East/Central London - Hospital options... anyone given birth at the Royal London/ Homerton/ UCH looking for good London options

[cityangel]

I live in East London and am in early first pg. I'd like to find out more about good London birth options/ experiences as we have a meeting with the local midwife next week to discuss our options. I also don't know how far outside your catchment area you can opt to give birth if at all? Is it an option to go Private in NHS hospitals if they're not in your catchment area? Do they let you give birth in a birthing centre if its your first?

Any advice for a complete newbie would be welcome. Many thanks

I work in that area and have working experience of each of the hospitals mentioned, though not in obstetrics. Royal London is riddled with hospital bugs, so personally would avoid it thought the staff are lovely. I've not had any bad working experiences at the other too, but prefer the Homerton.

ps - looking at your name, and the hospitals, I wonder if you live in the area I cover in my work . If so, St. Thomas's might also be an option!

I believe you now have the right to choose which hosiptal you give birth in. I lived in East London until last year and had baby boy in Chelsea and Westminster which i thought was good.
I showed up at UCH a year and a half ago with an emergency (breast abscess) because I thought it looked all gleaming and new from the outside but they showed me through to a Medieval Maternity building out the back that was truely grim. It was an old Victorian building behind the new glass one which in itself is not a problem but it was so grubby and the loos were sooo disgusting, and the midwives were really fierce and unfriendly. I've since heard that that was where my friend had her three year old and she had a horrible time. I've heard nice things about Homerton from friends in East London. You can do tours of the Maternity wards in some (or all) hospitals to help you choose.

I'm due to have dd at the Royal London in about 12 days time... so not great to hear about hospital bugs. I also just today heard a scary story about Royal London from a friend today- she had her 2 boys there and was fine with her DS1 (great MW and nice room) but with DS2 couldn't even get a room until 1 hour before the birth. I have also heard not great things about Homerton, although a good friend found it fine. I've been in a bit of a dilemma about it today but to be honest I think a lot comes down to random luck - how many other women are giving birth at the same time, which midwife you get, and all London hospitals are so busy. Need to make sure that communication is really clear though- DH is going to be thoroughly briefed about what I want/think I need. My labour with DS was fast so likely to be even faster this time round. I would go for a homebirth, but tore badly with DS so a bit wary about it, and dd looks like she's going to be a biggun too..

also, there is a new birthing centre opening on the Isle of Dogs very soon. It was supposed to be on 10th dec but is apparently running behind schedule. will probably open just after I give birth... sounds really nice, pools in every room etc.
yes as far as I know no reason why you can't go to a birthing centre for your first, as long as you're considered low risk. definitely worth getting your name down for that I would say.

it's called the Barkantine (the new birthing centre)

Hi there,

I have given birth three times at the Homerton, in 1999, 2001 and 2004, so none of them terribly recent, but happy to share my experiences if helpful?

I'm in the area, and would not want to give birth at the Royal (though I agree, staff are lovely!) But we did homebirths, so don't know if that counts. Have heard good things about Barkantine.

Thanks for your very helpful comments. There are soooo many options its bewildering!

ImBarryScott, I live in East London and clearly have a lot of research to do!

I've had a couple of visits to the Royal and they did put me off but then I guess they must face the cleanliness challenges of all London hospitals.

Jetson, tours are a good idea something to do in the New Year if my pg continues as hoped.

Sorry about your dilema Asset1 I think its going to be quite a tough decision and I guess there are so many variables. Thanks for the heads up on the birthing centre I'll look that one up

Dinosaur the Homerton came out well when I looked at birthing statistics and I suppose the only thing that would be a bit of a challenge is that its not near the tube, I don't think

Jennifersofia I like the idea of a home birth, but our flat walls are paper thin so not sure its the best option but good to know about the Barkantine.

Thanks again all really useful stuff

Good idea I'll have a look on TFL I feel a lot more armed with questions for the midwife now

I'm in SE London and gave birth to dd at St. Thomas' Hospital which I guess you'd think of as Central... It was absolutely fantastic. They have a lovely new natural birthing unit with 3 pools, gorgeous single rooms overlooking the Thames and Big Ben with en suite bathroom / shower.

