antenatal care/ birth hospital choices - North London

[percy]

Just wondered if anyone had experience of hospitals in North London for antenatal care/ birth they could share with me.

I am having dilemma's about which hospital to go to. I live in Crouch End and have been told by my doc to go to the Whittington. The few friends I have in this area tell me to avoid this place at all costs.

Ds was born in the Royal Free , but after a distressing labour there I was hoping not to go back. Long story... but midwife failed to realise that the baby was spine to spine until 24 hours into labour, and an anesthetist at this point who left me black and blue.

I know I should be more relaxed this time about birth etc , and it is still a LONG way off, but would like to make a decision and stick to it, rather than changing my antenatal care around etc.

What do you guys think?

I don't have a personal experience of the Whittington but my sister lives in Crouch End and with first baby went to the Whittington but with 2nd opted for home birth. I know she wasn't too impressed with the care she received in hospital first time as it was a difficult induced labour but she thought the home birth was fantastic and couldn't praise the midwives in attendance enough.

The BirthChoice website might help you make a decision, Percy, or at least give you some info. Good luck.

Hi Percy - I had ds at the Whittington in 1996. I had all my pre-natal care at the hospital and was seen by midwives until 6 weeks prior to ds birth. I did have to wait a long time at the clinic, but I think that's fairly normal in most places. They picked up slightly high blood pressure about 6 weeks before ds birth and I was monitored every few days, but allowed to go home. I had a superb doctor - Karl - and when I did go into hospital the whole experience was great. I didn't have a rigid birth plan but ideally wanted to do it "on my own". I ended up going to the labour ward at 2am and asking if it was too late to have an epidural - it wasn't. The lady anaesthetist was wonderful and I was looked after by a brilliant midwife. DS was born at 9.27am. All in all a good experience.

Thanks all.
SeuDonim - I've had a look at the site - thanks, it has given me a couple of other options to look into.

Queenie - I do like the sound of a home birth - but am far too wimpy. Plus I don't like the idea of ds hearing his mum wail in pain (believe me - I was very very noisy last time).

Deborahf - thanks that is reassuring. I think it was primarily the aftercare that friends have said was dreadful. what was that like for you? I guess in a way it is not so important this time round as I suppose I will get home a bit quicker due to ds1.

Percy,
I had dd at the whittington last October,she was prem and so we stayed in for a week. I would not day that they were wonderful.....but there were enough midwives there that DID care to make me feel well looked after. the ante-natal, well, my appts were always on time although I only had the last month there, (was in Hong Kong before that) but I did go for about four appts before giving birth. IBasically, I would not be against recommending someone to the Whittington.
Good Luck !

Percy, I too had dd at the Whittington (June 2000)and whilst the aftercare wasn't brilliant (I had emergency c-section and so wasn't very mobile for a bit) I had total confidence in the midwives/docs there - the SHO and consultant discussed everything with me and the anaesthetist came up with some top tips on how to get rid of a sciatic pain which the epidural hadn't touched! I've heard bits about some of the other options round our way - UCH is a bit 'hardline' on eg how long they'll let you carry on pushing; not heard anything specific re: Royal Free, but few raised eyebrows; friends who delivered at Homerton had ok time. I think the attention/support you get (or don't!)after the birth is often poor because of the ratio of midwives to mums - things like breastfeeding aren't as well supported as they could be. But I suppose if you have a straightforward delivery you'd probably want to go home pretty quickly anyway. a friend has just had her second at the Whittington a month ago and she was home in 12 hrs.
whatever you decide, good luck! (when are you due?)

ooh, thanks for those reassuring messages about the whittington, bundle and marz. i am worrying about this ridiculously early - not due till end april 03, but i guess i don't want to be swapping and changing. just want to make my mind up and stick with it.

also, someone mentioned to me today that you can get 'private' rooms at the whittington. hideously expensive i know, but for one night to get a bit more privacy and hopefully a bit better aftercare, may be worth it?????

