Choosing hospital to give birth outside my borough

[Happymama001]

Hi all,

This is my first pregnancy, I am at 5th weeks now. I am deciding where to give birth and receive antenatal care. My closest hospital is Newham University Hospital but I heard a lot of bad reputation, which make me feel very nervous to go there.

I was wondering if I can choose somewhere else like Whittington Hospital and complete self-referral form?? Also, will the hospital handover my care to a local midwife for postnatal care because I live outside of their borough.

Thank you in advance!

Yes, you should be able to complete a self referral form for wherever you wish to deliver, and wherever you give birth they will inform the relevant community midwives to get you the care you need post baby.

I didn’t go to my nearest hospital for birth - once I self referred to a large teaching hospital and once I went private. Both instances the hospital handled letting the community team know.

Just keep in mind that baby might come very quickly and consider distances etc when you go into labour.

Congrats on the pregnancy!

I live in one London borough but had my babies in a neighbouring one (I am registered at a GP in that borough and live right on the boarder)

That hospital was also closer to home than the one for the borough I live it.

All I will say is that being cross borough can be a total pain. It was better with my second but with my first we had so many delays abs missed things because one borough didn't speak to another

I see!! Thank you for you help :)