Which North London hospital to give birth in?

[JintyMcGinty]

I am about 7 weeks pregnant after IVF and wondering which hospital to choose to give birth in. I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow and will have to make up my mind soon, so i need advice on which hospital to choose (NHS, not private).

We currently live in Maida Vale, but we've sold our flat and we'll be in temporary accommodation in Wandsworth(!) for a few months then moving to our new place in N1 around Christmas before the birth.

I am not even sure of my maternity hospital options (the referring GP is in Maida Vale) - presumably St Mary's Paddington, UCL and Queen Charlottes? I was thinking about UCL (if that's an option) being about equi-distant between the two homes!

Any thoughts, experiences or advice gratefully received . p.s. One possible outcome is twins (we had two embryos put back) and a scan in a few days time will confirm.

Hi Jinty,

I'm living in Maida Vale at the mo and moving to West Hampstead in a couple of months, am about 6 weeks pregnant now.

Am lucky enough to have a dad who is a gynae in the area, and his recommendation is strongly for UCL, good reputation, high chance of excellent care, very few bad news stories and well set up to deal with problems should any occur.

I have therefore requested to be referred there, even though it's not necessarily the nearest to where I will be.

Mary's was his second suggestion, he wasn't super keen on Royal Free.

This isn't to say that anyone who is going to these hospitals should panic, everywhere should be fine, I just think you are 'most likely' to get excellent care at UCH.

Maybe I'll see you there!!!

Jeez, I hope that no one I know is on here, couldn't really be more obvious who I am from that last post, and no one knows I'm pg yet!!! Must try to be more discreet. I live in, um, Vaida Male and my dad is a brain surgeon! Much better!

The edgeware birthing unit is more like a birthing spa. The rooms are suites, with a bedroom an bathroom and a pool room with underwater lighting. Partners stay the whole time and you have access to the kitchen to bring/prepare your own meals if you want.

It's the ideal set up for an easy, less painful, less frightening gentle birth.

thanks Ellie - wow, a MV local and someone with top expert gynae advice all thrown in! Might see you there (or on the "Due in Feb" thread) UCL certainly looks the shiny-est and most impressive - I'm glad to hear it's a good choice. Given my rather chequered TTC history (ectopics, IVF), I've probably seen the inside of most hospitals in West London, but they have rather negative connotations! Good luck with your move to WH.

SoV - the Edgware unit sounds amazing, but maybe a bit far away for me in N1/W9? Will ask the GP about it tomorrow.

Another fiend gave birth a Queen Charlottes

Jinty, it has a nationwide reputation. Something like 80% of the country's waterbirths are done there. People travel from as far as Northampton apparently, they just set off a bit earlier in labour.

It will come under Barnet Hospital. Even if you don't go there I'd recommend a look around. You'll deffo want to give birth to your second there.

Can I recommend the MLU at the whittington hospital. Its like a spa, including birth pool, double bed and in each room and flat screen TVs and its and inside big london teaching hospital. Both birth and aftercare were great.

Not sure what the labour ward is like there though....

link

Very near for N1 and ok for W9 as well.

Looking for up to date info about the birth and midwife faculties at the Royal Free, and UCLH. What are your experiences, which is the best? or is there somewhere else in north London that's better?
How do I find more about the birthing centres?
Sorry for the many questions, and thank you for your help

Oh I'm so happy to read info about Edgware Birthing Centre! I'm having my baby there, and was shown around for the first time yesterday at my 28 week check up. Its totally amazing, birthing pool is huge, connected to bedroom and walk in shower, all inter-connected in the same room, but closed off with doors. The staff there are so friendly, and its really clean too. Hearing such positivity about it on here has made me feel even more relaxed, and really lucky too. Can't wait now.........

I'm assuming you're choosing a hospital based on both antenatal care and birthing options? UCH is fantastic and i'd recommend. Only wish I'd gone there for first.

Unless you go birthing unit (separate), many of the hospitals are pretty similar for birthing and post-delivery. There's a huge difference in antenatal care though.
Good luck!

One thing to consider also is what level of risk you will be viewed as. Birthing centres are generally for low risk pregnancies. If you are high risk then its advised that you give birth in hospital.
I guess as your pregnancy progresses they will monitor and assess you. Good luck and I hope you find a place to give birth that is suited to your needs and that treats you well

I can highly recommend the Whittington. The care there was amazing. They have a birthing centre too but I was a high risk pregnancy so wasn't an option for me, but hear it is very nice. My husband would also say the choice of cafes at the Whittington is a plus,
Especially if you are in labour a long time and your partner needs food!

The muffins at the Whittington were amazing in 2011 :o

Jinty, firstly congratulations on your pregnancy. I hope your 7wk scan is everything you have dreamt off after the endurance race that is IVF.

I am currently pg with twins after my 7th IVF cycle and self referred to UCH. It's where I started my infertility journey and I was treated for fibroids before my private cycles. It is a very 'business like' hospital, no messing around just get on with the job. I have heard some horror stories like in so many London hospitals but at the end of the day it's the type of place I want to be if, God forbid, something goes wrong. I have never had more detailed scans than at UCH and that goes for all the private ones I have had (many! believe me).

Given its IVF, my age, multiple pg and a history of mc I am considered as high risk so my care and labour are likely to be medicalised but I wouldn't have it any other way and would have probably not been comfortable in a birthing centre environment but that is just me.

Good luck with your decision.

I'm with UCH and am really happy with the care so far. Super efficient (apts run on time, results come v quickly), scans are v thorough and they do 32 wk scan as routine. All my check-ups have been local to me with the lovely community mw (in fact, all the community mws I've met have been universally lovey). They're pro natural birth and seem up with all the most current ideas on active birth, etc, but wouldn't make you feel bad if you wanted pain relief, etc. I'm due to have a homebirth with them in 3 wks, so can update more then, but so far I can highly recommend them!