UCLH or Whittington

[Yaya70]

I'm starting to think about where to have my baby (due early July) and these are the two hospitals I'm considering. I've had all my antenatal care so far at UCLH and have been very impressed with the doctors I've seen there, though the midwives I've seen so far have not been a very friendly bunch. The Whittington is a bit easier for me to get to. I just wondered whether anyone had experienced giving birth at either of these places. Would you recommend either? This is my first pregnancy.

DS2 was born in the birth centre at the whittington in April 2011. I had an amazing experience - I changed at 34 weeks as got fed up with the RF. Wanted a natural birth and the birth centre at the whittington was just right for me (I changed my mind about RF as to gain access to birth centre need to go via triage when in labour, at whittington can book in in advance).

The place is amazing (as nice as private hospital) we didn't see or hear another patient the whole time we were there, stayed in labour room for 12 hours after birth and went straight home.

However I can't comment on the labour ward as didn't go there.

I'm having my antenatal care at UCH- the scans are much more thorough and so is the care I feel more so than the whit. But I'm opting for the whit birth centre as really don't want a 'medicalised' birth, which I've heard is what you'll get at UCH.

roopa they also have a birth centre at uch? even in labour ward you don't necessarily have to have a medicalised birth there, i have had 2 there and the first was very medicalised (induced, monitoring, forceps in theatre etc) but 2nd one was not very medicalised at all, it was in labour ward but the same as it would have been in birth centre active birth with g&a. the only reason you will have to have a medicalised birth there is if you need one, or if you want to have epidural?

OP i would say really you will be fine in either of these hospitals so you are in a fairly good position chosing between these 2 because its 2 good choices rather than 2 crap ones! I am going for whittington this time because it is much nearer and makes life easier just to go down the road for appointments and also when in labour, rather than all the way to uch but I was v happy with uch and dont have any real complaints about it after 2 births there. Maybe the midwifes dont seem too friendly cos you hardly see the same one twice? and they get rushed in the antenatal clinics? I do know what you mean but in labour I found them good, it wasn't midwifes I knew previously or had developed a relationship with etc but they were very good, got the job done and were supportive and nice, especially the ones I had with my 2nd baby just over a year ago they were lovely!
However in Whittington so far when I have been I have seen the same midwife on each appointment and got the number for that midwife, it seems a much smaller team and in some ways that feels a lot nicer/friendlier.
Also the waiting around for apts and scan seems to be a lot less in whittington than uch, which can be a positive. Agree scans seem less thorough though, my 12 weeks scan was extremely quick! got 2nd one today so will see how that is.

As you say the doctors @ uch are very good, and also if you need any kind of special care or treatment for your baby after birth they might be better for that I think? so if you had any complications or think it would need to be a medicalised type of birth I would stick with uch probably (although I guess most likely wouldn't know at this stage really) but if you want birth centre type birth maybe go whittington as the birth centre is newer

Good luck!!

Thanks everyone for your replies -- they're really helpful. With it being my first, I've no idea how I'm going to react to the pain, which makes me a bit reluctant to go with the birth centre option. Am I right in thinking you can't have an epidural if you choose a birth centre?

I did have complications in the first/early second trimester (started off with twins, but only a singleton now), but things have been fairly smooth since then. And I'm a bit older (40), so I was leaning towards the hospital option just in case.

hey

I am 12 weeks with my first preg (so I don?t know how useful this will be!).

I had the same query, and have decided to go with the Whittington. it was a personal choice (and who knows if it will be the right one) but i primarily went on location (based on the thought of getting from my house to UCH when in labour in rush hour). I also plan to use the birth centre if possible, and have heard great things about it. From what I can tell UCH is better from the medical point of view (more high tech etc) but the Whittington is more friendly. My appointments so far have been with very friendly staff.

I suppose it comes down to you - if you think/want your birth to be quite medical/ if the journey there is no problems then go with uch.

Overall they are both supposed to be great, so it is a nice choice?

Good luck with it

with both of them the birth centre is in the same building btw so if you decide you need an epidural they should be able to simply shift you up/down/wherever to the relevant floor to labour ward and would just quickly be transferred over there and given epidural, so the option is not totally taken away.