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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Kingston or Chelsea & Westminster

13 replies

Sharon001 · 21/08/2023 21:26

Hi lovely mums,

I’m in early pregnancy 4-5 weeks now and my GP asked me to register with the hospital. I did some research and am choosing between Kingston and C&W. Could you please kindly give some advice to me?

This is my 1st child. I’m a bit worried about the higher risk of pregnancy-related complications that might lead to a C-section delivery as I’m over 35.

In regards of distance, it takes 15mins drive to Kingston and 30mins drive to C&W.

BTW, Can I register with both and talk with both midwife then decide which one to labour later?

Many thanks in advance!

OP posts:

icebubbles · 21/08/2023 21:30

I went for Kingston. Depending on where you live your antenatal apts might be at the health centre in Raynes Park rather than the hospital, which personally I found made it a lot easier work-wise. Care was excellent for both babies (2019 and 2022). Big plus is postnatal rooms are private by default so I never went anywhere near a ward thank god!

icebubbles · 21/08/2023 21:32

I don't think you can register with both btw but you can switch hospital later on if you want to

Belltentdreamer · 21/08/2023 21:38

You can’t register with both! Plus there is no guarantee you’d consistently see the same midwife for appointments, let alone at the birth so shouldn’t really be your deciding point.
I went with C&W and had a good experience both times. C&W have a birth centre one side of the corridor and the Labour ward on the other side - so it’s great if you want to try for birth centre birth but want the back up of Labour ward close by.
Think everyone gets a private room at Kingston which to many is a selling point but I got a private room both times at chelsea - maybe I was just lucky 🤷‍♀️

Meredusoleil · 21/08/2023 21:38

I went with Kingston for dd1. Then changed to a different hospital for dd2, as had moved house and the 2 were equidistant.

I know someone who has done both, starting with Kingston for first dc and then going to C & W for the subsequent babies. But they lived slightly closer to C & W I would say.

Personally, I would choose whichever is nearest/easiest to get to, as you may have to go often depending on where your appointments are.

CrispAppleStrudels · 21/08/2023 21:40

Is that driving in rush hour??

Because i think i must be in your general area (first baby born at St Georges and just booked in for second baby at St Georges too) but there is no way i would risk being stuck in active labour in London traffic in the middle of the day.

FWIW, I've heard Kingston is very nice and has more private rooms than other hospitals but I've stuck with Georges on the basis that the 10mins taxi journey was bad enough last time round!

Southlandssue · 21/08/2023 21:45

I had an unplanned section at Kingston and it was fine but if I had another I would consider Georges as I would have a higher risk of complications which I found out after my first birth and they are more specialised but if it is just general complications you are concerned about, Kingston is fine and closer to you.

Anonymouslyposting · 21/08/2023 21:49

I know absolutely nothing about Kingston so can’t offer a comparison but I had my second at C&W in January. Everything went well, care was consistent and professional, no complaints.

Ketzele · 21/08/2023 21:57

Both are pretty good! Sorry that's not very helpful - which one is easiest for you to get to? Because that will matter when you're heaving your bump up there every week at the end.

Original poster

Sharon001 · 21/08/2023 22:22

Thanks a lot for all of your kindest and valuable advice.

The postnatal private room sound attractive. I haven’t decide labour ward or birth center and I’m studying about the difference. All is new to me:)

I think Kingston is easier to reach for me now. However, I may need to move home in the middle of the course and maybe stay in Putney or Wimbledon, so C&W will be almost the same distance as Kingston for me in the 3rd trimester.

Does anyone had any idea about the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in both hospital? Is it a point I should consider about?

I might consider to do some paid extra scans/tests on top of what NHS offers. I knew there is Kensington Wing as private section in C&W offering extra tests. Is there something similar existing in Kingston? Or I need to go other places for it?

Thanks again!

OP posts:

CrispAppleStrudels · 21/08/2023 22:30

Kingston NICU is Level 2, Chelsea and Westminster and St Georges are Level 3. If your baby was in Kingston NICU and needed a higher level of care, they would most likely move to St Georges (my first baby was in St Georges NICU and there were several Kingston babies with us at the same time).

wanttokickoffbutcant · 21/08/2023 23:59

I had a prem (4.4lb) at Kington and they were wonderful. She was in about 3 weeks and I was in a private room until I was discharged.

Original poster

Sharon001 · 23/08/2023 10:37

Many thanks for the above info shared by lovely mums. Sounds like they are both very good and I think I’ll take the one which will be closer in this case.

OP posts:

RainbowFish4 · 15/09/2023 12:14

I had my daughter at C&W and had a good experience. I didn’t manage to get a private room on the postnatal ward, but it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it might be. I didn’t look at Kingston, but felt like I got a better vibe from C&W than St George’s. It was also very easy to switch plans from birth centre to labour ward, which I ended up doing.

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