Help: Barkantine or Royal London Maternity

[bolinto08]

Hi,

I’m a few weeks pregnant with my 1st and I have been referred to Barkantine for my first midwife appointment .

I have done a few online research but there are mixed reviews, same goes for Royal London hospital.

Can people please give recent reviews for both hospitals as I am completely confused and I want a good place.

Thanks

Hi OP. I went to the Royal London as I wanted an epidural which wasn't an option at the Barkentine. I had a friend who went to the Barkentine because she really liked it and was against medical intervention. Unfortunately she needed it and had to be transferred to RLH. I think you should look at what kind of birth you want and see if that helps you decide which choice to make.

Hi OP. I've had amazing maternity treatment at RLH (one DC had a potentially v serious problem and due to good decision making was fine) and poor treatment (when I suffered a badly mismanaged miscarriage).

Probably not helpful because it's anecdotal but I've not heard across-the-board goood reviews about any London hospital. A good friend traipsed over to UCLH only to have v serious errors in her care...

I gave birth at Royal London last summer. I also considered the Barkantine too as I lived walking distance to it. I chose Royal London as I didn't want to transfer if anything went wrong and it was the right decision as I ended up having an episiotomy and ventuse delivery.

My experience at Royal London Birth Centre was fantastic. I can't fault the midwives or doctors who looked after us. The birth centre rooms are huge and have everyrhing you need. My birth was very calm despite it not going to plan and having to go to the Labour ward.

However - the postnatal ward at Royal London was terrible. Hated every minute and couldn't wait to leave. Many mums will say the same (I think this is the same at most hospitals tho). The Barkantine postnatal experience is meant to be so much nicer as it feels like a home from home etc. I've heard good things about Barkantine if you have a straight forward delivery.

You could do a tour of both facilities last year but I assume they have stopped that now with covid.

Thanks for this

Thank you.

I’m 23 weeks pregnant and have not had a great experience at Barkentine as far as ante natal is concerned and I’ve found them incredibly stressful to deal with. Lots has slipped through the net in my pregnancy and staff have been grumpy. I know other currently pregnant women who say the same. So I think I’ll go with the Royal London. That said, my neighbour had a baby at Barkentine recently and says they were really brilliant - as have loads of other local women - so maybe it’s just been a bit rubbish over Covid or maybe they’ve struggled with staffing. Reviews online for them are exceptionally good.

I had a really good experience at Royal London. The antenatal appointments were a bit disorganised, but everything got done that had to and the midwives were nice, but the really good care was during labour. I felt like I was in such safe hands. I was upset because I accidentally ended up on the labour ward instead of the lotus birth centre (still inside the hospital, just where you go if you are expecting an uncomplicated, midwife led birth) but even the labour ward was lovely and calm and everything was natural - I was encouraged to be active etc. We got our own lovely room and all the after care was great too. Gave birth in the early hours and was back home by the evening, so nice as quick.
I think you can probably get much the same experience at the Lotus birth centre within the royal London as you can at the barkatine, without the stress of potentially having to be transferred if you need more medical intervention, or decide you want more pain relief etc.
Good luck!