Which hospital? Kings College vs St Thomas Hospital (London)

[Macaroons]

I'm 11 weeks pregnant, and I'm having second thoughts about my hospital choice.

I live in SE London, Kings College Hospital is 1.2 miles away while Guys and St Thomas is 3.5 miles away. At my first GP appointment I chose Guys and St Thomas despite that being slightly further away, because:

1. I've heard good things about Tommies but I don't know any friend who gave birth in Kings;
2. It's actually easier to get to Tommies using public transport from home / from work, and I THOUGHT midwife appointments would take place at the hospital.
3. I knew I wouldn't want to give birth at home anyway so not being able to do the home-from-home birth wouldn't matter to me.

Because I'm not going to my local (Kings) hospital, I can't go to my GP to meet community midwife, instead I have to go somewhere which is quite a pain to get to from home or from work... so I'm having second thoughts about my hospital choice.

And say if I were to give birth at Tommies, how would post natal care work?

I know everyone's different. Some people prefer to be left alone while some would like more attention and receive more care (I'm the latter) I'm looking for people's experiences at having babies at either Kings or St Thomas' Hospital and the care you received, both positive and negative, and just generally your overall opinion.

Any feedback will be much appreciated, thanks so much! X

Just wondering, did you get any photos at the scan? I was reading this www.hitched.co.uk/chat/forums/p/76500/770926.aspx it says they charge you a few quid per photo. Do you need to tell them beforehand? Thanks

it was £1.50 per photo, you shouldn't have to tell them beforehand. Although there are token machines to buy the photos, I never had to use them. I just paid at the reception. (by the way your link isn't working)

thanks miaumau!

I had all my ante natal care for both my pregnancies at King's. The scanning department is second to none. They scan at 12, 22 and 32 weeks routinely and more often if there are any issues. My DS had IUGR and I had a rubbish placenta. The risk of these things happening were spotted early so I was closely monitored - I don't know if they would have been at another hospital.

Unfortunately I didn't get to have him at King's because the SCBU was so busy at the time he had to come out at 35 weeks by caesarian so I was transferred out to Carshalton whilst still pregnant to be delivered and spend 2 weeks.

I'm now 31 weeks pregnant with my second, and hoping to actually have the baby at Kings this time! I know that Kings postnatal wards are very busy and noisy so I don't expect to enjoy it but I know the care is going to be very good and the ratio of staff to patients is good as well. I doubt there's much in it between Tommy's and Kings as regards postnatal care but for antenatal King's is far superior.

Thank you all for the info. They have all been invaluable. I'm now very tempted to switch back to kings as its closer to home which means I can see community midwife at GP, and the scans pre natal does sound very good! And being closer to home means when it comes to labour time it doesnt take as long to get there.

Bearcrumble, I had the same, it was picked up at my 22 week scan at Tommies & I was offered regular growth scans, all very efficient.

Btw Kings also do the 'cord blood donation' scheme if you are interested.

Sorry for replying so late to your question!

I had a VB and happened to give birth on a very busy night, so only went into the labour ward at the last minute - laboured mostly at the antenatal ward. As I wasn't in the labour ward I could have gas and air and pethidine rather than an epidural.

However, walking around and taking a shower was what helped the most, it made a great difference to be mobile. I really, really recommend getting out of bed and walking or even swaying with your arms around your birth partner. Also, this was my second so it was a faster birth, I imagine I would gave gotten my epidural if I had more time. Still, even though the ward was unusually busy it was a great experience... Lovely midwifes, good facilities and a healthy happy baby!

The breastfeeding support was very good as well and the care at the post natal ward also great. If I had another I would definitely go back!

thanks for the tips metalelephant

Kings college hospital to be honest we have a very bad experience there me and my partner during her delivery.the way they handle her was so bad.it seems like the midwife’s don’t know what they are doing.no respect at all especially those who serve food to the patients.please avoid this hospital if you are about to give birth.my partner spent there 4days and all these 4 days they don’t change the bed sheets the gown she was given they don’t change it the bed the baby was sleeping on we ask for new sheets they never provided it and in the night the midwife never helped out after complain of pain to be given pain killers.to remove the Irvine from the bag she ask her to wait for the next midwife to change as she is almost about to switch.please don’t go there at all

Well as the original thread was in 2012,the “baby” would be 11 now!

I had a very complicated pregnancy with a long hospital stay and a baby born at 29 weeks at St Thomas' about a year ago. I managed to have all my widwife appointments at St Thomas' even though I wasn't anywhere close to them. I had a mixed experience, the consultants and NICU were wonderful and the care I received when things got serious was good but the general before and aftercare when I was in hospital was pretty poor, it was complicated by it being covid times but it still fell far short of acceptable. I'm in Dulwich too and am pregnant again, have decided to stick with St Thomas' as they know my medical history but have gone private. Kings' has been fabulous with my daughter who has had a few A&E visits and hospitals stays and I would have been tempted to have maternity care there if it wasn't for very specific complications that I have that Tommys specialise in.