Princess Alexandra Hospital Harlow

[essexmuma]

Anyone have experience here? I'm here by default as options are limited ( my nearest hospital doesn't have great maternity Facilites ) and as much as I'd love to travel to London for my birth, I'm aware unless planned this might not work. I'm been underwhelmed with PAH so far, but equally have heard good things. I'm terrified of having to potentially have a C Section there if my vaginal birth doesn't go to plan. Any advice, experiences welcome (unless they are terrifying!) thank you

I had an elective section there last year and had a great experience. This was during lockdown one and I could only have my DP there briefly after the birth, the staff were so helpful. I had a complicated pregnancy and my antenatal care there was very good as well, I had to stay there as an inpatient for a while. I swapped to PAH for my third after 2 awful birth experiences at Queens in Romford.

I had both my babies there. Care during birth was superb (1 bad labour, 1 elcs). Postnatal care wasn't great after DC1, but honestly from what I heard that's the same everywhere. It was good after DC2 and i had a side room due to another issue.

I had three of of my four babies here. The first (my second but the first at the PAH) was stillborn so I experienced the bereavement suite and they were nothing short of amazing. It was a long time ago but I will always remember the incredible women there.

The other two were incredibly stressful experiences that were dealt with mainly brilliantly, I was monitored virtually daily and they never ever made me feel a nuisance. There was one intensely annoying MW who said I ‘couldn’t’ be ready to push, and then was almost annoyed with me when I proved her wrong and had to be moved to the labour suite in seconds to avoid me giving birth in a corridor!

My youngest is almost a teen now though so my experience might be a dated, but if I was going to have another baby I would go back. Good
Luck.

Is your nearest Whipps Cross by any chance?

I ended up schlepping 50 miles in the middle of the night to give birth because the alternative was Whipps. Several of my friends have given birth there and none had much good to say about the place. They all went to PAH for 2nd babies!

It looks lovely in this series. Hopefully I'm not too late for you!