giving birth at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital

[aNewYorkerInLondon]

Hi! I could really use some help from mums who have delivered relatively recently at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital.

I am considering transferring my care there. I am currently going to Queen Charlotte's and have been very happy with the care I have received; however, I am moving house and will be so much closer to Chelsea & Westminster in the new place.

I would love to hear about your experiences, especially with any of the following: using the birthing pools, interventions, high blood pressure, paying for a private recovery room, doulas, partner access, lactation support, paediatric care for baby as needed, and your overall childbirth experience.

Also, one very concerning thing is that they caveat their care with saying that your care might be moved to West Middlesex. We do not drive and it would be very difficult to get out there, especially in the middle of the night if that is necessary. Has anyone run into issues with being transferred when you wanted your care at Chelsea & Westminster?

Had mine at chelsea and Westminster 13 years apart and can’t fault the hospital. Both vaginal and natural but that’s because my babies decided to come out after only short labours so no time for epidurals.
My only gripe is last midwife was grumpy because she’s only had a muffin for lunch and no one was around so she had to see me!!!!

I gave birth at Chelsea and Westminster but was 3 years ago. My experience wasn't great but I lived so close I would probably use again for the convenience. The hospital itself was fine, modern and clean. But I had a couple of midwives that were unpleasant and my after care was pretty shocking looking back at it.
First midwife was lovely. Second one was grumpy and made it clear I was her job. She kept telling me I wasn't pushing hard enough or I could do better. Baby's heart rate was dropping and she just kept telling me I wasn't doing enough so I had a panic attack. 3rd midwife never bothered to ask my name or check my notes. Never spoke to me directly, just called me "the mother". The obstetrician who finally delivered baby was really nice. I was so upset by that stage and kept apologising. She reassured me and said I was doing really well which was what I needed to hear. I was prepped for C-section but had forceps delivery in the end.
I lost a lot of blood and was told to wait for test results before I could eat. I hadn't eaten in well over 24 hours. I kept asking if results were in but constantly fobbed off. Eventually, many hours later, a doctor came and saw me and then said I could have eaten all along.
I mentioned to multiple nurses that my catheter bag was getting full but they kept saying it's fine or someone will come do it. No one emptied it and my pee was backed up all along the tube so I had to carry to the loo myself and empty. My legs were still v wobbly.
I had zero help with breastfeeding.

Sorry I know this isn't what you wanted to hear, I just felt the need to vent! I have heard others say the care was amazing. I suppose it's the same with every hospital. Experiences vary so much x

My sister was a midwife there 10uears ago and said she felt the care was very good compared to other hospitals where she did training.
But as has been said there will be good stories and bad for every hospital. I have chosen based on distance and my gut feeling.
Oh and I was born at Queen Charlotte's 😁

Thank you, @GoodbyeKat, @crimblecrumbles, and @Zibidee!

@crimblecrumbles, I am looking for honest answers. I really appreciate you sharing your story. I'm sorry you had such a negative experience.

I was induced in summer 2020 and ultimately had an emcs due to failure to progress and foetal distress. C section was great. Got an epidural on time after being put on the drip and struggling. No private rooms were possible due to covid. I believe that's still the case. I felt v looked after and am going back there this time for an elcs. After care was stretched and I struggled with feeding but they did try hard to help me and there were volunteer bf counsellors available etc. I was just knackered after the induction and had been on antibiotics etc. Wouldn't blame the hospital except that they did miss tongue tie which apparently happens a lot, so that's something to watch for.

Gave birth there in 2020. I thought the care during pregnancy and also birth was great. I saw the same midwife a few times during pregnancy (not that they remembered ha) but it did help to have a familiar face. I was very anxious due to a previous tfmr and they were very accommodating giving me some extra scans and option of further testing. I had the same midwife while I was in labour and she was so so lovely. Literally just sat with us and chatted, monitored us, etc. this was in labour ward as I wanted an epidural and once I decided I did want it they were pretty quick. Birth ended up with foreceps episiotomy and a tear but I was stitched pretty well it seems as I healed so quickly and haven’t had any issues since. After birth I went to the labour ward which was definitely busy but as pp said there were bf volunteers around and they offered to help but I did feel it was pretty much on your own, they would just check on you. They ended up moving me to a private room in the birth centre - no idea why - maybe felt bad bc my labour was difficult but I actually felt more forgotten in the private room! They only really came if I ring the buzzer or if baby was really screaming other than that I was left to it. Pregnant again and will go back to CW

@aNewYorkerInLondon, how has your experience at C&W been so far? I'm due early December and have self-referred there.

