Queen Charlotte v Chelsea & Westminster during pandemic

[Confused348]

hi ladies, I have seen a couple posts from 2007 with a similar headline but now being in 2020 I would like to know any experiences for those who have birthed in QC or C&W in the last couple of years. I need to make a decision between the 2 soon. Distance wise I am inbetween both. I would really appreciate any help - first time (hopefully) mum xx

I can't speak from my own experience but my friend had her baby at Chelsea in May and she said only yesterday that she wouldn't go back. Staff were all lovely, but very short staffed, very strict Covid rules and discharged her baby too early (was rushed into A&E only a few hours after being sent home). But bare in mind this was May though, at the height of lockdown (and just one person's experience).

I’m currently at C&W and think they’ve been great. 31 weeks so haven’t yet given birth but they’ve been really accommodating if needing extra scans, reduced movement, etc. I was at QC during a diff pregnancy that sadly ended in TFMR and felt like everything was a fight - even to schedule in the actual termination!

In speaking with others it actually sounds like CWs COVID policies are actually not bad. Partners can come to scans and are allowed in for 3 hours after birth plus visiting hours 8am-8pm.

@Confused348

hi ladies, I have seen a couple posts from 2007 with a similar headline but now being in 2020 I would like to know any experiences for those who have birthed in QC or C&W in the last couple of years. I need to make a decision between the 2 soon. Distance wise I am inbetween both. I would really appreciate any help - first time (hopefully) mum xx

I'm at QCC - currently 24 weeks pregnant. The midwives have been very nice - although all but one of my antenatal appointments have been over the phone, which has added to my anxiety as a FTM. But that's more an issue with covid making everything more complicated and the hospital trying to protect their staff by reducing face to face contact with patients.. And my husband can't come to scans etc - I have thought about transferring to C&W in the hope that it might be more organised and the system might be easier to navigate.. however; I do understand that their actual birth care is supposed to be very good. They have a specialist neonatal unit. Babies often get transferred from C&W if there are any unusual issues at birth. Would love to hear from other mums / pregnant ladies about their experiences during pandemic pregnancy at C&W and QC&C?

@willowlondon babies don’t get transferred from C&W to QCCH unless there are cot issues and no space as C&W is a tertiary neonatal unit with neonatal surgery on site. Just so people don’t use that in their decision making, both have excellent neonatal units.