Best hospital in SE London to give birth

[ChiaraM]

Hello everyone! I've recently found out I am pregnant and I am looking into different hospitals in my area to decide where to go. The closest is Lewisham, but I've read mixed reviews.. Apparently King's college is good and I was also considering that one, even if we're just outside the area they consider.
Do you have any recent experience, recommendations?

Thank you!
Chiara

I would just go to the nearest hospital.

all the hospitals are short-staffed and experiences are just pot-luck based on how short-staffed they are at that particular day/time - no point trying to plan for it!

I had a baby at Lewisham 4 months ago btw

Thank you for your feedback! How was your experience in Lewisham?

Mixed bag - prenatal care was exceptional (fab community midwife, same one throughout), also so kind at the hospital labour ward when I had reduced movement.

very inexperienced midwife for the actual birth and birth centre was closed.

labour ward after was good, super lovely neo-natal doctor. Very helpful breastfeeding support.

postnatal care was good but more disjointed than prenatal (saw 3 different midwives and 1 HCA)

a different day and you would’ve got an entirely different experience. Someone I know saw a different midwife for every pre-natal appointment (17 in total) but had an amazing birth. Then had terrible post natal care with a missed risk factor so ended up with sepsis.

just go to the nearest one.

Gave birth at Lewisham last year. No shortage of midwives, liked all of the midwives I had throughout my long birth and the care I received. Parking is available, albeit limited.

Kings has no parking. Had two friends give birth there last year and one complained to PALS about her experience and the other also had concerns with her birth.

Honestly, the hospitals are both the same. Although with King's during maternity you get extra pregnancy checks - your blood pulse checked through your eyelids etc.

you will hear positive and negative stories from both hospitals, each person's experience varies.

I decided against Lewisham hospital I personally didn’t like it when I went there

I’ve been placed with Queen Elizabeth but also worried from mixed reviews so debating moving to St Thomas but I hear unless you’re private it could be no better. So scared of complications and being on a ward.

Gave birth at Lewisham twice. Both times were horrendous tbh 😬
For balance, DS and my neighbour both gave birth there and had much better experiences.
I think its really just pot luck on the day; staff numbers, who's on shift, if its a weekend / bank hol, if theres emergencies going on, etc. Same for every hospital.

I'd say go where ever is closest; you could be there for days (I was there 6 days in total), and need family to run back and forth with supplies, and journeying home with a newborn is no fun if you get stuck in London traffic.

My best advice is, wherever you choose to give birth, if you can afford it, get a doula to attend. They know all the rules and guidelines, will advocate and fight your corner if needed, and they are there just for you and baby; they dont have an unmanageable workload and a whole ward of other women and babies to take care of. Wish I'd had one! I'm not rich but I'd have whacked it on a credit card and worried about paying it off later.

Best of luck with your pregnancy and labour :)

The experiences family have had with doulas I don’t know how they’re allowed to be anywhere near pregnant women…one tried to block midwife resuscitating baby during one delivery to let “nature happen” … this story scared me for life. I guess I just want to be in safest hands with best consultants possible

@redxlondon good lord! Well thats put me in my place, bloody hell 😬
I saw a doula supporting a lady at Lewisham and she seemed fantastic, hence why I wished I'd had one..

Thanks!

Oh wow that is absolutely terrifying!!