer to hospital quickly as it isn't too far away x

I'm with Homerton, only 16 weeks so far but they have been amazing up to now. Have had early scans, CVS, each sonographer , midwife and consultant I have seen so far has been amazing. They have made me feel really safe.

There was another thread recently about Homerton that I also need to update. I gave birth to my DC2 at Homerton on Monday evening!
To the PP who said you should have time to get to any hospital... my labour was 50min from waters breaking at home, frantically sorting childcare for DC1 and popping out my baby. If I'd chosen UCLH I would have given birth in the car!!

Although it was a super fast labour, the care at Homerton was great. The initial arrival is always treated with a bit of skeptism whether you're 2cm or 8cm "oh you're in labour... really... go and do a wee test etc etc" to which i did and was roaring on the toilet with a contraction.
I was quickly checked and whisked off to the birthing suite which is lovely. A massive, quiet room with twinkling lights, candles, bath, shower, balls to bounce on and some rope things to swing on
Sadly I didn't get a chance to use any of these as my son has other plans. I had voiced my fears on the way in as I had a traumatic birth with DC1 and this time round when I gave birth I had 4 midwives there helping me. One held my hand, the others held my legs and one gave me stern instructions which i really needed when pushing.
Once baby was out they were fantastic, so caring with checking me and baby over. I really felt supported and in safe hands.
As the birthing suite wasn't busy they left us in that room all day which was nice and relaxing, popping in only to do observations and bring us tea and toast!
We left the hospital the next day. A really positive experience at Homerton for me. Would have preferred a slower birth but not much they could do about that!

We did have to pop back to the labour ward a couple of days later for a blood test and it seemed a bit chaotic and busy with people running around. However I'm not sure any NHS ward will be particularly relaxing at the moment. We had professional and efficient advice from the midwife who looked at the baby (jaundice).

Overall I would recommend Homerton however you can never know exactly what's going to happen in birth or what sort of midwife you will get.

Also to add.. DC1 spent 2 weeks in Homerton NICU and the care there was also brilliant.

I gave birth in the birth centre there in September 2015 so not recent but still thought I'd share. For me I knew I wanted the birth centre. It was amazing, I had a fantastic midwife and student midwife, couldn't fault them at all.
Didn't think much of the postnatal ward at all.
Also my son had to go to NICU for 12 days. Some staff were lovely but others were horrible and rude and I ended up putting in a complaint about how we were treated and I got a letter of apology.
But the birth centre was truly amazing and I'd recommend it to anyone