Hospital Romford/Essex help!

[napy]

Hello everyone,

I have just discovered I'm pregnant of my first baby (I'm 34). I recently moved from Central London to Romford area (Harold Wood) and I don't know much about the hospitals around and to be honest I'm a bit scared about the reviews I'm reading on Google :-(

To be honest I don't mind too much about give birth in a birth center, I'd rather go for a labor ward so that if anything goes wrong they can promptly do something.

Which hospital would you choose among the ones shortlisted below?

1. Queen's Hospital
2. Homerton University Hospital
3. Basildon University Hospital
4. Darent Valley

If you have anything else in mind please let me know.

Thanks

I has DS at Queens in June, it was all fine. I wanted the birth centre but it was closed that night as they were short-staffed, but I had great midwives & got to use the birth pool on the labour ward anyway.

I didn't go onto the postnatal ward so can't comment on the care there (DS was born at 8.20am and we were home by 3pm, so I just stayed in the room I'd laboured in while they did newborn checks etc).

I also had to use the maternity triage a couple of times in third trimester & was well looked after. There was a long wait one time but I'd been triaged initially & they'd found heartbeat etc so obviously other people were higher priority on that occasion.

Hi, I’ve had 3 babies in Essex hospitals (oldest is now 8 so may be a bit out of date!). Had some problems at Basildon so not a great experience and wouldn’t be my top choice. Broomfield (Chelmsford) was very good if that would be an option for you. I don’t have experience of Queens myself but know quite a few people who had their babies there and all seemed to have good experiences.

I had mine in Basildon and couldn't fault them. The midwives were incredible!

Aw same here, June last year at Queens. Though I had an elective c section. Was all absolutely fine, nothing negative to say about it.

Darrent Valley is a really good hospital but it's in Dartford. Their antenatal classes are really good and midwives are lovely too ! Well I've had a good experience so far 🤞🏾

What's the journey time to each one / factor inrush hour too.

I was sent home 3 times during my first labour so I was grateful to be a 5 minute drive away.

I had both my boys at queens and I couldn't fault it. I was induced for both.

My first started as a simple labour but had complications and they moved me to the labour ward where I had more medical treatment. Could not fault it.

My second had a water birth and again can not fault the staff or hospital x good luck x

^ this is a really good point.