Birth at UCH London - what was your experience?

[Koumak]

I am not even pregnant yet but i was thinking about this hospital for my birth as its half way from my house and work. Last time gave birth at Chelsea & Westminster which is now way too far. Have you given birth at UCH and what was your experience. Would you recommend?

[vallinnapod]

Vaci my first trimester was possible the longest 14 weeks of my life. It was horrible. I was lucky enough to suffer no morning sickness but the anxiety I had was horrendous. Had a couple of bleeds and very twinge etc felt like the the end of the world for me.

However.....! The second trimester has zoomed by. The second you start feeling the bub move it is so reassuring. It's taken all this time but finally enjoying pregnancy and relaxing. I can genuinely hardly believe that come Saturday I am 28 weeks and into the home stretch of the final trimester.

From pretty much the start I have had this overwhelming, protective love for my little bub. I am worried that once he's born I will cuddle him so hard he'll pop!! Just cannot wait to meet him!

This was meant to be reassuring rather than

[vaci]

Vallinnapod - this is reassuring indeed:) I feel exactly like you - so overprotective... Thank you for sharing - I feel much better now!

Did you decide whether you'd do a CS or a natural birth - was it difficult to take the decision? How did the MW at UCHL support you?

[vallinnapod]

For me it was a very easy decision i am hoping to give birth in the borth centre as I would really rather not have major surgery or intervention! Obviously if it is required then so be it but I think I stand the best chance of a natural, intervention free birth at the BBC. MW very supportive and were so when we tentatively looked at home birth also.

[vaci]

Vallinapod, I completely agree with you. THe only thing that really concerns me is that I don't think I will be able to cope with the pain! So that's why I was wondering, and I would discuss this with the MW, is the epidural option, although I've heard that they give you the sedative only after you have dilated a lot, which takes time and obviously hurts...

[vaci]

Ladies,

Some time has passed and I am opening the topic again in case any of you who had recently given birth at UCH want to share their experience!

Any pointers as to how it went - starting from being admitted to the hospital, to the labor process and the staff assistance, and the postnatal experience.

Thanks in advance and congrats!!!

[DianaXXX]

Hi ladies, I have been reading through all of your posts which took a while ))) but its great to hear all diffirent point of views.
I am just over 30 weeks now and I am with UCL, I actually had a antenatal class today and got a breast feeding class tomorrow.
I am so scared of having a virginal birth, its going to be my first child and after hearing about third class degree tiers and seeing the size of the forsips I was not impressed at all!!!
However with the new guidelines now, we no longer need a 'medical reason' per say to have a elective c section!
I have booked a consultant appointment for monday, however I am still uncertain what kind of birth I would like to have!

My fears and worried:
Virginal birth: no control, luck of professional midwifes and under stuffed as usual

Having a terrible rip, and also the pain, not too posh to push at all, but my baby is already over 2.5kg and im just 30 weeks now! My partner was born 5200kg so huge baby and i wasn't a small baby myself, so the tearing is gonna happen pretty much!

C section:

I am unsure of the side affects, i mean i have done my research and i understand that its a serious surgery however apart from the scar and not being too active for few weeks after birth what else do I need to consider????

I have read that possibly I wont have milk after c section and ideally I would like to breast feed!

Apparently the child could also be weaker!

Please let me know what you think and of your experiences.

To answer the questions that have been asked previously, the hospital itself is lovely, however every midwife that I have had so far have been a little rude, certainly under qualified and generally not what I hoped for.

Each appointment time that I have had, would be pretty fast, without even allowing you to ask any questions and the wait time sometimes is even ver an hour.

However this hospital seem to have some great reviews and compared to what my friends have experianced in other hospital this one is great! ;))

[DianaXXX]

Anyone?

[shwet18]

Hi Beesok,

Hope everything well the birth of your baby.

Will like to know more about your experience with the midwife as i am also enrolled at UCLH.

Will also appreciate if you can kindly give the details of your midwife if you find the experience good.

Many thanks.

[Angel786]

Had dd there a year ago and am having next baby there in aug hopefully.

Had an awful birth, no fault of the hospital, just unlucky but the staff were all very attentive, professional and helpful. The anaesthetist was fantastic and my midwife was just amazing, a korean lady called Kate.

The ante natal was ok, not impressed with blood samples as often they couldn't find a vein / lost the samples! Once they forgot to get the container ready and my blood was all over the floor... And one of the ladies that takes blood is v grumpy! The ultrasounds were good. Had two really nice dr's and one not so pleasant lady (said we couldn't video the scan but afterwards I saw posters outside saying we were allowed)...

[SoFreshNSoClean]

I had my second baby there. Great experience - although long, complicated birth ending in c-section (developed pre-eclampsia).

I felt very well looked after, listened to and in control, despite the complications.

The staff were fantastic - the surgeon (young-ish woman, Consultant, lovely) and anaesthethist (gorgeous NZ guy) were wonderful (cant remember their names as was a bit out of it!) but had two amazing midwives called Rosaleen (Irish) and Laurent (French), an Indonesian ward sister who was very bossy but lovely and made me get up asap and walk around, and a lovely young Indian man (junior doctor) who came and did all the baby screening. I couldn't have asked for more, really (first birth also in RF in Hampstead as someone said above - awful experience), although they kicked me out after 48 hours on the nose - would have lied an extra day in bed!

[Angel786]

so fresh how long ago was the birth? May have had the same anaesthetist, just remember him being tall, youngish and v chatty and relaxed. Made a joke about not wanting me to see him twice In a day and then chatted away the secondctime I saw him while I was being 'repaired' in theatre.

I had a nice surgeon, lady with long brown hair but there was also a younger female dr with a bob who was a little annoying.

[KateInnovationUnit]

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[Beakford]

Hi all,
I am having a planned C-section at UCH in mid June due to complications. Currently 30 weeks and can't really fault experience so far. Lovely attention and caring Drs. Much better than the hospital I started off at - North Middlesex. Have been offered a day long antenatal course but not sure how much it will concentrate on csections?

[DianaXXX]

UCH with both kids and very happy, only problem is after care isn't great