Don't quote me on this... think that the rooms were about 80 a night....although I know that they were supposed to be doing work on the ward at the time....there were only 2 rooms I think.
I wanted to have a room too....ended up having one anyway for the whole week...but I think that the aftercare is not any different with or without the room , maybe you would not hear other babies crying so much! Also, depending on what time you give birth and how you feel, I think you can get out same day, so may not even need the room! I think they were on a first come first served basis, so you could not book them, and if they are taken, then you have no choice.
Have to say that although he was not supposed to, dh managed to stay a few nights with me in the hospital too, suppose that depends on the individual nurses on duty at the time...

Hi Percy - just seen your message. The after care at the Whittington was good. I went back to the ward after ds was born and the midwives made me very welcome, showed me around and then left me with ds and his father (ex dp). I had visitors that afternoon, ds blissfully asleep and the midwives were very helpful with any concerns. I stayed overnight (very loud as lots of new babies!!) and was keen to get home. After seeing the paediatrician we went home on Sunday evening. My only complaint was the food - it was awful!!!! Still it made the champagne at home taste so much better. Good luck.

Percy, I'm booked with the whittington this pregnancy (30 weeks now) and they've been okay so far. DD was born by emcs at the north middlesex, didn't really want to go back there as it is a fairly grotty place and further away from my house (I booked there 'cos was planning home birth and they have a specialist team).

Most of the mothers I know have had their babies at the whittington without any problems. TBH I've generally heard pretty bad things about the royal free so not tempted to go there! As someone else said, people seem to be fairly positive about the homerton in hackney as well.

And I do think they have private rooms (can check in the info leaflet they gave me), a friend of mine had one of these (£70 a night?) but that was about four years ago.

Of course i can let you know more details in 10 weeks or so LOL!

Hi...I am wondering if anyone can tell me if the Whittington gives ultrasounds at 12 weeks, or would I have to wait till 20 weeks??
I am about to register today with GP.....but too impatient to find out!!!
Thanks,
Marz

hi marz
yup, you get a dating scan and then a 20 week scan - can't remember exactly when the dating scan is though -around 12 weeks ish
HTH

The dating scan is supposed to be around 12 weeks although I had mine at the Whittington at just over 10 weeks for some reason (surely not over-efficiency!).

I had ds at the Whittington in April '01.

I think I probably went in a bit early, but was very lucky in that there was a private room available which I went to after the delivery ward as I was dilating very slowly. I was there for about 24 hours during which I watched a lot of television to take my mind off things(!) had a shower (the bathroom was shared with one other room, we each had a door into it) and moved around a lot. Dh, who had flu, was able to lie on the bed ready to massage me when instructed to do so!

After giving birth in the delivery ward, ds and I went back to the same room where I stayed for about 36 hrs until we were signed out. It made all the difference having that space to move around in and some privacy.

I think it was about £60 or £70 a night and, for me, well worth it. 2 of my NCT friends, also in at the same time, shared a private room (no bathroom) after their babies were born, again on a first-come first-served basis.

Thankyou..I went to GP...and he said that as I am 10 weeks already, I may not get the dating scan, as by the time he has writtent he letter and they have sent me an appt, we will be past 12 weeeks.....just typical!!!

My Ds was born at chase farm hospital in the midwifery led unit. I cannot praise the two midwifes who dealt with the labour and birth. Ds took a long time to come out and I was pushing for a long time, when I became tired or distressed they advised about different positions and breathing.They were relaxed, friendly and reassuring. I had a natural birth with only a small amount of gas and air which was used more as a distraction than pain relief!!and felt elated by the positive atmosphere they created and therefore feel positive about the whole experience. The surroundings aren't great but you don't notice them at the time. After the birth the staff were helpful and patient at all times giving much needed advice without making you feel stupid. Had I been in the labour unit I feel intervention would have been recommended even though it was not needed due to the care and attention of the midwife. My only complaint is that at no point during my pregnancy was I made aware of the fact that there was a seperate labour unit and midwifery led unit!!! My advice is to check all the options for yourself and trust your judgement as everyone's experiences are different and ask lots of questions - I feel I did not research my options and just accepted things while pregnant. The prenatal care was good although appointment times were always later than they should have been.