I rang up the Kensington Wing and was told you can request a private recovery room on the NHS but you can't actually reserve one and there's no guarantee you will get one on the day. It depends on availability and private patients and complicated NHS deliveries have priority.

@aNewYorkerInLondon, also forgot to add that my closest friend had an emergency c-section there on the NHS last year and said the service and care was great. Due to COVID-19, she had a private room.

Hi @JuliaBelgravia! So far, I've had a great experience since switching to Chelsea and Westminster.

I'm hypertensive (not preeclamptic, thankfully) and have mild gestational diabetes, so I'm considered high risk. I feel very, very well looked after, but I also feel listened-to. I'm being induced (tomorrow!! 😳) and while it is not what I would have wanted in ordinary circumstances, I feel like the decision and the timing was collaborative between me and my care team. This has made all the difference.

At my previous hospital. I felt like they were all looking at me like I might explode at any moment. One consultant there was really good, but the others treated me like a child. It made me question myself and doubt them about everything. I'm much happier now!

I'll be glad to answer any questions you have as you go!!

@aNewYorkerInLondon Oh gosh, that's exciting! You will be meeting your baby soon! I'm so glad to hear that you have had a good experience at C&W and that the team has been taking good care of you. I hope tomorrow goes well!!!

I gave birth there beginning of 2021. During pregnancy, care was ok. I had an emcs which went very well and doctors and midwives were lovely. I did have to push hard to get an epidural originally, I had to stand my ground until they magically found a room 2h later on the labour ward, they really try to make you wait/convince you otherwise and say that you are not in enough pain yet. Post partum care was shocking. Partner was only allowed 12pm-6pm. No private rooms available due to covid, same for the kensington wing. The pp ward is very full and noisy, it is difficult to get sleep. If they say they need to do tests for you or baby make sure you chase them/follow up several times so that it gets done. The hospital “lost” our baby’s results for an infection which was pretty stressful. Some midwives are very lovely though and clearly overstretched.

Hi, congratulations!
I gave birth in August 2020 (fist baby) I was super anxious, mainly about how the staff would treat me and being refused pain relief if I wanted it.
I was pleasantly surprised. I was in labour at home for about 16hrs on the hottest day of the year and wanted to go into the hospital as I felt it had been going a long while and I should be dilated surely.
Firstly I went into the triage area on my own (covid rules at the time) the midwife who assessed me was lovely, turns out I was really dehydrated and they put me on a drip and wanted to get my fluids up. I usually would have been sent home as I wasn't 4cm.
I was then taken off the drip and transfered to a room of my own (not a birth room just a regular hospital room with a bed) somewhere. My husband kept running in and out with drinks/ice/fans. Not much interaction with staff as we were waiting for things to progress.
Then heading into night 2 of contractions I'd had enough and needed to sleep. They checked me and I was only 2.5cm dilated 😒
I asked for an epidural and they said yes. It took a while to transfer me to the labour ward but then I was under constant care of lovely midwives. The room was really nice (still a hospital room!) Had a pool and was quite spacious. They put me on the hormone drip to move things along and I slept most of the night thank god. Husband slept on a fold out chair bed.
I think I had 3 midwives and they were all nice, friendly, chatty. Before I was ready to start pushing one of them platted my hair.
When it was time to push I think they bought in 2 extra midwives. One to focus on baby and the other 2 at the business end. I asked them to put pressure on my perineum as I pushed which they did and I didn't tear.
I think I pushed for about 20mins and at the end they said baby's heart rate changed and could they do an episiotomy if needed I said OK but give me a last push and I gave it my all and he was out without needing to be cut.

Afterwards we stayed in the room a couple of hrs, I had a shower in the ensuite. Then I was transfered to the ward which had 6 beds. This is where you want to go to the kensington wing if you can afford it! Private rooms were for covid patients apparently. It was unlucky it was such hot weather. It was incredibly hot on the ward. The staff were all nice but obviously really busy and didn't get much attention. I would have struggled if I'd had a c section. They have a brilliant area full of stuff for after birth/baby eg. blankets for baby, syringes for colostrum etc.
Food was fine, could choose from quite a big menu.
I'm really pleased it was covid and visitors were limited. I think it would have been too busy if all the women on the ward were to have had their family all hanging around.

I had a bit of trouble breastfeeding, my son wasn't interested beyond the first feed. Multiple staff (including the lady who checks baby's hearing) helped me collect colostrum in the syringe.
Checking out took a while but I've been in a couple of hospitals and discharge always takes forever waiting for various signatures.

We have lots of Dr's in the family including a paediatrician who all say C&W has the best neo natal unit. But hopefully you won't need this.

I'm due baby number 2 at the end of this year and happy to have my care through C&W. I think we will move before the birth though so now I'm worried about the staff at a new hospital.