Kings or Tommys for giving birth - first baby

[CocoC]

Hello

Saw one of the Lanes midwives out of the DMC this morning, was all set to ask for a referral to St Thomas' due to hearing a friend's horror stories about Kings and amazing birth experience at Tommy's, but I must admit that I loved the idea of the 'caseload care' system operated by the Lanes midwives, even started to contemplate having a homebirth and did a bit more research about Kings which really now doesn't seem that bad :)

Just wondered if anyone had anything positive or constructive to share about either hospital? I'll find out if I can get on the caseload care programme in the next fortnight. This would mean I can have all my midwife appts in my home, would always see the same one and that one would also attend to me in the early stages of labour and/or stay if I went for a homebirth. Obviously usual caveats around availbility etc.

Thanks for any thoughts in advance!

[Strawbs]

I had my son at Tommies and thought they were brilliant, I was classed as high risk due to Gestational Diabetes and Exercise induced anaphylaxis and I couldnt fault them and my labour went v smoothly. I didnt get to have my midwife appts at home which I really would have preferred but really felt I wanted to go to Tommies over Kings.

Saying that though I know people who have had their babies at Kings and have a good experience.

x

[Kes]

CocoC

I had my first baby at St T's 3 years ago, and my second at Kings in November.

I would definitely recommend Kings and caseload midwives over St T's, I was low risk first time, high risk second time and Kings were great, having a caseload midwife is also invaluable, feel free to PM me if you want more details.

[Pickle]

Lanes midwives are fantastic, I had wonderful care from them and Kings for my 3 pregnancies. Personally I would always opt for the closer hospital, as in the event you have to attend lots of appointments (as I ended up doing), or having an extended stay, it's a lot easier if you don't have far to travel.

[CocoC]

Thanks so much guys, I'm really grateful. Kes, I might take you up on that!

[Pickle]

Just to add - for my 1st two babies Lanes were only just being set up, so I went to them at DMC for my appointments. For #3, having the midwife visit me at home felt like absolute luxury, and they really went the extra mile for me when I needed weekly blood tests, doing them all at home for me rather than me having to go to Kings or Dulwich hospital.

Erika, in particular, was brilliant when it came to helping me through a pregnancy related illness, and really helped me to manage the condition and avoid spending too much time in hospital. Through an induction process which drew out for days (and days and days... Never believe anyone who tells you 3rd babies just fall out!) both she and the other Lanes midwives were never far away, popping in to say hello anytime they were in the ward. Through an extremely stressful time she really helped make the birth experience (when it finally happened) a positive one.

We are very lucky to have this resource on our doorstep. My friends in the US and NZ can't believe I got it for free!

[sjf1]

I've given birth at both hospitals. Medical issues for both myself and the unborn babies making the pregnancies higher risk, i found Tommy's the better of the two. Also my first two pregnancies (birthed at Kings) i was cared for by the Lanes Midwives and i would still go for Tommies, but there were difficult circumstances (can give you details privately)

[Lily311]

Had mine at Kings, i would highly recommend you choose the caseload care. I saw the same midwife during my pregnancy and she was present at the birth. She was amazing!

[miss]

Does booking in at Tommy's mean giving up Lanes care? If so, I'd stick with King's all the way - my experience of the Lanes has been superb.

[Indiana]

Lanes are excellent - massively oversubscribed. I have given birth at Kings twice (second with the Lanes) - Kings is fine, Lanes make it great.

[sjf1]

miss Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Does booking in at Tommy's mean giving up Lanes

> care? If so, I'd stick with King's all the way -

> my experience of the Lanes has been superb.

Yes booking at Tommy's would mean giving up care by the Lanes team, I still opted for Tommy's third time round. I recieved outstanding care at Tommy's far better than i got at King's for my second pregnancy. Although the care i got from King's with my first pregnancy from Prof Nikolades and the other consultants was excellent. Both hospitals have pros and cons, it really depends on what your individual needs are.

[simonethebeaver]

I can't recommend the caseload system enough. People pay thousands to have similar care from independent midwives (or have done until the law changes) and these have the added bonus of being King's midwives who can deliver at the hospital and liaise with the staff there.

This is my second pregnancy with Oakwood and they have been brilliant both times. This time round I was diagnosed with GD and they have supported me throughout. I am now in the final stretch and hoping excitedly for a second home birth with them. The GD has meant I've seen quite a bit of the King's doctors too this time round and the consultant has been great to deal with, and facilitated the choices I've made rather than stuck rigidly to protocol. My niggle with Kings is that they are very quick to medicalise and their research and teaching status means they are sometimes too ready to see problems. But I imagine that in many circumstances that is a good thing, and as Tommy's is exactly the same sort of hospital, presumably the same attitude prevails there.

[CocoC]

Thanks so much guys, this is all excellent. I guess I will decide as/when I know if I'm able to access the Lanes midwives caseload care. I'm not anticipating any complications/ difficulties but I'm very newly pregnant (still south of 12 weeks) and this is a pregnancy achieved after three rounds of IVF (incidentally, two of which were at Kings and failed, the last one at another private clinic which worked), so this is all a) utterly baffling to me and b) I feel terribly pressured to make the right choice now I have the luxury of making that choice, if you know what I mean!

[midivydale]

Congratulations! Take your time and make your decision. I was with the Lanes and they were fantastic. I had a few bumps along the road both antenatal and postnatal and the midwives were outstanding. Vanessa in particular went over and above her duty and was constantly by my side or a phonecall away. I still miss having her around and she gave me so many words of wisdom that have helped during the first year of motherhood.

