Anyone recently given birth at the Royal Free hospital?

[firstimer30s]

If so.. what was your experience?

Know it got a bad rap a few years ago, is this still the case? Am PG and it's my closest one - would love to hear experiences, good or bad!

Thanks

Hi first, it's my nearest hospital too. Hopefully someone will come along with some recent experience. I'm going to UCH and they've been great so far (just had booking appointment).

Hi Edamame, if it's your nearest hospital what made you choose UCH?
So far Royal Free have been amazing, but I am only 12 weeks so would love to hear from someone who has given birth there.
Anyone... anyone at all?

Can't comment, sorry, but I think that Royal Free Hospital is one of the 5 hospitals in England where you can donate your cord blood.

I am not trying to pressure anyone, just wanted you to be aware, as it may have some impact on your decision making.

Check the AnthonyNolan website for more details. I am really lucky to have a good hospital in Birmingham, who collect cord blood donations and all being well, intend to donate mine.

I went there & they were great. My nearest was St Mary's and I hated it. Royal Free took me on at 39 weeks and I was very grateful to them and the care I got there was exponentially better than St Mary's. The whole experience with them (brief though it was, but ended up 2 weeks late so was over a 3 week period, lots of appointments) can't be faulted.

Sorry, me again. Yes, this hospital is one of the 5.

www.anthonynolan.org/What-you-can-do/Donate-your-umbilical-cord.aspx

Hello, I gave birth here last year and my care was consultant led.

Unfortunately the day my baby was born there were building works going on...drills, banging everything on the maternity ward! Obviously not an indicator of the hospital's care though....

Appointment wise we always had to wait a long time to be seen. I always found the consultants helpful though and eager to answer any questions and give you their time.

When I was in labour unfortunately I had a very miserable un-caring midwife (we informally complained) but by the time my baby was born another lady had taken over and she was lovely.

After care was fine, breastfeeding support workers were around, midwives came and helped whenever I asked for help (like 3am please help me she's been attached to my boob for 3 hours what shall I do!)

I had to attend the triage/labour ward a few times during my pregnancy and they were lovely, always willing to help and see you and made me feel very comfortable.

It's not my nearest hospital but I will choose it again :-)

I had my little boy there in June 2011 so a while ago I guess but I received great care. The midwife on the day was amazing and even though the birthing centre was full she respected my desire to have as natural a labour as possible and I still got to spend a lot of time in water as all of the labour ward rooms are on suites with big baths. I think they have made huge improvements form a few years ago.
Post natal ward was not so great but I think that's common to most hospital as they concentrate most of their resources on the labour side.
Aftercare was really good too and had both physio and consultant referrals.

Hi first, it's just that out of a few friends who've given birth in the last couple of years, the ones that went to UCH really raved about it and the RF ones totally didn't. So not a big sample at all! Also, I like nice shiny new buildings

I'm sure RF will continue to be great for you - as it sounds like it has been for others who responded. And I'm sure I'll be cursing my decision when I'm stuck in traffic on Euston Road during labour...

Ahoy, I believe UCH facilitate cord blood donation now also.