Best NHS hospital (London) for maternity & child birth

[Rj1988]

Hi Ladies,

Just found out that I'm pregnant! (Conceived via IVF)
Still early days for me and this is my first time.

I have been researching online about the best maternity hospitals in London and now I am confused between

UCLH
St Mary's ( nhs only not private lindo wing)
Chelsea & Westminster
Queen Charlotte & Chelsea hospital

In terms of commute they are all within 20-40 mins drive for me

Need your suggestions in deciding which one I should go ahead with

They might not accept you for standard/low-risk care…
they probably won’t turn you away if you arrive in labour, but double check the referral process before getting your heart set on one

That said, if you are high risk in any way, I would absolutely look to be looked after by one of the London hospitals with a Fetal medicine unit, even if you’re not under the care of a FMU consultant
Even the regular sonographers and midwives will benefit from working alongside them

I had both my babies at Chelsea and Westminster (one induction and one ELCS, in 2019 and a month ago) and had very good experiences. I found them to be good at respecting the patient’s preferences in as much as possible. E.g. they have a newly refurbed, all singing all dancing birth centre, but equally no one batted an eye lid at my early epidural and Labour ward request. Apparently they have a rule that all epidurals must be given within 25 minutes of requesting. Post natal care was good (private room the first time, ward the second). I had no issues with midwives answering buzzers and helping during the night after my ELCS. The staff were all lovely and helpful.

Vey best of luck whichever hospital you opt for!

I had the exact opposite experience to @EarlGreywithLemon at Chelsea & Westminster this year with my first baby and am in the process of bringing a medical negligence case against them for a life long issue I now have due to sloppy no care on the post natal ward.

They are very quick to push you into an emergency c-section (happened to me and a number of my friends who’ve given birth there). I think this is because it’s extremely overcrowded and they just want to move you on and out asap. I had such an awful experience overall that I insisted on being discharged 24 hours after my EMCS. I was told partner couldn’t stay, but the woman in the bay next to me who had a natural birth had her partner there all night (talking away all night, of course!). I had absolutely no assistance from the midwives with changing baby, etc. just a few hours after my EMCS. At one point I wheeled my baby in her cot right past the nurses station to get nappy changing supplies and all 4 of them were just sat there and one shot me a dirty look.

I was in the hospital for a total of 6 days and the ante natal and post natal wards were both hellish. Absolutely rammed with extremity noisy people; husbands yelling at their wives all through the night, other women having hours long conversations on speakerphone day and night, etc. Midwives did nothing about it.

Another issue is CWH has a big reputation (which it didn’t live up to for me) and because of this, people travel from far and wide to give birth there (like pp who was prepared to travel
2 hrs to a London hospital). One woman in the bay next to me on the ante natal ward had come over from the US for a free NHS birth (husband stayed in Michigan) and one opposite me on the post natal ward was from Hampshire. You will probably get better care at a less busy hospital.

If I were to have another baby it would not be at CWH. I’d prefer Queen Charlotte’s but am a bit far from it so would look at St. Mary’s or UCLH.

*extremely, not extremity 🤦‍♀️

Like you I live 1-2 hours away, however I had all my babies at St Mary's.

My first was in the birth centre.
My 2nd pregnancy was twins in the labour ward. All where delivered vaginally.

I'm not messing with the hospitals near me, as I've heard far too many horror stories.

Currently pregnant and will either deliver at St Mary's or Queen Charlotte.

Both hospitals have exceptional care that I have experienced.

@RunAndTellThat thanks for sharing! How did you find the experience of travelling whilst in labour? A huge majority have indicated it is hard to go 10 minutes let alone 120 minutes. How did you manage?

@EasterBunny7 for my 1st pregnancy my waters broke at midnight, so driving at that time was relatively smooth, as there was no traffic. My contractions were actually not bad whilst in the car.

My husband parked at Paddington Station car park, from there we walked to the birth centre at St Mary's. The walk while in-between contractions took about 15-20 mins. I think the walk helped because I had my baby 2hours later upon arrival at the birth centre.

With my 2nd pregnancy, luckily I was already in the hospital when my waters broke.

Had a good experience at Uclh (2nd child, elective c-section, mild complications in pregnancy ) and friends who had relatively straight forward births seem happy with Queen Charlotte.

That's horrendous @FreyaStorm sad to hear it's a relatively recent experience too. Not familiar with this hospital's maternity but unfortunately I've heard of this type of postnatal experience across all of the London hospitals. It shouldn't be acceptable. I had a rough first birth with surgical intervention and great postnatal care enabled baby and I to heal.

