North London Hospitals - Experiences?

[designerbaby]

Hi all,

Having had a terrible 12 week scan experience at the North Middlesex Hospital, I'm rebooking at the Homerton... Just wondering if anyone's had any experience of these two, or any others in the area esp:

North Middlesex
Homerton
Whittington
Royal Free

Many thanks for any insights - finding info on the net is IMPOSSIBLE and you lot are by far the best source!

Ta
DB
xx

of course!

that's agreed then. Gaye Henson rocks

I have a friend who's a big fan of Miss Paul (who also does neonatology @ UCH)

Am newish to mumsnet, so don't understand significance of lemon drizzle cake. What does it mean?

Miss Henson was brilliant with me. I am very old, with a 10 year gap since no 3! She really listened to my concerns, was not pushy, did all my scans herself, then asked if she could look after me again when I have the next one!

mars's lemon drizzle cake is legendary

as are suzywong's brownies

Mars and Bundle, I assume you are North Londoners?

I am! Just at the foot of the Palace.

Miss Henson told me she expected me to have a vaginal delivery of the DTs. Sadly the DTs decided to lie in a transverse position with a presenting cord, but she was the FIRST person to say it could happen.

OOOoooh I loved Miss Henson

Despite 2 gory Em Cs, I still loved her

me too Sooz. she exudes calm. BP was 80/40, fluids wouldn't bring it back up (they thought my uterus was rupturing) and in walks Miss Henson

"shall we get the baby out?"

"yes please"

13 mins later, dd2 born

ladymac, I live in N4

did I tell you about the time I was having ds1 at the whittington and I had made a vat of my brownies, since you mention them bundle, to keep me going during labour and in the hours after. Dh TOOK THEM HOME with him and fed them to his mates.
How we laugh now, ha ha ha ha ha tee hee hee.

To answer OP, post natal care at the Whittington was like something out of hte Crimean War before Florence Nightingale rocked up, but of course things may have changed vastly since 2003.

I am in Muswell Hill. Would definitely go back to the Whittington and Miss Henson if I feel brave enough to go for a 5th. Or crazy enough.

@ dh

ladymac you're just up the road!

Yes, am up the road and still in my pyjamas because dd has decided today is not a good day for a nap.

Hi Ladymac - yes I'm just 'round the corner from Wood Green tube... hence original booking at North Mid (which was like something out of the eastern bloc in the sevenites imho - in all respects... I hope never ever to set foot in the place again...)

Got referred to the Homertons's spcailist fetal medicine unit after North MId mistakenly diagnosed probable Edwards syndrome, offered us a termination (which we refused in favour of a second opinion) and sent us home...

Since teh Homerton's been so good at dealing with all that (our little girl appears to be absolutley fine, btw) it seemed to make sense to book there for the rest of our care as well - didn't fancy trying my luck with another unknown hosp. But though it was worth asking for info on here before it got too late to change... although it may already be I suppose.

Just like to be in the position of having as much info as possible, having found out to my cost the ramifications of NOT knowing what you're getting yourself into.

Mars Lady - you're SO close to me... will drop you an email a bit later if that's OK! Had a look at the site and a doula definitely seems worth considering. Dh may need some persuading, but I have my ways

DB
xx

DB I had an Edwards scare too but all turned out ok. Homerton really does seem nice place.

Hi bundle,

Yes the Homerton dealt with us really really well - considering when we arrived I was complete wreck and somewhat in shock and had spent several days expecting to lose our baby. Very reassuring and sensitive from the moment we arrived - I instantly felt calmer.

Dr Walthen and Dr Dorman scanned me and very gently took us through the pros and cons of a CVS - which we went for.

Arranged follow up scans to keep a check on a possible exomphalos and even after the all clear we had at 15 weeks, because we weren't sure where we were going to have the baby at that point, they just booked us for our 20 week scan there to make sure we got one.

Hope the rest of the care is as good - feeling quite reassured by what I've read about it here...

DB
xx

oooh, ed dorman was one of my consultants. he was great, very sensible (my other one was katerina erskine who was equally good & had fabulous clothes. i am very shallow!).

lol @ fabulous clothes

Just been to Whittington for an antinatal clinic. I was again v. impressed by how nice the staff are. A really nice Obs SHO saw me so I reiterate my earlier post.

OK im totally terrifed of giving birth at the royal free now!! KiteFlying did you have to transfer to Barnet to book into the edgware birth center??

no you just book into the EBC and if you develop complications before term you get transferred back to your original hospital booking. Barnet is out of our catchment. We only have to go to Barnet if a problem arises during labour while at EBC and as we are not intending to go until close to second stage we should know before we are there anyway, in which case we would go direct to hospital.
Does that make sense?

thanx KiteFlying!!!!

frances people come from all over the place (eg essex) to go to edgware

by the way frances, there are some mumsnetters who have had fab experiences of the Royal Free. See some earlier threads on choosing a hospital in north London ( I started one in Feb/Mar but have no idea how to link) I also got a bit wobbly after the newspaper reports and so far none of my current midwives have assured me that those midwives are no longer there

frances where do you live?

I live in Mill Hill which is 10 mins drive from edgware...