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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Queen Charlotte v Chelsea & Westminster

27 replies

banshee01 · 27/11/2007 07:22

Hello - I have to choose between the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital and Queen Charlotte's. I would really love some feedback on either of these as to your experiences. It's my first pregnancy and first time on mumsnet! Thank you!

OP posts:
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dal21 · 28/11/2007 09:35

hey - are you going private with them?

CountessDracula · 28/11/2007 09:37

Not been to QCs but I was unimpressed with C&W's aftercare

zebedee1 · 28/11/2007 15:47

Hi Banshee, congratulations on your pregnancy! I had the same choice and went for C&W as 2 of my friends had good experiences there. I had DS 6 months ago. Antenatal care was great, I had extra scans and MW appointments as I had a low lying placenta and a suspiciously large baby, they took very good care of me. Felt very involved in decision made with consultant as to whether I should deliver naturally or not. Antenatal classes were mondays from 2-4pm but that may have changed. They were good humoured and you got a tour of the maternity area aswell. There is a lovely birthing unit there with birthing pools, we did not avail ourselves of that as you can't have anything stronger than gas and air in there. I arrived at hospital 8cm dilated with a monster baby so I wimped out and had an epidural immediately!

The birth was a good experience too, I had a brilliant MW and student Dr who never left my side even though the unit was full and very busy. Got an epidural as soon as I asked for it which you top up yourself every 15 mins. When DS failed to appear after a lot of pushing and his heart rate dipped, a cast of many appeared and he was ventoused out and a paediatric Dr was on hand to check him out, I felt very well looked after and totally in control.

Oh yes and it sounds totally superficial but there are nice places to eat and get food right near the hospital (carluccios, M&S etc), it was nice to go for coffee with DP after the scans and to br brought yummy food as I was in for a while afterwards.

Aftercare was not up to much but I have heard from several Mums who delivered at QC that this is the case there aswell. I think most hospitals are poor after the birth TBH.

Good luck which ever you chose!

banshee01 · 29/11/2007 13:34

Hi there - no not planning on going private.... thank you Zebedee1 on your feedback - really appreciate it! I think you are right in that aftercare seems to be the problem in a lot of places (from what a lot of my friends tell me!). I think I will go with the C&W as it is slightly closer to where i live and I have just found out that my sister in law will be doing scans there which will be nice(and yes I fall for the superficial stuff too! Thanks again everyone for responding!

OP posts:
GloriaInEleusis · 29/11/2007 21:21

QC is fab. Since it's you first you probably don't know yet what kind of birth you are going to have. They have a birth centre for those who like the natural route. And they are also great in the theatre should you choose/need that.

I had a planned section there and rank them well above where I have my first section. The first place wasn't bad by QC was better. Of course QC was planned and not a 3am emergency so perhaps that's not a fair comparison.

I've heard mixed reviews about C&W.

artichokes · 29/11/2007 21:25

I had the same choice and went with QC as it has a really amazingly good neonatal unit if your child was to need it.

I had amazing care during my complicated labour. However I was in for a while before and after and although the care was fine, the lack of decent food outlets nearby nearly killed me! If only DH could have popped to Carluccios to get me something edible.

On balance though I am glad I chose QC.

wellieboot · 29/11/2007 21:34

I gave birth at C&W and the care during labour and birth was good (although I had to wait 4 hours for my epidural as the anaesthetists (sp?) were in an emergency cs but I think that happens anywhere) however the aftercare was appalling and the attitude of the midwives on the postnatal ward still shocks me now when I think about it. However it was at Christmas and they were all locum staff who clearly didn't want to be there. If I'd had an uncomplicated birth and been allowed home the next day I would have had only good things to say about the place! I have heard only good reviews about QC from others.

kitstwins · 29/11/2007 22:24

I gave birth to twins at QCC last year and had the same dilemma of choice. C&W is my nearest hospital (5 minutes away from where I live, as opposed to the 20plus minutes to QCC). However, my GP urged me to go to QCC as she thought the level of care was better.

Although I made my decision based on my high risk twin pregnancy and QCC looked after me very well during a particularly panic-stricken third trimester (I had placenta praevia and recurrant bleeds) there is a small part of me that wishes I had gone to C&W as, in the end, I spent the last five weeks of my pregnancy on bed rest in hospital. Aside from Wormwood Scrubs prison next door (lovely!) and a rather sad garage shop nearby, there are no local shops and food was a problem as, obviously, the hospital food wasn't great. My husband had to drive to Holland Park Avenue 10 minutes away whereas Fulham Road has an abundance of cafes, shops, supermarkets, etc.

QCC has an excellent birth centre. I didn't give birth in it as my twins were born by emergency c-section at 35 weeks, but I did walk through to use the bath one evening and it looked pretty good. The rooms (I was on the labour ward several times during the latter stages of my pregnancy) were excellent - very clean, very spacious, and the midwives were very good. Obviously a twin pregnancy means that people are all over you so I maybe got more attention than normal but there always seemed to be lots of midwives around.

