Where give birth in London? Royal London Hospital, Chelsea, or St Thomas experiences?

[Alice3766]

Hi everyone,
Nice to “meet” you! I’m new here so apologies if those questions already exist in recent threads!

I’m currently 19 weeks pregnant and having all my check ups in the Royal London Hospital. I fall under slight risk pregnancy due to a bicornuate uterus (heart shaped) and am being monitored every 2 weeks by doctors. Which is great, but I still have no clue what’s going on, was never informed what actually the risks are and what to look out for.. what the Next steps are Etc, only got a side remark a la „I assumed you have googled it“ - which is not helpful (this is my first baby). The appointments them selves usually take 20/30mins but I always end up waiting for 2h before or after the appointment when booking in the next (chaos) the doctors I met are nice and have a decent bed side manner, however, the midwives work according to “check lists” and don’t have the most pleasant bed side manner..

Anyway long story short, I am wondering if the RLH is a good place to give birth? And what your experience was pre during and post birth?

I am also thinking of asking to transfer to Guys St Thomas or Chelsea and Westminster (we are most likely moving to complicate the matter). Does anyone have experiences there?

I’m just a bit worried to be in a rushed environment, little to no information on whats happening or where staff don‘t listen.. I’ve only had quite bad experiences experiences in London health care so far (not pregnancy related) so the last thing I want is a repeat whilst giving birth.

I’d be so greatful for any advice or thought on the hospitals/ birth places :) thank you so much!

Don't have any personal experience so can't help you exactly. However my Mum had 3 babies at the RLH and was immensely happy there- but we're going back 15 years when her youngest was born...

I've heard lots of good things about Chelsea. No idea about St Thomas. I think NHS hospitals are all more or less the same... But if you are higher risk its worth doing your due diligence.

All the major London hospitals are much of a muchness, and I've known people with good and less good experiences at just about all of them.

I think the single most important thing is the ease and reliability of the journey between home and hospital. Where might you be moving to?

Be aware that all the Guys/St Thomas maternity services are at St Thomas (unless they've changed it recently)

Thank you @Ava50x and @SquirmOfEels for your Input :) as you are saying, I’m trying to do a bit of due diligence for ease of mind. Hence I am happy to hear any feedback, experience or opinion :)

We will most likely be moving further west (currently we are a 25min walk from the RLH, which is convenient).

Royal London is great/ has definitely improved - I gave birth there in June. Patchy Antenatal care isn’t reflective of what happens on the delivery suite I found. Nurses and consultants there were amazing and saved me and my baby’s life. Have no idea about postnatal ward as had a private room.

Ps because it’s a busy London hospital be aware that you might get unlucky/be in a queue for epidural (if that’s what you want). There was no room in delivery suite for epidural for 8 hours and I had to make do with gas and air during this time (which I was not prepared for!). Just bad luck of the draw tho - apparently the following day the ward was empty.

I haven't given birth yet, but having my appointments through St Thomas and haven't found them that great to be honest. Similarly waiting around a long time for appointments, and in fact my 16 week check was cancelled by phone the day before and I was given a quick phone consult instead. Can never reach anyone, and due to my blood tests I should have been on aspirin from 12/13 weeks. Chased repeatedly to ask about whether I should be, and was finally told in my 16 week phone call that I should have been on it all along.

So far the staff have said they're just understaffed and so busy. So I think it's much the same. Used Royal london for a previous miscarriage and it seemed equally as chaotic

So in case anyone is in a similar situation of looking at hospitals, or wonders how it is at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital (which is where I gave birth 5 months ago). In general I thought doctors and MWs during and after labour were great! Also the post natal ward and care was great!

Reopening this thread - I'm considering RLH for C-sec and just wondering if anyone else has had any experience there.

Not on your list but I had my two babies at Queen Charlotte and Chelsea. Strange VBAC midwife that I sacked off pretty quickly and a maternity HCA closing a window as my baby would apparently get cold on the hottest day of the year 🙄 I can't fault the rest of the team though both community and hospital. Being in the shadow of Wormwood Scrubs added to sense of occasion!
Guys and St Thomas' were very kind to me when I had a scare out and about with baby number 1 and I self presented like a snotty mess and scanned me and calmed me down.

Same here, I am also considering RHL maternity ward for giving birth (I don't yet know in which way).
How was your experience if I may ask?

Also I am wondering about the midwife appointments leading up to birth... so far I understood that up to the 20 weeks scan the care is provided by doctors at the hospital and after is taken over by the midwives (I am not sure of how and when) to then go back to the hospital for delivery.
To book the midwives appointments I was told to contact my GP practice (which I don't know really well as I was not registerd with one prior to getting pregnant as I am relatively new to the country) but when I called them they said they had nothing to do with the midwives (upon me insisting that I was told so at the hospital they later said that the midwives would call me at around 18 weeks to schedule the next appointments - I am currently 15 weeks). I wonder if this correct, as at the hospital I was told I had to make contact with the midwives myself through the GP?
Also how do we sign up for a private room at the hospital? Is it possible to do this in advance?
Apologies for the many questions but this is my first pregnancy and the first time having to do with hospitals and so on, thanks in advance for any reply😊