I looked into all the options in the area as well in 2001 when I had ds. Have you looked at the Edgware Birth Centre? My friend had her baby there and couldn't recommend it highly enough. I was down to have mine there but sadly had to go to hospital. It's a midwife led unit - if there's a problem you have to go to hospital. Otherwise I had my child at Barnet which was fine for a hospital although the aftercare could have been better. Most of my friends went to the Whittington and had no problems.

Percy

I don't know if you can but I'd look at the Alexandra Birth Centre which is actually part of Watford General Hospital. This is an NHS midwife-led unit that caters for low-risk, 'natural' births.

They have birthing pool, low sensory room, showers & baths, gas & air, pethidine (or equivalent) etc on hand for pain relief. Epis are not available but the unit is on the floor below the std maternity unit so you could be transferred if you really got desperate, as well as if you or your baby needed some kind of medical intervention or consultant care. You your own room with ensuite bathroom. Assuming you and baby are OK, you will be discharged quickly (6-24 hrs I think).

The small team of midwives are brilliant at helping mums manage without epis and are so supportive of your choices.

I am going in for no.2 in a few weeks and am very confident in the wonderful care I got. If you're interested, just give them a ring (tel no in phone book) as they are very informative and friendly.

Feel free to private mail me if you want more info about my own experience there!

Good luck!

I was booked into the Edgware Birth Centre but couldn't deliver there because of a small abnormality in my pregnancy. I delivered at the whittington in 01 and there was a mix of good and bad (inevitable considering the huge lack of midwives in London). If you don't want to go to Edgware then the Whittington is fine but if you had a doula it would be better, just someone for continuity of care and to help with things like breastfeeding afterwards. Also the whole place needed to be CLEANED properly. Have you done tours of the various places?

UCH is great, if you're being offered that. I've had three there, all very different births, not always how I'd hoped, but came away with a good feeling each time.

They suffer from usual London staffing problems, and the building is very tatty as they're moving into a shiny new building at some point in the next few years, but the care is excellent. They also have a new Birthing Unit for low-risk people with holistic care, water pools, strap-free monitoring (and lava lamps!)

I've heard the usual stories about the Whittington and Homerton, but I know at least eight or nine people who've given birth at least once at UCH, some after previous bad experiences elsewhere, and never met anyone who had a bad word to say about it.

Have to agree with UCH. Great care all round. Had an abnormal 2nd pregnancy, so with my 3rd had to be monitored very closely from the word go. As soon as I did a positive pregnancy test, I rang them EPU and they saw me the very next day.
Fantastic midwife for labour and delivery (I know that can be a bit pot luck).
Post natally in a double room (as standard, not special treatment). Breakfast a sort of buffet in the day room, help yourself when you're ready, or they'll bring it to you if you aren't up to it. No problem asking midwives to keep an eye on baby while you go for a shower...
I had to stay in extra time, but really didn't mind (except it was far too hot and I longed for my cool and draughty home!)

I had my baby at Barnet last year and they were great. Agree the after care (I had an emergency c-section and was in for 4 days) was not as good as the ante-natal and birth experience.

sorry haven't read all this thread, but
I was at the Whittington twice, two VERY different experiences for same procedure (emergency C sections).
It really depends what team you get, IMO. But the post natal ward is like something out of the Crimean.
Good luck

I had an emergency c section at the Whittington, after a failed induction. I was in there 3 days before he was actually delivered and 3 days after. i'd say it's definitely worth getting a private room, not least because it gives you more space... my husband could hardly get to the baby the first night ( they wouldn't let me in a room that night, so I could be watched)...almost fell into the next bed! The room cost me £90 per night, although due to a clerical error, I was never billed for the second night! I was suprised though, that I still had to share a bathroom with one other room. And the midwives were really stroppy about my husband using my toilet instead of going down two floors and along to the canteen toilets. I was also a bit worried about the lack of cleaning. But to be fair, this is my only baby, so I have nothing to compare it to, and the midwives were really helpful on the whole. You get good and bad wherever you go, but there were one or two there that really helped me when I needed it. The only thing I was really unhappy with, in retrospect, is that I was discharged with no training on how to do self injections that I needed, and no warning that my c section scar would weep.