Mayday or Kings College?

[Squitten]

I live in Croydon, London, and I'm expecting our second child in Dec. Last time around, I went to KCH as I knew it was good and overall I was pleased with the birth experience I had there. Only problem was that my antenatal care was a nightmare because I had to attend satellite midwife clinics that were miles from where I lived. After the birth, KCH had nothing further to do with us and our community midwives were from Mayday.

I have the choice again this time and I have found out that if I choose Mayday, I get all my antenatal care done through my GP surgery. Now that I also have my toddler in tow, this is a practical concern. My GP seems ambivalent about the choice.

I have been researching Mayday and have read some horrific stories but they have mostly been pre-2007. I was wondering if anyone had any recent experience of the hospital - not the birth centre (v.likely a section)?

I'm not going to comment about mayday as it was 2005 when dc1 was born there. I did have half my antenatal care from my (male) GP and half at the mw clinic. The Gp wasn't really very helpful and i found the midwife appts better though really inconvienient. Fortunately for me I no longer live in Croydon and where I am now the mw does a clinic at the gp surgery and when you are REALLY struggling in late pg will pop round to your house when she can fit you in.It's not fair how much maternity services vary, but if you've found a hospital that you think is ok I'd stick with it if i were you.

I had DS2 at Mayday in August 2008 and am due to have next one in October. Like you I had huge reservations about Mayday, had heard dreadful things. I wanted to go to the birth centre (as had had DS1 naturally at PRU in Bromley with no issues) but ended up with a crash section under general anaesthetic.

It was so not the birth I wanted but I cannot fault the staff. Both on labour ward, in surgery and afterwards on post-natal they were excellent. A couple were perhaps not as 'touchy/feely' as you may get elsewhere but everyone was completely professional, helpful and mostly very lovely.

Regarding midwives I do think it's unfortunate that you don't get to see the same one each time, but all in all I have absolutely no reservations about having the next one there.

Thanks for the responses. There seems to be a really broad spectrum between those who have had nightmares and those who have been ok. Tough decision....!