Epsom vs Kingston Hospital, please help

[AjkaShamrock]

Hi everyone, I am currently just under 8 weeks pregnant. I need to choose a hospital but somehow feel under pressure and cannot make a decision. With my first, I was advised by my then GP to choose St George’s due to a few complications. I was very happy with the hospital and would choose it again if it wasn’t for the distance because we moved,
I now have a dilemma whether to choose Epsom, which is my local hospital, or Kingston, which I personally prefer. I have an 18-month old toddler at home who needs me so Epsom should be a nobrainer but I am still hesitating. Please help, as I cannot make my mind up. Thank you

I had a bad experience with kingston, but it was unusual. If you’re birth and pregnancy this time have no complications (esp perinatal) then most mums have a good experience there. However, for me I had to switch two days before giving birth to another hospital. As I say, good for straightforward births, but no capacity to help outside that realm (unlike St. George’s, where there’s lots of capacity due to the university aspect). I did also hear really good things about epsom and would have chosen it myself had I stayed in the area.

I don't have any experience with Epsom but I was initially under Kingston at the beginning of this pregnancy (am now 37 weeks) and wasn't impressed - I have an underlying health condition and mental health struggles and they were very poor and the midwife was very unsupportive. I've since moved to West mid which has been amazing. So, I can't say I recommend Kingston from personal experience

I had a good birth at Kingston. Saying that, I did have a retained placenta that 2 midwives missed after a junior midwife asked them to check, but in general a good experience. Although the parking is a nightmare!