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Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!

Hello,

We are expecting our first child and were hoping someone can recommend a hospital that they have recently had a baby in? I have heard a few horror stories and are struggling to pick one!

All advice is welcome

Many thanks

Con

Tags for Forum Posts: maternity hospital, medical care

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Don't have a home-birth, in Haringey, on Christmas Day, unless your midwife has a driver's license.

I had my young 'un at UCL where they were marvellous.  The ante-natal service seemed pretty good, although I hated being described as a "geriatric mother"....since when is 39 geriatric?  I had an elective caesarean (little blighter went breach with 3 weeks to go and was a ten pounder, so I didn't have much choice).  I have three vertebrae in my back fused together so they had some issues with administering the epidural.  I felt completely looked after in the delivery room.  

I visited a friend who had hers at the Whittington and to my absolute horror there were women from Holloway Prison on the labour ward who were hand-cuffed to their beds.  For that reason alone I wouldn't have elected to go there.

Why - because there were women from the prison there, or because they were handcuffed to their beds?  The first wouldn't have bothered me (prisoners need to give birth too and they also deserve medical care) and the second is the rules, isn't it.  Not much the hospital can do about it. 

I thought it was senile gravida, rather than geriatric! 

Because they were hand-cuffed to the beds - how dehumanising.  I chatted to one of them.  It was one of the most depressing conversations I have ever had.  Firstly because she admitted she'd deliberately got pregnant in an attempt to avoid a custodial sentence; and secondly that the baby was going straight into care and that she didn't care.  That's not a great start in life by anyone's estimation.  I wished her well but had to have a little cry afterwards.

I would find that totally depressing too.  But at least they were in hospital, not expected to give birth in their cell!  What a life though - to be in a place where that is a reasonable thing to do.  Hopefully the baby was adopted by someone desperate for a baby.  And hopefully that woman has made something else of her life since then. 

Is someone who deliberately gets pregnant like that and sends the baby straight into care not a little less than human already ?

They probably weren't born that way, were they? 

Thank you all for the advice, much appreciated 

My vote would be for the Whittington. I had my first at UCL two years ago and am now at the Whittington for my second. I feel like they're probably comparable when it comes to emergency care (if you need it) but I'm finding the Whittington much much nicer and easier for the daily routine care.

Some examples that are important to me: At UCL I never saw the same midwife twice - I saw whoever was on shift, a different person at every single appointment through my pregnancy. Whereas at the Whittington I was given my own midwife at my first appointment and I see her every time. She can't guarantee she'll be there for the actual birth at the end but at least I have continuity of care throughout my pregnancy this time. At UCL I had to go to the Euston hospital for every appointment which is a bit of a pain. But at Whittington the majority of my appointments with my midwife are in the community, at a local children's centre walking distance from home.

Hope this helps. I think you'll hear great stories and horror stories from both but these two issues have impressed me about the Whittington.
We had 2 births at the Whittington and felt very well cared for both times. My first was born at St Marys where I was lucky enough to give birth in the birthcenter which was like staying in a nice hotel.
I'm pregnant now and under the care of Whittington nurses and consultants and I'm very happy to be there.

Hello! we had our baby at Homerton and not only they have a newly refurbished maternity ward, they also have a brilliant neo-natal section where they factually bring babies from all over London so they are fully qualified and more to deal with any situations if needed..Or you can enjoy a nice ward with birth pools etc..From where we live, near ST Anns Rd, is equal distance to there or Whitington but Homerton is a much better choice..l;

The NHS website allows you to compare (some) data. Go to services, find maternity with your postcode and have a hunt around.

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