Queen Charlotte's V Royal Free

[robinred]

Hi i'm new and just 5 weeks pregnant, it's my first.
Just wondered if any of you could help with how you decide on where to give birth.
I'm not very good with pain and always thought i'd end up having an epidural but i'm not sure. Do any of you have any recent comments on either Queen Charlotte's or The Royal Free?
Thanks so much.

Better get your skates on if you want to give birth at Queen Charlotte's. It gets booked up very quickly, so you should ask your GP to refer you asap.

I don't know Queen Charlottes, but I've had two babies at the RF and have been very happy both times. The birthing rooms in both the Birth Centre and Labour Ward are lovely, and that part of the hospital is very clean. I had a mobile epidural with my first and the anaetheist was great. The postnatal care isn't great, but I don't think it is anywhere. The RF have a labour ward tour every Sunday afternoon which is really worth going on. Good luck!

Queen Charlotte's was very good in my experience and I was in for 10 days before the birth and four days after so i got to know it rather well!
I was induced and had "mobile" epidural which means a lower dose so it doesn't totally knock you out. The delivery room staff were fantastic, explained everything in a very calm manner and made me feel like I knew what was going on and was in safe hands. I had some complications in the birth (due to being induced for obstetric cholestasis) and the staff reacted promptly and effectively.
Pre and post natal wards aren't the most enjoyable places to be but they were very clean and the visiting hours are 8am-10pm for partners so I git plenty of time to see my DH.

I booked into Queen Charlotte's even though Royal Free is much closer to me. A friend gave birth at Queen Charlotte's and had a very good experience. I didn't visit the Royal Free but had a couple of people suggest I should avoid it (including a gynaecologist). Ham & High article a few months back reported the maternity unit had had a high level of complaints. All a bit anecdotal but was enough to put me off.

vickyy

I have gone with QC (but you do have to get in early). Maybe that speaks for itself!

I'm going to Royal Free - lovely midwives. Also, antenatal classes available on the NHS and physiotherapy classes (how to lift and stand etc). Queen Charlotte's may not offer this. Also, how close are you to each hosp? No good if it will take you 45 minutes in the rush hour when you are in labour - or even a long trip for antenatal checks.