How do I choose a Hospital??

[miltong]

Hello all,
I've just found out that I am about 5 weeks pregnant and now have to choose a hospital.. Because of where I live it's between Chelsea & Westminster, St.Thomas' and St.George's in Tooting - have absolutely no idea how to chose and was wondering if anyone could shed any light on any of the above...?

Huge thanks in advance, can't believe the big decisions are starting already..!!

Don't rule out home without doing tonnes of research first .

Look at stats for each hosp, talk to people who have used them all.

If you're interested in breastfeeding then check if any of them have UNICEF Babyfriendly status.

If possible visit each. Check out whether there are midwife-led birth units or just obstetric-led care.

Consider journey times.

There's a few things to start you off .

They all do ML & Obs led care, I would expect it to be much of a muchness re bf

Consider ease of travel to each, parking, congestion charge etc

I have tried G & T and would choose T over G anytime
Facilities are better, delivery rooms are ensuite, postnatal wards are smaller with a dedicated shower room

I'm due my fourth at Chelsea & West next March. The antenatal care and delivery have been brilliant every time so far and I've been in & out with various preg and non-preg related problems with them all. This time the system's slightly changed in that there are more antenatal community based teams of midwives which means that I can have several of my standard appts three streets away from me - really helpful service. The sonographers are ace there and I've never waited more than five mins for an appt (and I've had lots of scans!!)

Post-natal ward was full (26 beds, separated by curtains basically) both times I've had to stay in (I left after 6 hours with no 2 so as to avoid staying the night but nos 1 & 3 needed monitoring for 24 hours so I had to stay in) it's been v.v. noisy at times. Apparently after receiving many complaints about the postnatal ward, the hospital/staff have worked hard to make it a better place ... I don't know yet but I'll find out in March!

I've found it superb every time overall and the only thing that would persuade me to be anywhere else would be trying a home birth!

Agree that ideally you should visit all three and see which one you feel most comfortable with, but I think some of the maternity units are not doing tours because of swine flu risks ... ring and check.

If I were you, I would forget the stats (uniformly awful in big London hospitals) - the only way to make decisions is for you to visit the place, maybe talk to a few mums, and consider distance/ease of travel for both the birth and the ante-natal appts.

Good luck!

Wow - thank you so much for all your replies and advice, all extremely helpful. Now that decision is almost done...here's to the next 8 months!