Which birth unit would your recommend, the Portland or St John & Lizzies?

[bkprime1]

My wife is currently 8 weeks pregnant and we are debating which birth unit to book. This is our first pregnancy and would very much like your recommendation. Thanks.

I went to the Portland but had planned c sections so can only talk from that persepctive. I also went to see johns and lizzies. I think what put me off slightly with johns and lizzies is what would attract others - that it was a very hands off birth experience with a lot of emphasis on doing things naturally which would not have suited me. Also , crucially for me ( can give reasons if you are really interested), there was no nursery overnight there so baby rooms in wiht mohter 24 hours per day. I was told that nurses would take baby here and there for short periods but that really mother was encouraged to be with baby 24/7.
I know that this is what happens after you leave hospital in any case but for me personally, the rest offered by a night nursery before coming home was one of the things I was really looking for in a private birth.

Everyone is different however and I know people who absolutely loved johns and lizzies.

I loved the Portland and was treated very well and returned home well placed to start night care and juggling lots of littlies at home and as well recovered from section as could possibly be expected. Food was very good to and nurses kind and helpful.

I went to J&L and love love loved it. I just wanted choice but tending towards a natural birth but I knew that if I wanted an epidural or needed c-section then it would all happen v quickly and nicely. So got waterbirth I wanted and loads of post-natal care. What we loved was that hubby stayed with me for the whole three days which was really special. We ate our meals together and learnt it all together. Called it our babymoon. Midwives were good at giving us a rest, in fact after the birth the bundled us into the room with instructions to all go straight to sleep! Then the second night they took baby all night so we could sleep as much as possible before going home but not a formal nursery. Just brought her in for feeds.

If go with J&L midwife choice then really much cheaper, with my short labour came in loads under our budget! I agree that the two places have a much different feel, depends on your inclination and priorities really. You have to go and have visits talk to the midwives or find out about the consultants if that is the route you want. But if interested put name down as J&L only have 50 places per month. You may not know what you want yet, when you learn more it will be easier decision.

I'm preg again but as not in London can't logistically go there this time so am very sad, if I could I would!

Happy to answer any more q's if have them.

Thanks for the opinions. We are now also considering the Lindo given we are so torn on portland and j&l (Yehudi Gordon is leaving j&l and so things may change there)....

I had choice between Portland and Lindo with my consultant and ended up choosing Portland (but baby not born yet so can't speak first-hand!). Think these choices are very personal though, so best is that you book a tour of both and see which one you feel better with. Both are supposed to be excellent/comparable in terms of quality of care and post-natal care. Have equal number of friends who gave birth in each and all were very happy. If you are looking for natural/active birth, the Portland has birthing pools in some of their delivery rooms and some of the consultants who deliver there are also more active-birth orientated. The Lindo wing seems to be more "traditional", e.g. doesn't have birthing pools and their delivery rooms are too small to fit them. IMO you can't go wrong with either, but you will definitely get a feel for which you prefer once you visit them.

I went to J&L for my first baby and would never go back. I ended up with a caesarean and was denied morphine for pain relief after the op. The midwife was dreadful told me no-one in the Uk has morphine after c-sections. They treated me like I was pathetic for crying about how much pain. They took my husband aside and told him how useless I was about dealing with pain and sent me home with serious urinary retention that needed immediate treatment. I would never ever go back there.

gave birth to my little boy in j and l last month and couldn't be happier.Altho I ended up having c section after attempting natural delivery, which i was disappointed by as i'd wanted natural active birth, the team were so good about discussing options with me, the op was v quick and i was given the baby and hhelped to breastfeed him straight away. The pre and post natal care was amazing.
The midwives were all wonderful, very friendly, supportive and took great persinal interest in the three of us as a family. It was a truly wonderful place to start life as a family.

I gave birth to ds1 at j&l just over 3 years ago and could not fault one part of the whole ante natal, post natal and birth experience. I therefore called to put my name down literally within hours of my next positive preg test. Unfortunately i suffered premature rupture of membranes at 35 weeks and when i called the birth unit for advice they refused anything to do with me (i think you have to be 37/38 weeks to give birth there) and they sent me straight to my local NHS hospital. So my 2nd birth was a very different experience and just shows that by booking in at j&l you do run a (very small) risk of ending up on a strange maternity ward. Quite frightening imho.