The post-natal ward was always busy but, again, was clean. I was in the private ward, which was very good (better food, nice rooms, etc.) but the normal set up was still pretty good. They had four-bed wards so not too hectic or noisy and also had several side rooms (with their own bathrooms) which were allocated on a first-come/greater needs basis - so caesarean births/multiple births, etc. The general bathrooms were always clean and so I had no need of the dettol wipes that people had warned me to take.

Several girlfriends have had their babies at C&W and really rated it for convenience and proximity to Carluccios, but said that the aftercare was pretty shocking - busy post natal wards (no private rooms unless you pay £800 per night on the private ward), dirty bathrooms (all four of them had to clean their bathrooms before they used them as they were pretty scuzzy). The midwife care was good but haphazard and they were very busy.

I think if you have a textbook pregnancy then C&W is a good choice. There are enough horror stories and positive stories about every hospital and I think if you go in expecting the after care to be not too great then you'll be okay. The ideal would be QCCs in C&Ws location, but that's in a dream world.

If I were to do it again, I'd chose QCCs as the level of care was fantastic and the hospital was clean, well equipped (it was purpose built about 6 years ago) and, whilst it has staffing issues like everyone else, the care was good.

I hope this helps and good luck with your choice. It's a difficult one I know.

K

jem1969 · 30/11/2007 17:04

If you use the search facility there are lots of messages about C&W and Charlottes. I gave birth in July in C&W and they were great- even the postnatal ward (and I was there for a week.

wheelsonthebus · 30/11/2007 17:05

C and W is good, but after care is truly awful

wheelsonthebus · 30/11/2007 17:06

wellieboot - i am totally with you. i look back and gasp at how badly i was treated.

Upsidedowncake · 30/11/2007 17:17

Which is nearest and easiest to get to? I had great care at C&W and loved having all the yummy restaurants around.

But you don't want to be stuck on the Fulham Road on a Saturday afternoon waiting for a policeman on a horse to allow you to go through iyswim.

bellabelly · 30/11/2007 17:28

Totally agree with Wheels on Bus's comment about C&W (I had twins there in August). I was told by several people on the Paediatric Ward that their team are actually doing an investigation into the appalling care offered on teh postnatal ward. I will go to QC next time (if there is a next time!)

mummypig · 30/11/2007 17:28

I also had my first son at C&W and the delivery was great but didn't appreciate either the antenatal or the postnatal wards. The midwife on duty when I went into labour seemed to refuse to acknowledge what was happening until an internal exam showed I was 5 cm dilated. I had to shout at her to get her to call home and get my partner up to the hospital. They sent him home after saying nothing was going on, and I had been labouring all on my own in my little cubicle for hours. The delivery was fine once I got down there. I just think that many midwives choose to staff the ante or post natal wards because they aren't really keen on helping with deliveries.

Unfortunately ds1 had to go into special care on day 3 and I also have strong suspicions that wouldn't have happened had I had better breastfeeding support. A couple of midwives said 'call us any time you want help with breastfeeding' but when it came to it, they just weren't available. Then at one point the midwife on duty told me ds1 was probably screaming because I was making him stressed, and said she would hold him for me while I got some sleep. (I was shocked when I read this in my pregnancy diary.) Sorry, but he was probably screaming because he was starving, and I could have fed him lying in bed so we both got some sleep, if she'd been bothered enough to show me how. He ended up with hypoglycaemia and I know now this would have been prevented had I fed him enough in those first few days. I certainly had enough milk, and I spent the next five days pretty much attached to a breast pump so that my little one could get my milk while in special care (at least they were good at organising that).

So although many of the staff I met over the two weeks there were great, I wouldn't recommend C&W. I think the good staff are just stretched too far (the one good midwife on the postnatal ward was often off doing deliveries) and you're more likely to get people who are trying to do the bare minimum and not really interested in helping you with your precious little one.

Sorry if this sounds very damming. On the plus side dp did keep me well stocked up with all the food outlets nearby

jem1969 · 30/11/2007 17:43

I think I was lucky. It was quite quiet when I was there and I had a lovely midwife and quite a few doctors around for the labour (DD was a month early). I was on the post natal ward for 6 nights as DD had a few problems and apart from a couple all the MW were great and really helpful. There were always empty beds in my area so it wasn't too noisy and the bathrooms were always fine. I was really expecting the worst and was pleasantly surprised. I would def go back. I think most of my NCT group felt pretty much the same too.

wheelsonthebus · 30/11/2007 17:53

bellabelly - it uspets me to think this is still going on. You say you had twins in August. My dd is now 3, and I thought things might have improved by then. Funnily enough, I am going back to the hosp next week on an unrelated matter and I am going to raise it with the consultant I am seeing - although the consultant I saw pre my dd's birth did actually wanr me the hosp received a large number of complaints about post natal care. I didn't listen at the time cos I was a bit distracted by the issue of the birth, but this sort of treatment of women must stop. I have a lot of sympathy now for anyone in any institution - hospital, care home etc - who has no real control over their care.

