Choosing where to give birth

Hi ladies, I’m 14 weeks pregnant and this is my first pregnancy so need some advice about how should I choose where to give birth. I live in Pinner area and I’m considering hospitals with integrated birthing centres ideally as I want to have a water birth. For now I’m going to Northwick Park hospital for my midwife appointments however reading the Google reviews about their maternity services is giving me anxiety. Also heard from a couple others to avoid this hospital at all costs. However this is where my GP gave me a referral and I accepted since it’s just a 10 mins drive from where I live. Please could you share your experience with this hospital or any info in general that could help. Thank you

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Sorry I can't help on experience at Northwick, However you can sepf refer yourself to any hospital, i recently moved to Stanmore last year my initial plan was to give birth at St Thomas as I've had previous experience with them! However when baby arrived we ended up as an emergency at Edgware birth centre 🤣🤣 Which is only pre booked 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ however at the time the midwife could see I was at last stages of labour lol , so we had no choice they was soo helpful - I'm very high risk so I wasn't allowed a birth pool with any of my babies , although that's something they cater for at Edgware 👌. I hope some of this sheds some light x

I had a baby at northwick 4 weeks ago. Honestly couldn't fault them. I phoned triage when I had regular contractions, got told to come straight to the birthing centre where they had a room ready and had read up my notes and I had 2 midwives with me the whole time. I had a straightforward water birth. I stayed overnight and had an ensuite room with double bed my husband could stay too and toddler visit. Everyone was so kind. I had my first baby at hillingdon and nothing awful but nowhere near as positive. I've heard good things about queen Charlotte's but it does get busy and if its busy they send you to northwick anyway. I had similar worries as you spin northwick and almost swapped but really glad I didnt. Happy to answer more.

I've given birth 3 times at Northwick park, all have been c sections and can look back at all 3 as positive experiences. The antenatal care can be a bit hit and miss I found as a high risk pregnancy there is a lot of repeating yourself to all the different doctors. Also 10 minutes away as well and would say the location is definitely a positive and can't fault the post birth care. Waiting times for appointments depending on who it's with can take some time.

I didn't have a good experience at Northwick park 4 years ago. I was induced and wasn't monitored. Quick reaction to the medication and they didn't believe me as wasn't monitored. Ended up in an emergency c section. I wouldn't go back for that reason. I will say the c section went smoothly but there was no support straight after the operation.

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