St J&L is closing... Portland v Bloomsbury birth centre as can't get into St Thomas...

[cityangel]

I gave birth to ds in St Thomas. Five hour labour water birth with gas and air and they gave me GBSS antibiotics. Had a second degree tear internally but this was only noticed afterwards and stiched up under local.

16 weeks pg with #2. I live out of the St Thomas catchment area and they are no longer accepting referrals. We signed up to St John & Lizzies but they are closing to births after 30 June

They no longer offer midwife led water births privately at St Thomas. I don't want a home birth in case I tear again, or to go to my local East London hospital after friends experiences there.

The Portland has come up as an alternative, but I am concerned about its 'too posh to push' reputation and really don't want to spend our savings trying to secure a water birth there if they are too medicalised. We are going on a tour tomorrow.

I have heard good things about UCH Bloomsbury birthing Centre, but you can only watch the tour online and I don't know anyone who has given birth there. Fortunately you can self-refer.

I would really appreciate hearing about any midwife led experiences at the Portland or Bloomsbury and ideas in case I've missed anywhere else? Thank you Mumsnet

Marslady - I agree re: beautiful - I went today and couldn't believe that the NHS could offer such a facility - I'm comparing it to the birth centre at the royal free which also looks pretty much like the labour ward there - and only one room (at RF birth centre) with a pool.

The rooms look more like a spa than a NHS facility - and all the medical stuff is in a cupboard.

I was very impressed by the birthball/birthstool/support equipment they had plus fact they had double beds. I expressed surprise about the flatscreen TV (only freeview though!) but midwife pointed out that as many women stay for 6-12 hours afterward nice to be able to watch TV(although no CD player you need to take your own).

Queen Charlottes do private and have a MLU, although not sure how the private patients access MLU. Advantage of highly-qualified staffe (they take lots of difficult cases from all over the country) and NHS facilities there if something goes wrong. They are just off A40 so only a little further away than St Marys.

I had DS there on NHS. My consultant was Mr Kumar - never met him but heard only wonderful things about him, and his registrars who I did meet when it got a bit complicated at the end were excellent.

MumNWLondon: one of my dad's was really really impressed by the flatscreen tv. He had hoped to take it home. lol

Unfortunately the birth centre at J&L's is closing purely for Purely for financial reason's, not enough mother's were choosing the deliver at the unit to keep it viable. The partial refurb last year was a final push to try and increase the bookings, alas to no avail!
It's such ashame because it was a lovely but dated looking unit but with some fantastic midwives. I'm sure it will be missed by mums ,dad's and staff!