wheelsonthebus · 30/11/2007 17:54

sorry - meant to say upsets me

bellabelly · 30/11/2007 18:02

Yes wheelsonthebus, I was "lucky" in one sense - they gave me a room to myself because it was a multiple birth but then the midwives were always busy, very rarely told me their names, I still have no idea who was supposed to be midwife in charge of me or my babies. I asked repeatedly for help with BF-ing - my milk hadn't come in and one twin wouldn't latch on. A couple of kindly midwives had a go at forcing my boob into his mouth and told me that my milk would come in soon it'd all be fine (which it wasn't - that's why we were re-admitted to paediatric ward a few days later...) I had my babies by c-section on Wednesday and by Thurs night was sobbing down phone to DH to get me out. Went home on Friday, having decided I couldn't face another night.

The paediatric team on the other hand, were absolutely brilliant and I can't fault them.

wellieboot · 30/11/2007 20:07

bellabelly - I had a very similar experience with no bf help - apart from the forcing boob in mouth then leaving. I also couldn't wait to get out and was crying on the third night when they came and marched my dh out at 9.02pm - end of visiting time. Alot of the other girls were crying too.

I'm really glad to hear they are doing an investigation. I have been told I should have written a complaint but we moved out of London shortly afterwards and tbh I just want to forget about it.

banshee, feel bad about filling your thread with negative things about C&W - if they could sort their aftercare out it would be a great place especially with Carluccio's opposite!

lfhirh · 14/12/2007 09:34

Had DD in Feb at CW; midwifes great and antenatal good; didn't do antenatal classes but good physio classes before and afterwards.

As on other messages, aftercare truly awful, staff overworked and completely uncaring, complications afterwards and personally wouldn't go back again.

Feel bad saying this, but would have loved to have known beforehand. However, a lot of friends have been there and had very good experiences!

Hope it goes well whereever you decide!

Barnie33 · 11/01/2010 14:13

I have to make the same choice re QC / C&W and it is my first baby. One question I had was is are your antenatal classes done in the hospital you choose (I have no idea about these but have heard from friends that they provide great support for new mus) - in which case I was thinking I might meet more like-minded new mums at CW than QC as I have heard the area is really dodgy? Does anyone know about this ? Also - do you have NCT classes with the hospital you choose ? I'm not really sure how any of this works to be honest - but woul love some guidance !

extremelychocolateymilkroll · 11/01/2010 14:15

I had dd at C+W in August 07 and am booked into have dd2 next month. My experience at every stage was good. The antenatal classes were at my midwife centre. Only one - which focuses on breathing - was at C+W.

finecheese · 11/01/2010 14:19

Hello - I don't come on here much but just thought I'd say that I had DS1 and DD2 at QC and they were absolutely amazing every time. Especially since DD2 was 5 wks early - they were totally calm and left me in control and never panicked me. As a result I had two chilled and happy labours.
If I had to put a negative point on it would be that the ante natal appts were often vastly busy and the staff were quite abrupt and visibly stressed. I would definitely go there again tho

SpottyMaldoon · 11/01/2010 14:51

Barnie, C&W antenatal classes are done at the hospital if you want to attend. A word of warning, mine (2 1/2 years ago) were 4x monday afternoon sessions. Not ideal if you/ DP can't spare the time off work?

Not sure where QC antenatal classes are held. Don't worry about the "Quality" of the new Mums at QC. QC is the hospital of choice for all mums in posh Chiswick, Ealing and teh Poets corner area of Acton despite the fact that the hospital is situated next to Wormwood scrubs prison.

Unfortunately I didn't meet any new mums from my area at the CW antenatal class (most were from Chelsea and I am in Acton). Luckily our local health authority runs a great post natal support group where I met all my mates. If there are no local Mums in your hospital antenatal class I would suggest joining NCT or some similar local groups. You can join NCT without doing their antenatal classes, they have "bumps and babes" sessions for expectant and new mothers.

BTW NCT classes are seperate/ different to the hospital ones, you do one or the other (both might be an overkill!

My advice would be to chose the hospital nearest to your home, assuming they are both of te same standard (which I think QC and C&W are, more or less!)

Good luck!

lucy101 · 11/01/2010 15:47

I went and looked around both hospitals and my GP told me that in his opinion they were about the same now and both good (although slightly different specialisations: QC multiples and C&W pregnant heart patients). Both seemed good. I went with QC as marginally better for me to get to - think C&W could be a nightmare in rush hour from where I live. I am very happy indeed with my treatment at QC so far - 30 weeks - midwives great and the woman who did my scan was really thorough and explained everything in great detail. I think the earlier poster who said go closest to home/easiest to go to is probably spot on!

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