[#1]

Hi,

I'm currently booked in at Whipps Cross to have my baby in August - all seems fine there. I've also been to have a look at Homerton, which seems like a really nice hospital. Just wondering if anyone has had first hand experience of either and what they would recommend.

Kootie

[#2]

Hi,

I'm currently booked in at Whipps Cross to have my baby in August - all seems fine there. I've also been to have a look at Homerton, which seems like a really nice hospital. Just wondering if anyone has had first hand experience of either and what they would recommend.

Kootie

[#3]

Hiyahiya

sadly i don't know either hospital. Have you spoken to your m/w
I'm sure that she would be able to tell you about the hospitals.
love
cheryl

[#4]

Hi there,
I've been booked at the North Middlesex Hospital, but after a scare at my 12 week scan was referred to the Homerton. Have to say they've been absolutely brilliant. Very caring and sensitive during a difficult few weeks, very calm, helpful etc. I'm now doing my very best to get my Doctor to refer me there for the rest of my care, but it's proving tricky...

Really DON'T want to go back to the North Mid... it's a long story but my experience there was terrible from start to finish.

I don't know anything about Whipps Cross, I'm afraid, but Homerton gets 5*/A++ in my book.

Parking's a total nightmare though, and it's a bit of a dodgy area (my friend got mugged after dropping his wife off for antenatal check-up) but hey, that's London!

Go and visit and make your decision based on your gut feel, I'd say. You can also check up their NHS star ratings on line which gives you an idea. Wish I'd done that before going for the North Mid - their 0* rating would have given me an inkling that maybe it's not the best choice... Ho hum...

Best of luck,
Rachel (15+6)

[#5]

Hi Kootie,

I used to work at whipps cross hosp in SCBU, personally i think it is a good hosp to have a baby in, Consultants are great, i cnt fault the M/Ws but i guess my view would be slightly biased. BUT.... I must say Homerton is a fantastic hosp, very good facilities, consultants seem fairly good to.

I must also say that you do have good & bad points to all hosps & some ppl have really good experiences at hosps where other ppl have had horrifying experiences. Its a luck of the draw it seems and your personal needs & circumstances. But i guess it depends on what your looking for in the hosp where you are due to have your baby.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do.

Corrine & bean 13+1

[#6]

Hiya Kootie,

i was at Newham general which was crap all my family had bad experiences so i transferred to whipps cross as i heard its great etc etc,

i had such a bad experience im never going back for my next baby..

read below my birth story a lil long but it'll explain everything.

Went into labour on the 14th March contractions were coming every 15 min and were getting stronger each time this was at about 2am woke up my husband he just mumbled in his sleep and went to sleep again (I was well pissed) so I was coping with my contractions on my own until about 9am when they became really painful so I kicked my hubby out of bed he woke up startled and puzzled as to why I was so pissed (the idiot!) so he gave me back rubs etc while I was having contractions which helped and my gym ball. Spent the whole day at home then went visiting family all the while having contractions every 15min no one knew. Spent the next night walking and can you believe it my hubby slept through it all I tried my hardest to wake up he would stay up for about 3 min and then fall right back to sleep I even pushed him out of bed at one point he still wouldn’t stay awake the idiot. After 2 days I was sick of having contractions my mucus plug came away but my waters still didn’t break nor did the baby’s head engage. Went to the hospital they checked me and I was only dilated 1cm I was so disappointed as I was so proud of myself for coping so well at home. Midwife said cervix was soft so I was deffo in labour but I have to go home however they just wanted to check the baby’s heartbeat to see how she was coping with labour. They were really busy at the hospital didn’t check me till evening and they found that the baby’s heartbeat was erratic so they admitted me to the ward in hospital to monitor me. They sent my hubby home as no one is allowed to stay overnight hospital policy I was in tears I was tired and in labour I needed my hubby there they wouldn’t let him stay or me go home. 3 days passed and I was only 3 cm dilated baby wouldn’t move down finally on the 19th of March at 00.00am my contractions started getting closer every3 min but they wouldn’t let my hubby come I had no pain relief not even gas and air they said until I dilate to 4cm they wouldn’t send me down to labour ward and until then my hubby couldn’t come. And they had no pain relief upstairs in the ordinary wards. All they gave me was paracetamol that doest get rid of headaches let alone contraction pain. I was all alone with no support all I had was my birthing ball finally at 3.30am I made them do an internal and I was 4cm I called my hubby asap and told him to come I had to pack all my stuff into my suitcase and carry my bags, suitcase etc while I was have contractions every 2 min lasting 1 min each basically one on top of each other it took me 10 min to walk to labour ward as I had to stop to breath through contractions and it got worse. Once in labour ward I asked for pain relief asap midwife said she had to examine me first and told me to lie on bed I was in so much pain I couldn’t lie down contractions were worse when lying down finally I got into bed hardly she examined me and I was 6 cm I asked for pain relief and she went out and started chatting it had been 5 days since I’d been in labour no sleep no relief I needed something and the midwife wouldn’t give me anything she was just chatting away finally at 6am my hubby came I burst into tears I couldn’t take it I needed something he went and got the midwife and she said would I like gas and air or pethedine I couldn’t believe it she was still just asking me I said both and quickly she finally gave me the valve for gas and air I took one drag and puked. I was still waiting for my aunty to come she was also my birthing partner she finally came at 6.30. midwife gave me pethedine injection at about 6.55 ish and went out and started talking again I felt an urge to push my aunt just walked in hadn’t even taken off her coat I said I need to push now she goes wot I said I need to push so I started she went and grabbed the midwife by the arm dragged her in and said “she’s pushing” the midwife checked me I was 10cm they hadn’t got anything ready she said “stop pushing” I screamed I cant I cant they just about dragged the cart in and 2 pushes my water broke and My Darling daughter Zarah was out. Born at 7.03am weighing 7lbs 2oz no stitches felt absolutely everything coz pethedine hadn’t even kicked in yet once I delivered the placenta that’s when it started working and I passed out instantly.
Here is her pic. Soz for long post.

[#7]

Hi Ann,

I'm really sorry to hear about the terrible time you had - it doesn't sound like you received proper attention - I'd certainly expect a lot more.

I thought about switching, but then after looking around Whipps again, decided to stick with it. Now I'm not so sure...

Anyway, I hope everything is going well with your little one!

Kootie

[#8]

morning kootie,

go for whipps cross i was born there!

xx

[#9]

ah, but when were you born there?!

kootie

[#10]

Whipps cross......I was already in hospital when i went into labour in the middle of the night. I was in so much pain i didn't know what to do with myself.I was also very sick, but not one midwife asked if i was alright or needed any help.But that was just the night crew, when the day shift came on it was a different story altogether. I was quickly moved to the labour ward where i had the most caring midwife she was only young but i felt so safe. In all the good out weighed the bad so your'll be fine at whipps.Just stay away from the food it isn't the best get someone to bring you in something.

[#11]

Thanks for your honest view on things. I really do think no matter where you go, you can't predict how things will be on the day. It's good to know you ended up with a caring midwife and the experience with the night duty staff didn't throw you off course!

Advice taken on the food!

kootie