South East pregnancy wards - st helier or east surrey

[MommaSmith]

Hi all

Does anyone have experience over the last few years for a birth at either St Helier in Sutton or East Surrey hospital in Redhill?

I moved closer to redhill (18m) but I grew up in sutton and my parents are close to the hospital (7m)

I am more familiar with the hospital but caveat is a longer drive initially though not by much and it might mean living with my parents in the last few weeks on the big sofa

Ive only just found out butbi need to sign up to a hospital they say

Why would you need to live with your parents? Tbh plenty of people are over half an hour away from the hospital they give birth in xx

You can book with whoever you like and transfer later in pregnancy if you decide to. I’ve heard good things about both units tbh.

Not a birth yet but currently with St Helier for baby due later in the year. They've been good so far with all the appointments etc - obviously aware that's not what you asked but I've not had a bad experience with them so far. We do live very near to them though, so it was our first choice.

Although if you're nearer the one in Redhill then I'd probably go with that?

I gave birth at st Helier in sept 2020 and it was great. Staff were fab, hospital clean. I felt safe. Great experience.

I have booked in to have my second baby here summer 2023

I had two babies at St Hellier, 2016 and 2019. Mixed experience tbh. Antenatal care mostly good, apart from one of the two consultant sonographers. The other consultant sonographer is lovely, just ask to change if you end up in that position.
On admission, not great. Some lovely midwives, but simply not enough of them. On induction with my first there were mistakes made because I just wasn't screaming enough to get attention. Postnatle ward grim, but that seems pretty universal. I was allowed to leave same day though with the second, which was lovely. Bottom line though, both kids delivered safely, and no real emergencies caused by the minor mess ups.