How to make choices about maternity ward?

[pandabiscuit]

Hi everyone,

I'm after a little advice as to how to choose maternity services in my area. I'm 5 1/2 w pregnant with my first so am completely new to this and am feeling slightly overwhelmed by the decisions I'm needing to make already.

GP last week wasn't very helpful apart from telling me I needed to let him know ASAP which hospital I wanted to have the baby at as some were slightly out of area and the sooner I told him the better and more likely I was to get appts etc on time.

It seems my choices are the Royal Free, St. Mary's and Northwick Park - the Free is geographically closest. I'm aware of the bad rep both the Free and Northwick Park have had in the past but don't know if that's changed recently and if anyone's got more positive recent experiences? Also can you choose where to go or not ?- UCH is also pretty close and I've heard positive things about it so not sure if it's an option.

As we don't want to tell friends or family yet we can't draw on their experiences so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My DH and I know we at least want a hospital led delivery as it's our 1st but other than that not sure how to choose!!!

Sorry for long post - am a newbie to the site!

Hi girls,
Sorry I'm not very good at all this . Scan went well, it was amazing!! You'll probably have had yours by now, it's very reassuring to see the baby kicking and moving around and it's heart beating!!!
The midwives at the Whittington have just been fabulous, so helpful and always on the end of the phone when you've got question to ask.
Seeing a midwife next week then got the 20 week scan the week after. Very exciting!
Hope all is going well with you guys,
E xx

Pandabiscuit -- wondering what you think of the Whittingdon a few months on? I'm at the stage you were at when you started this thread. I live near RF but am weighing up UCH, Whittingdon and St Mary's. Of those, Whittingdon is the closest and the fabilities look lovely online. Unfortunately I can't make the tour next week and am due to tell my GP where I want to register at the end of this week. Any advice?