Maternity care in Bexley/south East London

[daniellewalker]

Hi ladies, newly pregnant and trying to decide which hospital to go to for maternity care. I'm in London borough of Bexley. Any experiences with hospitals within half hour/hour drive? Any recommendations? Main ones seem to be Princess Royal University, Queen Elizabeth, Lewisham, Kings college and Darent.

I live in Kent/Bexley and had my maternity care / gave birth the begging of this month in Darent valley hospital. Both the care and birth were amazing and the hospital had a lot less restrictions than most currently. I personally would avoid London hospitals especially Queen Elizabeth as I don’t think the maternity care is the best there.

I live nearest Queen Elizabeth but we had our maternity care and baby (now 13 weeks) at Lewisham hospital. Couldn't fault it at all; I had a straightforward pregnancy and birth on the labour ward and everyone was so lovely. I haven't heard good things about Queen Elizabeth from a lot of people so I would avoid. Congrats on your pregnancy

@daniellewalker hi! Im planning on giving birth at Greenwich Birthing Centre. It has amazing reviews and I've heard such great things! Im only 7 weeks but I have been to EPU once (and again this Tuesday coming) and they've been pretty good. All my scans and apps were booked super early and your partner can go along to all scans and be there for the whole of labour. In the birth centre you have a private room for each night you stay too!

Had DC at Lewisham and Greenwich. Shitty experiences at both. Birth was OK (well actually it wasn't, it was traumatic but that wasn't entirely the fault of the staff), but aftercare was AWFUL, truly shocking.

Agree with @Sandyplankton re Lewisham. Had three births there and the care was shockingly awful.

I had my first at qe had no issues at all midwife etc were fine attentive etc I’m having my 2nd one there too x

I’d go King’s. Had my scan at 6.5 weeks at the EPU there. They saw me on the same day and was ever so nice.

Congratulations OP!

I had DS at Princess Royal University in April. We were home within 48 hours and both healthy, which is the most important thing, but the care could certainly have been better. I complained and received an unreserved apology, so I don't think it's always like that, but that was my experience.

If I ever have DS2 then I would choose King's. I had some scans there and it was amazing.

All the best with the pregnancy

I had two babies at King's and was very happy but then DH worked there at the time and DS went to their nursery for a year so we're a bit King's biased.

PRUH is part of King's so same policies around having the 36 weeks scan as standard etc.

The fetal centre at King's was new between my two and a very nice building.

I’ve had 2 children at Queen Elizabeth, in the Greenwich Birthing Centre. Both experiences absolutely fine, happy with the care and facilities and was swiftly discharged afterwards. I have heard less good things about the postnatal ward if you have to stay in, but that is almost universally true.

I had my first two at Lewisham and both births were fine. DC1 was a C-section and the three days afterwards on the ward were not so great. The staff were nice but very busy, people bringing takeaways in and talking all night, I was exhausted and just wanted to go home . DC2 was more straightforward and we were home in 24 hours.

DC3 was born at the PRUH and it was a lovely water birth in the midwife led unit, with the scans done at the foetal medicine centre at Kings. I also got the Harmony test done there for free (am old!).

This may not be an issue for you, but Lewisham won’t let you use the birth centre if you’ve had a previous C-section. PRUH were much more accommodating, although I had to meet with the consultant midwife and sign to say I understood the risks etc

I had DS at Darent 4 years ago and don’t have a single complaint, they were amazing and I didn’t exactly have a straight forward pregnancy or ‘birth.’
I’m 30 weeks and again will be having LO at Darent and again they’ve been amazing. Had to have a lot of additional scans and appointments almost all held at Darent, some at QMH.

I've had 2 babies at lewisham. One on labour ward and one on birth centre.

I had a wonderful experience with both. I had the same midwife both times and with DC2 the midwife who did the post birth checks had done my ante natal care with DC1.

I'd highly recommend Lewisham