Choosing SW London hospital for birth between Christmas-New Year

[Cith]

Hi, am new to this!
I'm 7 weeks pregnant and have been told two different due dates on visits to GP - 23/12 and 29/12. My GP that me that I have to decide now where I want to have my baby so that he can refer me for antenatal services ASAP. So am trying to decide between St Thomas, Kingston, St Georges, and Chelsea & Westminster hospitals, and have been looking at all the different options for each but would really appreciate some feedback or suggestions about these and peoples' experiences...particularly as it seems the due date is destined to be between Christmas & New Year (although would hope could hold on a bit longer!).

I had DD at St George's on 5 Jan, but she was due on 1 Jan (this was 2008). I was very happy with them and had a really straightforward, intervention free birth. Just after DD was born their midwife led unit opened, so you might like to look into that.
Someone in my NCT class had to be induced and they did the induction before Christmas to make sure she wasn't there over the Christmas period. I think they told her there was less staff "on duty" between Christmas and New Year but others on call, so if lots of people went into labour they could be called in.

Am pregnant with no. 2 and started off with Kingston. Have subsequently moved to St Helier as I've booked a home birth. TBH, I wasn't loving Kingston. They are seen as "the" hospital to go to round here, but I found them off hand and rather impersonal. My GP said they are very, very busy so you might not get the "warm and fuzzy" treatment. Of course, I didn't actually give birth there so things may be very different in the labour section.

Hope that helps!

I have had one at George and one at Thomas
All will probably be equally busy

If you can get in (they were restricting out of area referrals) I would go for Thomas
Only disadvantage for us was the difficulty parking

I had my son the week before Christmas at Chelsea and Westminster. It was pretty crappy to be honest. No room, no midwife and shoddy aftercare - they even sent me a letter asking if I had had a baby in their hosp and what sex it was etc as I complained that no health visitor came round for the home visit.

I'm due to have my second in 10 days at St Thomas and they just seem so much more clued up. We've been on the tour and the rooms and whole birthing unit are sooo much nicer. Parking is v expensive tho and it is in the congestion zone (as is C&W now). Hope that helps

I had DD1 and DD2 at Kingston, but that was 2000 and 2002, so a while ago now. They were excellent at the time, but I think in general the after care support that women in the UK receive now is much reduced.

When I made the decision about where to go (I had a similar list to yours) I thought about the journey to the hospital while in labour most. I had heard some horrid stories about women being stuck in rush hour traffic trying to get into London. As it was I had 4 lovely journeys through Richmond Park (3 times with DD1 because DH we kept forgetting things.

HTH a bit.

Have had both mine at C&W- one a couple of days after new year. Both a few weeks early and treated v well on both occasions. Had own room after DS's birth as he was in special care for a couple of days.
Can get complaints about their post natal care but think that everywhere is pretty much the same. Their ante natal care was great.
To be honest I would probably go for the nearest.

Hi there, I've had a baby at St Thomas's and just recently at Kingston. I found the midwives at Kingston absolutely lovely and very on the ball, despite being extremely busy. Recommend it.

A few friends have delivered at St George's, it's recently had a facelift but previously wasn't much to look at, but they were happy enough. In the summertime the post-natal ward (Gwillim Ward) is like a sauna. I was cared for initially (before switching to Thomas's / Kingston) and after discharge from the other hospitals for both births by Yellow Team, all lovely.

Two friends had good births at C&W but complained about aftercare.
Good luck!

Didn't have DD at St Georges but was transferred there shortly after her birth due to her being in the neo natal unit, they were amazing and couldn't recommend them enough.

They are one of the best neo natal teams in the area and for me that would sway me and I would go there. Between Christmas and New Year the task of arranging transport for transfers would be a nightmare I imagine, it wasn't easy to sort with a full team of staff! On the same basis, if not St Georges, St Thomas' would be my preference.

Which hospital is nearest?

I am with EWE. I had my DD at ST Georges. The staff at delivery were great. Aftercare on the ward was a bit hit and miss - but I can't rate the Neo-natal care highly enough!! They were kind, helpful and very responsive.

DC is due in June and I have decided to go with St Georges again for this reason.

My sister had her DD in Kingston and I was shocked at the lack of staff and aftercare. Decided it wasn't for me!

Thanks for all those suggestions - very helpful! St Georges is the nearest hospital and definitely the easiest to get to for antenatal care appointment both from work and home. The feeling I am getting is that all these hospitals have good and bad points and it depends on staffing levels etc. on the day...hopefully will be all ok! SO think that will probably go for St Georges. Thanks again