East Sheen - which hospital?

[weddingseason]

Just discovered I'm pregnant - does anyone know what my options are for hospitals to give birth in? Want to do a bit of research before I see GP as I've heard they want you to make a decision on the spot.

I am 30 weeks pregnant and due this April, I also live in East Sheen.

Your main options for hospitals are:

Kingston
Chelsea and Westminster
St Georges
West Middlesex

There are others, but to be honest with NHS free choice, you do have the option of choosing ANYWHERE!!- but these are the usual choices for our area, and all within a resonable proximity.

Congratulations!

Brilliant - thanks for that and all the best for the next ten weeks!

Congratulations!

I'm around the corner from you and as leila says we have four hospitals all within our catchment (although I think at my GPs (Sheen Lane) Kingston seems to be the default, where they assume you're going to go, and it's Kingston's midwives whom have surgeries there).

I have given birth at West Middlesex, albeit almost 16 years ago! And twice at Kingston (last time 11 months ago). I'm booked again at Kingston. Although as an added confusion, scans are at Queen Mary's in Roehampton (even though they don't have maternity services there anymore).

Sorry to change the subject somewhat but a question for MandaHugNKiss, as you have given birth twice at Kingston how did you find it? Were you happy with your experience?

I'm sure you were, otherwise you wouldn't be booked in for your next?! But am just curious, ta X

My experiences at Kingston have been a little bit mixed: antenatally and labour/delivery - good vs postnatally - um, wanting? Not awful, but not great. THis seems to be the general story across the country and perhaps moreso in London.

I was unlucky enough to need several admissions with both my two Kingston pregnancies thanks to bleeding/low placentas and reoccuring uti's. They are pretty great.

It is a very busy unit, no doubt. But the midwives still seem very 'human', even on the post natal side where very busy seems to be inadequate in explaining how rushed they are. I believe they were rated the highest of all London hospitals last february in an independant survey of women that had given birth that month in London so they are clearly doing something right.

I'll caveat by saying that my actual births are very quick indeed - I'm one of the 'lucky' ones in that respect so it could be my experience would be positive whereever I was? But all in all, I would happily recommend Kingston, yes.

Thank-you! It seems most of what I have heard is similar to what you described re Kingston. I suppose in London, all maternity units will be a 'much of a muchness'.

Fingers crossed, they'll be empty round my due date- here's wishing!

I'm in East Sheen as well, but I chose Queen Charlotte's over Kingston, and I'm really pleased that I did - they have been brilliant so far. Yes, you have to wait for a fair while as they always seem to be running late for antenatal appointments, but that's probably normal in any busy maternity hospital, and the midwives have all been excellent so far. You can still see the midwives at the Sheen lane surgery for your routine appointments after 20 wks anyway.

Hi there, newbie here, have been lurking on MN for a while. I'm from East Sheen as well and am going with Kingston. I was going to choose West Middlesex but Sheen Surgery doesn't have a link with them and I preferred the midwife appointments at Sheen Surgery.

Had my scans at Queen Marys (good first scan, not so good second one), and had to check into Kingston once for some light bleeding. They were completely oversubscribed but they have been very nice. Still I'm going to be accompanied by a doula who liaise with Kingston a lot so that I make sure everything will go smoothly.

Leila - I'm due in the same month as you!

Congrats...!!

I'm due next week and I live in East Sheen..! Ekkk.

Local GP's have 'feeder' hospitals which they will send you too, but of course you can self-refer. I meet someone the other day at the new members NCT who is due in June and couldn't get into Kingston or C&W as they were full. So is going to West Middlesex instead. So i'd book an appointment with your GP asap, you can also change hospital's if your not happy later.

I'm booked in at Kingston. I haven't been impressed at all with Queen Mary's (waiting room is very hot and I always end up waiting for over an hour..) some of the midwives are a 'bit off'. One who told me I was a 'big baby' for hating blood tests... so she got a sharp short reply.

Spent a few hours in Kingston earlier this week having a few test / double checking etc and the staff were really kind.

Sheen Lane Surgery are AMAZING..

Big waves to Leila...

Hello Highlandgirl....I agree Sheen Lane Surgery is brilliant- Dr Davies is the best doc one could ever hope for! A real God send!

I agree re Queen Mary's, antenatal appointments there have been a bit of a nightmare, but my experience so far with Kingston has been faultless- spent some time in the day assessment unit recently and all the staff were lovely.

Hi Safetyzone..!

Whist we are making suggestions...

Sheen Uncovered on the Upper Richmond Road are brilliant for bra's, went today to get breastfeeding bra's. Staff really helpful and very knowledgeable.

Also I got a really lovely support BF vest, wish I'd had it sooner..as you can sleep in it too. It's really comfy can be worn for the first few days on it's own.