Where to give birth in South London?

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Hi All,

This is my first ever thread. I've tried searching everywhere but can't seem to get an up to date opinion.

I live in Purley/Croydon area and was wondering if anyone can tell me where the best place to give birth is?

I have been suggested Mayday (Croydon University Hospital) or St George's, and St Helier's (although majority say not to go here). Unfortunately I have not read good reviews about either of these.

However the reviews I have read are a few years old. Not sure which one to go with.

And lastly, labour ward or birthing centre?

I have really low pain tolerance so essentially want good care throughout the process and aftercare.

Thank you in advance!

You should go to the hospital nearest to you to avoid sitting for an hour in London traffic when you are in labour.

Go to your nearest!

Following with interest! I'm not pregnant yet but living near Crystal Palace and one of my best friends is a midwife at St Georges. She highly recommends it over CUH but then she is a little biased . So interested to see thoughts of others as it'll be a discussion we hope to have at some point in the next 12 months.

Ds was born in St Helier last year I. The MLU. It was a great birth and the midwives were very good.

Unfortunately I found the after care on the ward completely lacking. We were kept in for a week due to complications with both me and ds. It was absolutely dire. I am now planning a homebirth with this pregnancy, only to be transferred if absolutely necessary.

I live in Coulsdon and had my baby at East Surrey and so did some of my NCT group. I felt I had very good care and I never had traffic issues which was a concern for me.

2 of my nephews were born in St Heliers (one is now 2 1/2 and the other is 6 months). DN1 had to be rushed to St Georges at birth due to complications (and on to Great Ormond street in the end), he's fine now.
I don't think my SIL was impressed with her care for DN1 (issues with both birth and her care), but she did go back when having DN2 and had a much better experience, but then it was a more straight forward birth.
Another nephew (different sibling!) was born at Mayday (but this was 12 years ago!) and she didn't have anything negative to say.

I agree with PP, go for the closest. My hospital (East Surrey) is a 5 minute drive and I was 8cm when arrived!! I wouldn't want to think about how that would have gone if it had taken ages to get there!

Croydon homebirth team are amazing midwives, and you can always transfer to the birthing centre at CUH (formerly Mayday) when in labour

If your in Purley , East Surrey could be an option , they have a lovely birth centre there , as well as labour unit .

St. George's left my friends unborn son to die in the womb she didn't feel him move they told her he was lazy and she was anxious and didn't need a scan, he had 27 blood clots in his body he could of been delivered safely the first time (out of 8) times she went in by emergency section.
It would be St helier for me but I also echo a PP who said the aftercare is shite. But for safety I do like this hospital I had bad births but that was due to it being so busy and poor midwives however I know it has changed since then.

Also May Day hospital is awful it's known as MayDie. 

I had two water births in the lovely birth centre at the PRUH in Farnborough. Might be a little far for you from Croydon but the poster upthread who is from Crystal Palace should defiantly look at it.

Dolly 👆

I gave birth at St Georges. It was a long and complicated birth (resulting in category 1 c-section).

Admittedly, they could have forced the section before it hit category 1. Admittedly there were times that I felt a little alone and scared.

BUT, they delivered my child safely, I never once had to repeat myself or explain anything (despite seeing six staff change overs during the three day period). I imagine most hospitals are perfectly capable of delivering babies safely, but in this instance St. Georges saved both my and my daughter's life, so I'm eternally grateful to them.

Thanks @caake! Will look into when time comes

I would book into London for sure
It's too much of a gamble to go somewhere you're not convinced off
Are you planning a vaginal delivery

Thank you so much all for the suggestions and to any one looking for the same advice on this thread, I just got told that CUH has just recently got a brand new birthing centre which is apparently the best in the UK. Furthermore if you are in the labour ward you can pay £50 a night for a big room afterwards which can seat up to15 people (if you have a big family like mine).

DH and I will go check it out this weekend