Where to give birth in central london - can't afford private

[IlanaK]

I have just found out I am pregnant with my thrid child - it was a bit of a shock!

My first was born in Basildon and my second was born in London at St Mary's. Both were c-sections (an emergency and than a planned).

I am only 5 weeks pregnant, but need to visit my GP to "register" and as I am considered high risk, they will want to attach me to a hosptital straight away for consultant appointments.

The thought of going to St Mary's again is too much to bare - they were just aweful last time.

What are my other choices? How does it work? Do I have to be local to a hospital (obviously this would be more convenient) or does a hospital further away have to take me if I choose it? Last time I picked St Mary's as I moved from Essex half way through pregnancy and it was the closest. This time I need to think more carefully about it.

Ok, I think it will be UCH then as it is nearby. I wonder when the new unit will be finished as this baby isn't due until next summer.

Currently I'm loving the Homerton which has had an atrocious record. Big fan of the Whit and UCH (mw led unit fab. Wonderful mw called Abby). Not a fan of St Mary's. Quite like Queen Charlottes but have only done one birth there. Was an almost fan of C&W but there was a male mw who was a complete and total &T%%^&$£, however, male midwifery was saved by a truly gorgeous one at the Homerton who has sadly moved on.

The Whit has a truly gorgeous Registrar that I keep bumping in to. In fact mws at some of the other N London hospitals know of him too lol

Lol at the totty count. Maybe the Healthcare Commission should count gorgeous Registrars as one of its relevant statistics .

i have had 1 at mary's & 1 at the homerton. great care antenatally & during labour both times, antenatal care left a bit to be desired.

tell me more about the homerton's bad record mars, thought they did pretty well with a complex population?

i think the new bit of uch may not be open in time for you ilana, but am not 100%.

I do think it's important to give birth with gorgeous doctors in attendance. There was a gorgeous anaethetist when I had the DTs by c-birth. He moved from the Whit to the Royal Free. None of my clients have needed that there so I've yet to see if the gorgeous one is still there.

Queen Charlotte is fab, if you change your mind about UCH. I had a planned section there and I can't praise the medical team enough.

The after care and some of midwives were a bit less than ideal, but it was the surgery I was concerned with. The one thing thatt really annoyed me was when they cam round and put breakfast on the table not considering I was strapped to y bed by cathetar... bozos.

I even met a mumsnetter in there. What are the chances of that?

I used to hear horror stories galore about the Homerton and so dreaded my first birth there. Came away completely surprised. The mws are lovely and all seem to like working with one another.

Right.... off dancing. Am sure for every positive story there will be a negative and vice versa, but sticking with the Homerton as my number one now. Whit and UCH very close seconds.

. have fun dancing!

Just checked and the website says the new maternity unit at UCH will open mid 2008. As I am due end of July, I will either be one of the last in the old unit or one of the first in the new unit!

Yes you can hatrick!

Here's hoping you're one of the first Ilana