The Whittington - Does Anyone Have Anything Good To Say About It?

[EmmaBe]

Only 12wks and new to Mumsnet (only joined today!) but worried but discussions in the past comparing Whittington to the Royal Free. I had to choose between Whittington and UCH and gone with Whittington as more convenient but now worried. Does anyone have any recent good experiences at the Whittington to cheer me up?? Or if not any tips to get the most of out them??

My birht experience at Whittington was pretty good. On the day, I had meconium so although the midwives wanted me to try natural birth I asked to see the consulted and told him that I wanted a cesarian. He respected my decision which was pretty good. After care was crap though but this is the case in all NHS hospitals. You just have to look out for the nice nurses, there is always one, who will look after you. good luck

Thanks Cecillia, yes am finding out that the NHS has some limitations - although my sister a nurse so sure more to do with understaffing than anything else. glad all worked out for you at the Whit and will keep my fingers crossed for a good experience myself.

Yes I was born there and so was one of my best friends although we only met 14 years later. In our day, the Whittington was where all problem pregnancies/births were sent, hence why we were there.

Sorry, no use to whatsoever reading about what happened 40 plus years ago, but I was inspired to write by seeing the name of the institution that ensured me life!

Welcome! Sorry, no helpful information re Whittington, although unfortunately a friend gave birth there (birth fine, aftercare not).

Can I strongly suggest that you find out about the single room situation there, like now? A lot of NHS hospitals which mostly do wards also have amenity rooms, which are basically singles they offer to mums in greatest need? Ask for one as soon as you get to the ward, even if you're not sure if you need one. I vaguely intended to 'see how I felt' when I got to my ward, and the answer was - fine, until I got about 5 mins sleep in 48 hours due to consecutive baby wails through the night. My sister had an even worse time - not just baby wails but TV throughout the night (at least my hospital switched all TV off centrally at 9pm). Single rooms make a serious difference to how you feel IMO. If you can afford them - I'm horrified to see the cost at the Whittington.

I note that they think they 'may' have private rooms available in a new unit. If you have even more spare cash, try to find out if this has happened, then you can actually book one in advance.

The only other thing I wish I had done to improve aftercare was to put all the breastfeeding support line information - NCT, Association of Breastfeeding Mothers, La Leche League, local bf counsellor - onto a credit-card-sized piece of card and put it in my purse so I had it to hand in the early days.

Then relax and enjoy your pregnancy

Check if you're in the catchment for the home-visiting MWs (this was an antenatal thing they were trialling when I was PG, two years ago, and it was fantastic, I only had to go to the hosp for scans and of course to give birth) and I saw the same MW every appt, which I think is fairly unusual. Don't know if they implemented it though.

The maternity wing was rundown/dirty/v noisy (agree that amenity room is the way to go if at all poss), but they all seem to be. It was no worse than the Royal Free where I had my first baby, though that has since been overhauled.

I had ds1 at Whittington. It was horrible; very dirty, very bad aftercare. And a bit confusing afterwards, as I wasnt in the area (but gp was, hence I went there), so was discharged to Barnet midwives/HV. This slao meant I saw a diff MV for every ante natal visit.
There was mould on the bathroom walls of my amenity room , for which I paid £90 a night. I was given no help bf etc, and when ds1 cried , the healthcare assistant picked him up[ and took him off to cuddle him; all I wanted was help to sit up (had a c section).

After a while, I did think maybe I was over reacting with it being first baby, and that this was the norm . But had ds2 at Barnet, and the whole thing was a million times better (another section, so no difference there).

Take a unit tour and have a good poke around. Sometimes places that have been awful in the past get some money to sort themselves out and are a lot better for a bit (the Oxford hospitals were some of the dirtiest in the country 5 years ago or so, and are now some of the cleanest).

I had ds1 at the Whittington. Had elective CS for breech at 35 weeks and had to stay in for 10 days as ds had a tube down his nose 'til he worked out how to breastfeed. The CS was great, really nice doctor and healed very quickly but the aftercare was not good. I did get a room of my own and didn't have to pay for it but got very little help or attention. When I asked for clean sheets after 5 days solid lying in the same ones they were dumped on my bed and I was told to change them myself - not easy 5 days post CS (dh did it for me later). Was given very little help b-feeding and was shown how to use a breast bump incorrectly by a trainee mid-wife resulting in very painful bleeding nipples. Having said that I am going back there for my next one, due in Feb. Partly because I thought they were good at the important bit and partly because it's very convenient - there is a Whittongton mid-wifery team at my GP's surgery and it's very close to home.

Thanks ladies, really helpful stuff. Not sure all reassuring but knowledge is power so thanks for being so honest. I'll be sure I ask for single room...
by the way as i said i'm new to all this - what do ds and dh stand for????

dear husband/son look here!

i had my ds now 13 at the whittington and thought the midwives were lovely, the ward wasn't too great but i was in and out and it was a long time ago!

thank you!!! now on MN for a full 24 hrs am starting to get the hang of this PG thing - must show DH!

I've heard some good things about the Whittington - I'm doing pregnancy yoga in Crouch End and there have been some really positive things said about the mws at the Whittington.

Every hospital will have it's horror stories - have a good look around and see what you think. Sometimes it's nice to have continuity with the local community team .PS They also have a good home birth team.

I had my children there even though I lived out of the area as I had worked there. Firstly I had a misscarriage at 20 weeks and the consultant I saw a couple of times after was really reassuring and helpful. When I got pregnant I and saw her again she was fantastic and even though I was really worried and over emotional she never made me a a nuscence. The aftercare wasn't as good as it should have been due to understaffing but they do prioritise and will help if you need it. I had my own room both times, the second time because DD2 was in SCBU but I don't think being on the ward would have bothered me too much. Good luck!!

the fabric of the Whittington is grotty but the care there is very good (I had c/s both times and ended up in a single room)

Slightly that some of you having a section got a room without paying, when it cost us £90 a night!

Not every one who has a section will go into a private room. Sometimes they put people in them when the ward is too busy and the side rooms are empty. It down to luck sometimes.

i paid for mine (had a c/s)