St. Thomas or Chelsea maternity???

[poppyseed212]

Hi,

I've just found out I'm pregnant, very early days - I'm 4 weeks. My GP has asked if I'd like to go with St. Thomas' or Chelsea hospital, and I have no idea!

Any help, advice, experience, etc would be really helpful to make this decision.

Thank you x

Hi I am currently with Chelsea and Westminster and they have been brilliant so far! Including some pregnancy related emergencies/procedures I've been in for.

They have so far allowed partners in for 12 and 20 week scans. Partners can also visit the antenatal department if you are admitted between 8am-8pm plus be with you throughout your labour until you give birth.

So far I can't fault them!

I was at St Thomas' and thought they were absolutely brilliant. The hospital itself looks a bit run down but their facilities are excellent and the midwives and doctors who I saw just before and during my labour were amazing. We've since moved location and I'm still sad that we won't be there again for this birth.

That being said, I've also had friends use Chelsea and say good things so I would just go with whichever is most convenient.

Congrats!
You should be able to choose out of more or less all of the London hospitals. We went with Queen Charlotte and Chelsea because we were impressed by the QCC ratings, but my experience so far has been a bit mixed - will report back once I've given birth! I know you're probably asking about C&W but thought I'd mention it in case. I think if it was a non-Covid era, I'd be really happy as the midwives and doctors have been good - it's just a bit intense at the moment, especially waiting rooms etc - I find myself getting a bit anxious.

Heard good things about both the hospitals you're considering too.

Chelsea wasn't an option for me (I'm SW so it was St Thomas, Kings or St George's), but I went with St Thomas and love them so far.

One of the great things about such a big hospital is that there is a bloods lab on site, so I got my combined screening test results on the same day as my 12 week scan, uploaded to the Maternity Notes app. Chelsea might be the same of course, I'm not sure - but seeing women on here anxiously waiting a week or more made me so happy to have my results in a matter of hours!

I should also say that everyone I've dealt with has been lovely and super-helpful. I haven't seen the wards yet but as I'm hoping for a home birth that wasn't much of a concern for me anyway.

Adding - - they don't let partners into scans except one at thirty something weeks, so we did our early scans privately.

Also, they don't allow more than one birthing partner, in case you are considering a doula.

Both these things - if they're important to you (partners in scans and number of birthing partners) are worth asking at the hospitals as I know some hospitals are much more flexible around these points: it varies from hospital to hospital.

Interested to hear which option you choose and your experience

I personally would not recommend C&W. Had an awful experience there with my first DC. This time I’m opting for St Thomas.