UCH and St Mary's (paddington) - advice?

[olilos]

Hello all. I just found out i am pregnant with my first child, and amidst the happy/excited/shocked/overwhelmed feelings, i have also been trying to choose a hospital for my booking appointment. I was wondering if any experienced London-based mummies could give me some information/advice on the maternity wards at UCH and St Mary's hospital. I can find lots online about the birthing centres within each hospital, but not much about the wards, which i understand is where you have to be if you end up wanting an epidural. Any recent experiences? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all very much.

I went to UCH in 2012 with my DD and it was good. I had an induction, which wasn't fun, but mostly felt well taken care of. My midwife was ace and really fought my corner to get me an epidural earlier than normal because my pain had increased so much after they broke my waters. The maternity nurses were also amazing.

I decided not to go with St Mary's as 3 different friends (who didn't know each other) all said it wasn't clean. Also, one of my husband's friends is married to a woman very high up at the Royal Free in Hampstead, and she chose to have her baby at UCH. I figured she would know!

Thank you very much for your response Josie. Much appreciated :)

UCH definitely. Their maternity facility is fairly new whereas St M's is ancient (unless they've updated it in the last few years).

I gave birth at St Ms and while the AN and birth care was excellent, the post-natal ward was like a victorian workhouse!

My St Mary's experience was 11 years ago so not much help now!

I've heard and continue to hear good things about UCH.

Congrats on your pregnancy!

Thank you both.

I'm with St Mary's because their Obs/gyn consultants and some midwives are specialists in a medical condition I have. But the other posters are right, it's well Victorian! The staff are ace though.

i'm at St. Mary's, but that is only because the closer, nicer hospital (Queen Charlottes) has a blanket ban on repeat c sections now, so my consultant said to go to St. Mary's instead (still having to fight though!)

AM 32 weeks, not been near the labour ward yet, but the anitnatal clinic is dirty and crowded. Consultant said if I could afford it to go to the Lindo Wing for aftercare if they have room as even she doesn't rate the postnatal ward or the postnatal midwife care.

So far though, the midwives have been ok. Just a bit brusque.

UCH is good.

Loopylouu why no repeat c sections??

CaptainCunt (LOVE the name!)

I had my first section 11 years ago. Apparently its now policy at Queen Charlottes to say no to a second section and try a VBAC first.

My consultant works at both, and even though she has no problem with me having a repeat section (she has even booked me a provisional date so she can perform it) I still have to jump through hoops at St. Mary's and am seeing a phycologist next week to make my case! But she said at Queen Charlottes, it's now a no.

Oh blimey. How weird that you can't choose. Is it because it was so long ago or same for everyone? They must think the vbac risks are really low.

I'm being induced Saturday morning at UCH. I'll let you know how it goes. My last one was at the Royal Free, which was ok. I wouldn't choose St Mary's. It's ancient

I have no idea. She just told me that the hospital always push for vbac after one section, but after two, they will give you a section automatically.

Thank you all for your help. All the best for Saturday Juliealpha! I hope everything goes smoothly.

I had a great experience at UCH with dc1 and am having dc2 there despite living nowhere near I liked it so much!

If you have a choice to avoid St. Mary's then go for that.

As others have said the midwives during labour were great, but the postnatal ward is something I wouldn't look forward to.

(I had my first DC there, and then as I couldn't get booked in to Queen Charlottes, had to have my second there. I have the lowest pain threshold ever but went for the birth centre as there was no way I was going to that postnatal ward again).

Just be prepared for the post natal wards in both to be like Heathrow Airport. Honestly they are the busiest noisiest places you could possibly imagine. Crazy partners trying to stay over etc.

Oh good, now I am absolutely shitting my pants about st. Mary's!

My experience with ds at another hospital was bad enough, walking into he showers to find them blood splattered like a murder scene was a low point, as was finding a pool of blood (not mine) by the side off bed and almost slipping in it.

I can luckily afford two nights in the lindo wing post birth, but that all depends on of they have space. Please god they do!

Loopy - the showers were clean and so were the wards - it was just that the rooms were really small and dark and hot. They do have private postnatal rooms in the NHS bit too - only 4 I think but worth asking about if the Lindo is full.

Baby Josephine Louise arrived safely and very quickly at UCLH yesterday at 5:22 am. The staff were all really good and the hospital meticulously clean. fabulous delivery room, really couldn't fault them. They are short staffed, like everywhere but wonderfully professional. Good luck with your pregnancy x

Juliealpha, thank you so much for taking the time to post again, and for all your help. Congratulations on the arrival of your daughter! I'm glad it all went smoothly for the two of you. I hope you are both doing well!