Dr Shalini Chawla

From our very first appointment through to our planned C-section and postnatal recovery, Dr Chawla delivered care that was truly exceptional in every sense. As Postnatal Lead at UCH, she coordinated and led her entire team with impressive precision and calm authority, ensuring every stage of our experience felt seamlessly managed and deeply considered. Her clinical thoroughness was evident well before the delivery itself: having identified myomas during the antenatal period, she conducted thorough and careful scans to fully understand the complexity ahead and ensure the safest possible outcome for both mother and baby. The surgery was accordingly complex, with the myomas removed as part of the procedure, and Dr Chawla navigated every aspect of it with exceptional skill and composure. What stood out throughout, beyond her clear clinical expertise, was her extraordinarily warm and reassuring bedside manner, with a rare ability to make us feel genuinely at ease during one of the most significant and demanding moments of a family’s life. The postnatal care she oversaw carried that same standard of excellence, and we left UCLH as a new family feeling extraordinarily well looked after and deeply grateful for everything Dr Chawla did for us.

The best decision I made during my pregnancy was choosing Shalini. As a first time mother, everything felt new and sometimes quite overwhelming. Whenever I was worried about new symptoms or unsure how to manage something, I could message her on WhatsApp and she always replied very quickly, which gave me enormous reassurance. I had very severe nausea in early pregnancy, and she prescribed medication that helped me get through the worst days. Later, I developed gestational diabetes and anaemia, which made me very anxious about the baby. Shalini explained everything very clearly and gave me very practical dietary advice on how to control my blood sugar. She reviewed my glucose readings every week, and with her support I was able to keep them well controlled throughout the third trimester. She also arranged iron supplementation early, which I believe really helped prepare me well for delivery. When discussing my birth plan, I told her I was extremely afraid of needles and cannulas. She patiently explained the process and reassured me, which really helped reduce my fear. Two weeks before my due date, she identified a placental problem on ultrasound and advised induction the following day. Although I felt frightened, she explained the risks very clearly and I trusted her judgement. During labour, when the baby showed signs of not tolerating the induction well, she made the decision to proceed with an emergency Caesarean section promptly. I was very scared, but she stayed with me, kept talking to me, and made me feel supported throughout. Her whole team was excellent, and I fe...

Initially, we chose to go private because we wanted a calm and positive birthing experience. In the end, we received so much more than that. Earlier in the pregnancy, while being seen through the NHS, we were classified as low/normal risk, so we fully expected a straightforward private delivery with Shalini. It was only when we transitioned into Shalini’s care and began discussing our birthing preferences in detail that complications came to light. Shalini recommended additional private growth scans, something we had not previously considered, to double check the baby’s progress. These scans revealed our baby’s true stage of development, placing her in the extremely low percentile. From that moment, Shalini immersed herself in arranging further tests and scans to understand what might be happening beneath the surface. This ultimately uncovered that mum was at high risk of preeclampsia, and it became clear that delivering our daughter early would be the safest option. Shalini went above and beyond to coordinate every necessary appointment, test, and scan, closely monitoring both mother and baby while also arranging neonatal care, as our daughter would be born premature. Although it was frightening to suddenly find ourselves in such a serious situation, we felt consistently reassured. Shalini kept us fully informed at every stage, explaining all risks and possibilities so we could make decisions together with confidence. In the end, we delivered via an emergency caesarean with Shalini as planned, and mum did indeed develop preeclampsia, which, thanks to early detection and...

After being recommended Shalini from a friend who spoke so highly of her, I started my care with her at 28 weeks pregnant and she was even better than we could have hoped for. She was reassuring, knowledgable and endlessly kind throughout the lead up to my c-section and made me feel at ease and well prepared going into the day of the operation. This was my second c section and I was apprehensive about the scar and overall recovery after having a more challenging 1st birth - however, my c-section with Shalini was endlessly better than I expected and I have had a very quick, painless recovery and have been left with a very small scar which is already fading after just 2 weeks. I would use Shalini again in a heartbeat and recommend her the wholeheartedly.

