Seeking advice: Deliver locally at Whipps Cross or at a further university hospital (UCLH) ?
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I gave birth at UCLH and was very happy with it. It was a 50 min car ride for us (our closest hospital was 40 mins so we didn’t have a ‘close’ option). Most of the time you will have time to make it to hospital, but you might want to keep open the option of booking a hotel room close by at early signs of labour if you are worried (or if you go in too soon and they won’t admit you). We had to go in the night before the baby came to be checked due to bleeding and then was sent home until the next morning when labour was sufficiently advanced. So you might have to make more than one visit. (First time we just went on the tube which was quicker).
I gave birth at UCLH, it wasn’t closest to my home either but closest to work. I didn’t give it a second thought tbh. My labour defo wasn’t quick, and I travelled there to be told I was not dilated enough and had to go home and return later that night.
I had a very similar situation (ChelWest vs. Whipps) but made the decision based on the hospital rather than the distance. I stuck with Chelsea and did not regret it. Whipps had too many problems for me, and I am avoiding using it in the future as well. (I actually tried to switch at 28 weeks and my on boarding care was a disaster - I took it as a sign that this was not the place for me. I know others will have had a positive experience, so you have to go by your own intuition.) To plan for contingencies we went around the due date and stayed closer to the hospital. I ended up 2 weeks overdue lol, but I still would not have done anything differently.
I was planning to go to a hospital further away from home but decided on one closer. I had strong contractions for 26 hours… they were not regular enough for me to stay so was being told to go home. Luckily my waters had partially broken which is why I ended up staying. Otherwise it would’ve been a few more trips to the hospital. I also had a few false alarms… so that’s a few more trips to labour ward. I was told to walk around to get the labour going. Well after one lap of the hospital corridor I had my waters REALLY break and within 10 minutes baby was out. This was my first. If I had’ve chose the hospital further away or been at home when waters broke I would’ve had the baby either on the street or in inside the car… and would’ve had a very long drive. I would recommend switching just so you know you can be seen ASAP. Everyone is different but for peace of mind and emergency… try to be as close to home as possible. You also need to think about the drive home with a newborn!!
I wouldn’t go for whipps unless it was an emergency tbh.. deffo UCLH - heard fab reviews for them x
UCLH everyday any day
Whipps cross have an great home birth team if that is an option to consider? I wouldn’t go for a hospital that is far away because sometimes labour can be quick…A friend of mine did this and her partner had to jump red lights to get to the hospital on time only leaving a small amount of time before the baby was born! Also worth considering how long it tookyour sisters or mum to give birth? Sometimes you’ll be looking at similar time they had for labour.