I don't know what they're like for non-natural births however although I've heard nothing but good reports about them. I thoroughly recommend a visit.

My friend who lives in Newington Green also gave birth at St. Thoms as of all the places she visited she thought it was the best.

Thanks ImaginaryFriend I will check them out. It's often hard to find good stories...love the MN name

Hi. I have a client due to have twins at the Royal London and she's very happy with it. It will be my first time there so can't proffer up an opinion for a couple more weeks.

UCH is fab. Especially if you go into the Bloomsbury Birthing Centre (2 steps away from labour ward). Been to loads of birth there and it is one of my faves (been to a fair few).

Homerton is currently my favourite hospital. Wonderful care there and great mws.

The Whittington is another favourite but that's in N19 so might not be where you want to be.

I would say that for every positive story about a hospital there will be a negative one. What matters most is the mw that you get and how prepared you are for birth (so be sure to book into some good antenatal classes).

And YES you can give birth to your first in a birthing centre or even at home (highly recommended).

hth

Oh and also, if you're in early pregnancy the new improved maternity unit at UCH opens mid 2008!

I had DD at Royal London in 2005 and had a v good birth experience but post natal wasn't great. I am pregnant again and having this baby at Whipps Cross, ante natal not great so far but keeping fingers crossed they will be good for labour!
Another thing worth considering is that if you choose a different hospital than your nearest it can change the ante natal care you have from shared care (where you usually see the same midwife at GP surgery throughout pregnancy) to having all your ante natal checks at the hospital. I did this first time round as nearest hospital would have been newham general. It meant lots of very long waits at Royal London for every appointment and I never saw the same midwife twice.

Hi Dino

I see a lot of hospitals because of my work and when I de-brief women who weren't my clients when they gave birth I listen attently.

I love the way the team work together at Homerton. Witnessed a horrid incidence with an auxilary who was clearly "king of her world" but I felt that the way the hospital handled it was good.

The Whit was my fave but Homerton has nudged it into second place.

And if I were with you Dino?

I've worked at Whipps X, Homerton & the London (in the late 1990 until 2002). I chose not to have my dd at the London in 2000 because the unit was constantly being shut (they were absolutely overwhelmed), but the staff there were good. Personally I'd pick Homerton out of the three.

I had my daughter in the birthing centre at UCH in June & thought it was great. The midwives I had were lovely, & it was reassuring to know I was only a corridor away from the labour ward if anything went wrong. I had my antenatal care there too - ridiculously long waits, and I saw a different midwife each time, but I guess that's pretty standard & it didn't bother me particularly (most of my appointments were with the GP).

I've heard loads of positive stories about the Homerton as well. Good luck!

Hi cityangel,

I live in East London too- agree with toomanyshoes that you have to consider where you will go for your prenatal appts if you pick a hospital outside of the gps catchement area. I think this is v. important because if you have a low risk pg, you will have 9 months of appts somewhere, and only a few days in the hospital! (Although those few days are v.v. important, I know)

I think you can actually ask to go anywhere you want, but there is no guarantee they'll take you.

I have a lot of friends in East London who have gone to both Homerton and Royal London and the Homertons are mostly all happy with their experiences, and the RLs were all pleasantly surprised with theirs. A few minor bad stories thrown in, but I think those could happen anywhere. From what I've heard postnatal care in Central London isn't fantastic anywhere. And as for bugs, that can be anywhere too. I used to work at GOSH and they were forever closing wards for cleaning due to infections...

(btw, I'm booked in at the Royal, which means I have all my appts at my gp surgery (see the same midwife, easy to get prescriptions, near home, they know me, etc...) and I've got my name down for the Barkantine in March, all being well!)

ps. You can also change your mind at any time too I believe.

pps. My top tip for blood work- go to Barts on Tues/Wed morning on your way to work. Nice phlebotomists, no queues, and results v. quickly.