I’m glad you had a good experience @IrishMamaMia and I will look into UCLH if I ever have a second.
I do agree that it seems post natal care is pretty dire no matter where you go.
I somehow think if it was men having the babies they wouldn’t be allowed to carry on as they are. EMCS or ELCS is major surgery - I can’t imagine such shoddy care on wards with patients recovering from operations of a similar invasiveness. We get left to our own devices and on top of that have a newborn baby to care for.
Liz Truss needs to stick up for us.

UCLH. Three fairly complicated births there. Extraordinary care. Ever grateful.

As you are IVF I would recommend finding out what the different trusts policies are for IVF patients. It can vary by trust. I dont know for these ones and they may be both the same but it is worth checking. Some do regular monitoring scans and consultant led just as an extra precaution others treat exactly the same as standard pregnancy.
It is a great to have the extra reassurance if possible.
Some also recommended induction at 40 weeks (which is statistical beneficial). You would need to be happy with this if it is the case or prepared to push back and assert you preferences if not.

I am currently trying to explore options for hospitals I am based in the RM12 area but all hospitals around dont have very good reviews for the maternity units so I wanted to know if my address registration matters or I can choose any hospital by completing their self registration form. I have completed the imperial college healthcare one opting for Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea and waiting to hear back as I am already 5 weeks. Thanks

I am currently trying to explore options for hospitals I am based in the RM12 area but all hospitals around dont have very good reviews for the maternity units so I wanted to know if my address registration matters or I can choose any hospital by completing their self registration form. I have completed the imperial college healthcare one opting for Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea and waiting to hear back as I am already 5 weeks. Thanks

@sra17 Yes you can do a self referral. I'm based around RM12 too, and I had my children in St Mary's hospital, part of the imperial college health. From experience, they usually aim to give the first appointment by the 8th week mark of pregnancy.
The decision is yours to make, taking into consideration the commute for your appointments and delivery day.

I was wondering if you have got any reply back from the hospitals from self referral yet? I am in the RM postcode too and just found out that I am pregnant, I really don't want to go Queen's or Basildon. I've never heard anything good about them.

I also live in RM postcode, I was wondering how did you manage to get to St Marys in time when you started having contractions? Husband keeps telling me we won't make it there on time and will end up having the baby in car.

Did they also ask why you choose to travel so far?

Hey, I self referred myself on saturday last week and got a call I guess from a coordinator on Monday he didnt asked anything specific but did questioned that my address is a bit far from the chosen hospital and I said that I am aware but am fine with that as I really want to be monitored and give birth there. He then said that I should be contacted either this week or next by a midwife and I really hope they dont question or make me change. I am also fearing the same of not being able to make it on time but I have my aunt living 15 mins by car from Queen Charlottes hospital so hopefully I can stay there to be at a closer proximity closer to the due date unless it really comes out of the blue and we are completely not prepared. Let me know if you have contacted them as well and if you have heard back. 😊

Please se my response on your query below. Posted it there by accident.

My wife and I are also keen to avoid Basildon and/or Southend so have been looking at QCCH - we did a quick Airbnb search for the Du Cane/ Barlby Roads area and there are a few so this might be useful for the last few posters to camp out at prior and post. Assuming it can be timed of course…

For my son (who is now 15months), my waters started to break in the evening around 9pm. It took my roughly 1hour to get to St Mary's. The traffic was not too bad, maybe because it was late in the evening. When the staff asked me why I chose St Mary's considering the distance, I just mention my local hospital which would have been Queens, and they gave me a look of agreement.
I was personally determined and confident, in making my choice.

That's exactly what I am worried about, the baby coming early and unexpectedly. I really don't want to end up going to Queen's or basildon. i'm thinking of the option to rent somewhere nearer the hospital if time comes. I only filled in the self referral form this afternoon, I really hope they don't tell me it's too far. Have you considered any other hospitals near here? i was looking at PAH and Broomsfield but their CQC report isn't great =.=

Congrats on your baby boy!!!
Did you have a smooth birth at QC? Did you ask for epidural if you don't mind me asking? Did you have a second choice of hospital if QC was to reject you? I have to think of a backup plan if QC decides to reject me for living so far away. I am determined too for NOT giving birth at Queens!!!!

I've seen so much positive birth reviews on Queen's and Basildon on Mumsnet. It scares me!

Thank you. My pregnancy was high risk, that's why I opted not to go to Queens.
I had a cerclage performed at QC, the procedure went well. At, 36 weeks my son was breached, so at St Mary's I had an ECV, which was successful.
I gave birth at St Mary's. Which is under the same trust as QC.
I gave birth in the birth centre at St Mary's, the experience was so smooth. I was blessed, with an experienced, wonderful midwife.
No epidural, only gas and air.
Because I have quick labour (under 3 hours), as soon My waters broke, I made my way to the hospital.
That was my 3rd pregnancy, 4th child. All birthed in St Mary's paddington.