Choosing between Barnet and UCLH for childbirth

[lizard96]

Hello,

I'm currently 17 weeks pregnant with my first child, due in November and I'm really struggling to pick a maternity ward!

I live in North West London so Royal Free is nearest but I've heard awful things and it's shutting down next year. I'm thinking of either Barnet or UCLH - Barnet seems to be very decisive on some people having awful experiences and others loving it, while UCLH seems positive but some have said they push c-sections and the midwives are so overworked / busy as everyone is having their babies there.

Part of me thinks what even is a 'good' birth experience if it's going to hurt anyway!

Any thoughts would be amazing xx

Barnet was great for me. Had baby on birthing unit. Think practically - how close are you to uclh. Can y park there?

It's about the same distance from both (30 min drive) and we don't have a car so will be relying on lifts from family.

I don’t think there’s much in it to be honest. It’s very much down to who you have on the day and how busy, whether you’ll need intervention and things that are out of your control at this stage. I had a very simple water birth at Barnet. They were great. Large double bed for me and DH to sleep in after the birth. But would be different if I needed hospital based.

I would do UCLH. Barnet has had concerns raised about safety recently.

Also - it’s likely that you’ll be in and out of first birth (you think labour has started, you’ll get there, it will stall, get sent home, repeat repeat). Which will be easiest in those circumstances.