We decided to opt for private consultant-led care for our second pregnancy, after a challenging first delivery (major haemorrhage due to large tear requiring blood transfusion and four nights in hospital). Having considered a number of leading consultants, we decided that Dr Chawla was the best option for us - competence and professionalism were a given for consultants at the top of their game (which Dr Chawla has in bucket loads) but it was Dr Chawla’s warmth; personable nature; and genuine interest in me, my previous birthing experience, and my desire to have a more positive delivery for my second child that drew us to her. Whilst confident in our choice, I could never have imagined just quite how pivotal Dr Chawla would be to my birthing experience. A few key points to note: 1. In the weeks running up to delivery, Dr Chawla proactively reached out to me on a regular basis to check on various issues (low platelets and low iron for example), I never had to chase her and always felt that she was fully on top of things. 2. I did not have a clear view on a birth plan and felt nervous given me first birth. Dr Chawla expertly laid out the options for me and guided me, without pressuring me, to a plan that felt right for me (elective induction at 39 weeks) which hugely reduced my anxiety about giving birth. I felt that Dr Chawla had a very good measure of me as a person because she listened so considerately and carefully during our early meetings. 3. Due to reduced fetal movements at 38 weeks, Dr Chawla advised me to move my induction earlier. She was firm and directive, y...

Could not have asked more from Shalini. She is kind caring and compassionate and made me feel so confident. I enjoyed my pregnancy much more with her guidance and support. You can tell she absolutely loves what she does and genuinely cares about all her patients. Having that support leading up to the birth put me at ease and completely changed my mindset. She’s the best of the best!

Shallini is the best- extremely responsive, personable and professional. We felt we were in very good hands.

We are first time parents, not from the UK who decided to have private care from 32 weeks for our low-risk pregnancy. Choosing an obstetrician without a word-of-mouth recommendation was not easy – we had to rely on gut instinct. From the moment we met Shalini we found her to be warm, caring and personable, and someone we could be completely open with. During our appointments Shalini provided detailed answers to our questions and spoke about options for delivery including the latest research as to the benefits of inducing low risk pregnancies for mothers my age. Whilst she presented this research, she was clear that she would respect our choice of delivery and our decision as to whether or not to induce. Shalini was on call to answer questions both pre and post birth and responded quickly every time I made contact which I found incredibly reassuring given my history of anxiety. We appreciated Shalini’s honesty when talking about the realities of the postnatal period, and what to do to mitigate the impact of it given our lack of family members in in the UK. In the end, our baby arrived via a vaginal delivery a few weeks early. I went into labour spontaneously on a Sunday afternoon and Shalini was immediately available. Shalini led the delivery room and everyone in it (including two brilliant midwives) in a very calm manner – we had complete trust in her judgment as to suggestions to ensure a safe outcome for mother and baby. We are extremely happy to have experienced a positive vaginal delivery. Shalini provided outstanding care, and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.

We had the most wonderful experience and best day of our life fully thanks to Dr Shalini. She has not only provided us with her top medical expertise , care and guided us every step of the pregnancy with her scientific knowledge ( with statistics and ways to make informed decisions which resonates to me as a mathematician) But also and most importantly was a true support through all the hormonal rollercoaster and for me she s not only my doctor, but now a friend or second mum. I had an induction planned at term and I changed my mind and wanted to try again a few days later instead. She rescheduled her entire week, gave me the space to rest and come back in the right mindset and helped me get there. Thanks to her patience and support I had my dream vaginal delivery, with no tears and she was present every second through labor. A real life coach. First baby was a beautiful experience thanks to Shalini and when we have the strenght to try again, it will definitely be with her again. Forever grateful

Dr Chawla provided above and beyond care for the delivery of my baby. She took the time to explain all of my options, answer my questions and ensure that I was confident and comfortable with every step of my Caesarian section and recovery process. Before and during the surgery, she was kind and comforting. I felt assured that I was in great hands. She has been actively involved in my recovery process and I have peace knowing I can go to her should any questions or issues arise. I would highly recommend being in her care.