I was at kings and medically I cant fault them but I have heard great things about Tommies too.

Best of luck with your pregnancy and huge congratulations again.

[A99]

I was with kings. Can't fault them and I had premmie baby so spent a lot of time there. Didn't see the same midwife twice though in run up to the birth but I wasn't too worried by this. The closeness is convenient. I agree it's better not to have to travel too far

[Otta]

Both great.

Difficult birth will be difficult wherever you are.

[ClareC]

Both excellent!

My eldest was born in Tommy's, I swapped from Kings at @ 36 weeks having had a bad labour ward tour at Kings.

My youngest was born at Kings.

If I were to have a third and were to choose between the two I would choose Kings although would be happy with either.

Happy to confide more in a pm

[Cam123]

Congratulations to you!

At your point in my pregnancy I was utterly baffled by all the different options and I basically stayed that way until I was about 32 weeks when I was forced to admit that it was the stress of any hospital situation which was putting me off thinking about any of it. When I focused on how I deal with pain (like to be left alone and in familiar surroundings)I decided to look more into the home birth option, which I had thought was really only an option for those who had already had a child, and never looked back from there.

We used the East Team from Kings and they were fabulous. I had an entirely natural labour at home, which I honestly believe would never have happened had I been in hospital. The whole thing was such a positive experience which I had never dared to hope for whilst I was pregnant.

If having a home birth is even a slight possibility in your head right now I would really recommend checking out more about it. There's a session once a month at Midwife House in Camberwell where they invite along a couple who have recently had a homebirth and you can get a really good idea as to if it might be for you from that.

If you'd like to know more feel free to PM

[Salsie]

Congratulations!

I also had my 1st baby at Kings last November and thought they were excellent, especially the midwives. I had to stay in for a week as she was premature and they were all fantastic.

I was at DMC and didn't get the Lanes midwife where they come to hospital with you (I think that's right!) but I had the same mid-wife throughout who was lovely & supportive.

I also second the being close to home as it meant my boyfriend could go home and pick up everything I needed throughout the week. He was also allowed to stay overnight (which I am not sure all hospitals offer) but he went home about midnight and came back first thing, which meant he could bring everything we needed which he couldn't have done had we been further away.

[Redbus66]

Distance can be key. Depends on where you live but I'm guessing kings is a lot closer. I stuck with kings after my gp pointed out that a) you might go into labour in rush hour b) if your due in winter which I think you are - what if it's snow !

Both the above can make Tommy's feel an awfully long way away

And thankfully I stick with kings - my son was in special care for a week and having my husband able to stay but also nip home quickly for clothes etc was a godsend. If I had been at Tommy's I would have felt a long way from home. And home = comfort.

I second the above about home birth though (we tried but didn't quite make the home birth) but laboured at home then my midwife came to hospital with us and had rung ahead so the room was booked etc made that bit of it so much easier

[CocoC]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply everyone, I'm really very grateful.

Cam123 I'm definitely thinking about a homebirth as an option, just need to read up on it as I'm a bit concerned that it's my first baby and I think the stats show that nearly half of women who homebirth their first end up having to go to hospital anyway - I think the key is to leave your options open and go with the flow!

[mrs f]

I can only echo what others have said re the lanes, if you get a place you would be mad to turn them down, they are an incredible team offering exceptional 'service'

I had both my babies at home so can't comment on kings or tommies but certainaly if you are with the lanes you can choose to have a home oe hospital birth whilst in labour.

From my understanding, the stats for most people going is is largely for more pain relief rather than complications but do your research. The most important thing is to feel comfortable during labour, whether that is at home or hospital is up to you and you alone.

[tomo]

Can't help with the Kings v Tommies debate because I also had my first at home last year with the marvellous Brierley midwives, who specialise in home birth. I was lucky enough not to have to transfer to hospital as everything went pretty smoothly even with a very big baby. This blog helped me put all those stats into perspective when that birth place study came out.

http://hackneydoula.co.uk/?p=492

Good luck with your decision!

[sillywoman]

The Lanes, Oakwood & Brierly are midwives who specialise in homebirth. Because of this their transfer rates, even for 1st time Mums are significantly lower than those quoted in the 'place of birth' study. Ask 'em. :D I'd have to add my voice to the myriad of fans for them on here. They are definitely exceptional.

FWIW Kings & Tommies are very similar, but to my mind, Tommies labour ward ethos is that little bit more interventionist. This might be a good thing to you, or not?

From a purely personal perspective I'd always go for Kings over Tommies - less chance of an emergency (unplanned) caesarean, less chance of forceps birth, and it's closer - a no-brainer for me, given the choice (2011 stats, taken from www.birthchoiceuk.com). But purely personal, as I said.

Best wishes to you & your baby wherever you chose.

[gebbjane]

I had my first at tommies in 2010 and 2nd one at kings last autumn. I ummed and arhed over whether to go back to tommies or go with kings for the 2nd birth - wanted as natural as possible vbac and decided that I had more chance of this at kings but high blood pressure towards end of pregnancy meant I would need to be monitored intermittently as soon as my waters broke. I ended up with a pretty bad labour experience due to staff shortages and lack of space on the Labour ward, meaning delivery was nowhere near what I envisaged. If I was to have a 3rd I would be heading to tommies without a second thought, even though that birth ended as a emcs I did try for 36 hrs for a vaginal delivery but failure to process and baby getting distressed ended in surgery. All the care I received at tommies was fantastic.

Saying that things may have been different if I had a caseload midwife for 2nd pregnancy but even though with dmc missed out so if you do get a lanes midwife I would think long and had about your choice.