Bloomsbury Birth centre at UCLH - experiences?

[downbutnotout]

I'm 32 weeks and had been planning a home birth with an IM. However, my baby has an anomaly and I was referred to UCLH by my local hospital. They are now saying that they cannot recommend a home birth because of the anomaly. I was told at UCLH that they can try to arrange for me to use the birthing centre there. This appeals as at least it would be midwife-led care. Does anyone have any experiences to share of this centre? I'd be particularly grateful to hear from anyone who has used it at the new site they have moved to recently on Euston Road.

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bumpity bump

I know a few of the staff there very well now as have had two DCs with them and local antenatal care and I rate them very highly. I gave birth to DD at the EGA site - waterbirth and was VERY impressed. i felt as if we had gone privately we had to much attention. 2nd birth was a homebirth - birth centre staff do those too and again, treated like royalty.

DC2 is 4 months...

Hi there. I can't comment on the birthing centre, so don't know how helpful this will be, but I had my daughter in the new EGA hospital 3 weeks ago and I can't speak highly enough of the staff and the facilities.

I had a very rough birth at the Royal Free a few years ago, so wasn't holding out much hope for any of the big London hospitals being great this time around, but the Labour ward at UCH was pretty good, actually - spacious, clean rooms with all the mod cons, plus birthing balls, reclining comfy chairs for the dads, big beds, nice en suite bathrooms - all spanking new. All the midwives I encountered were really nice and professional, too (I actually had a c-section, and the after care was great).

I also felt like I wouldn't have got much better if I had gone private (OK, maybe slightly better food!)

Thanks for these comments - it's very reassuring!

I had my DD at the birth centre a month ago, just days after the move to the new facilities. I was very dubious about EGA, based in part on the manky old building and some of the antenatal care. In the end I had a quick labour, but a third degree tear that needed to be tended to and a lot of unexplained bleeding... The staff, apart from a couple of minor exceptions, were magnificient and the care was amazing. I would not have wanted to be anywhere else or in the care of anyone else... I would go back, or recommend the place to anyone else, in a flash...