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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Private Birth vs. NHS

167 replies

TheGentleMoose · 05/05/2017 08:13

AIBU to ask your experiences on giving birth please whether private or NHS? And if you've given birth on both what were the differences?

I started looking at amenity rooms yesterday, and someone raised giving birth privately. I was under the impression that no health insurance covers birth unless for a medical caesarean. However, DP looked into it last night [our insurance is through his company] and thinks we could claim a vaginal delivery on the insurance. We've never used the insurance before so have no idea what it's all about really.

OP posts:
Sunshinegirl82 · 05/05/2017 08:23

You can only give birth privately in a very limited number of places in the UK, the Portland Hospital in London is one. I know that a private birth is consultant rather than midwife led.

I had my Ds using the NHS and had a very positive experience. I ended up with an emcs as I wasn't progressing and Ds was starting to get distressed. I had two midwives with me at all times and as soon as there was an issue I had 3 doctors including a consultant in the room! He spent his first night in scbu and we were both in for a week on Iv antibiotics.

I'd check out what would happen with respect to the insurance if you needed a c-section or the baby needed special care when born. Would the insurance company cover those expenses? Also, if there was a big emergency (hopefully there won't be obviously but it does happen occasionally) what would happen? Would you need to be transferred to a different hospital?

I found it reassuring to know that whatever happened the hospital I was in was equipped to deal with it.

LapinR0se · 05/05/2017 08:28

I had a private birth at the Westminster suite in St Thomas's. I stayed 4 days, had my own ensuite room, nice catering and good midwives who got me breastfeeding well before I went home.
It's quite unlikely your insurance will cover any private care unless a) you are an expat of b) there is risk to maternal life.

Original poster
TheGentleMoose · 05/05/2017 09:21

Our closest hospital would be the Portland.

No, we aren't expats - DP gets health insurance through work.

OP posts:
Scribbles1980 · 05/05/2017 09:26

My friend gave birth at the Portland.
There were problems with the baby and they had to rush her to a NHS hospital because the Portland did not have the equipment to deal with it.
She said it was the scariest thing ever.

LexieLulu · 05/05/2017 09:26

Have you looked into your NHS options too? I only ask as the lady above mentioned she had her own private room after labour, which I did too in a NHS hospital.

I also was kept in the hospital till both they and I were satisfied with our breast feeding.

From the private experience listed above and my NHS experience there doesn't seem to be much difference (I imagine private hospitals are nicer)

Original poster
TheGentleMoose · 05/05/2017 09:29

@lexielulu - yes - we were expecting to go NHS - not sure there really is a difference which is why I am asking. Not sure if there is any point in going through the hassle of insurance!

OP posts:
LexieLulu · 05/05/2017 09:33

Some hospitals do not give you a private room after. I know I have two local NHS hospitals I could chose from, one had private rooms one had wards.

I also have heard that they try to get you in and out as quickly as possible. But again in my experience that was not the case at all xx

Sunshinegirl82 · 05/05/2017 09:34

I also get (quite good) health insurance through work and there is no way they would cover this sort of thing so I'd double check it's definitely an option.

Cocklodger · 05/05/2017 09:37

Private all the way for me.
With the nhs I find that one hospital may be great for you. Then the one 100 miles away may well have horrid showers and uncaring after birth care (there's a MNHQ thread about inadequate post birth care going on right now) so I'd always go private if I was to have another in the uk

FrancesHaHa · 05/05/2017 09:57

My understanding is that it might be the luck of the draw as to whether you would get a private room after - just depends on whether there is any available on the day.

If you're having a Low risk pregnancy, have you considered the mid wife led birthing suites? I used the one in the Whittington, and it was nice, partner can stay with you overnight etc.

Justanothernameonthepage · 05/05/2017 10:01

Might be worth looking into midwife centres - even if you don't give birth there, you can sometimes recover there. Much nicer than hospital wards

MrsGB2225 · 05/05/2017 10:10

I would look into private floors or paying for a private room in a hospital. St Thomas' is a great hospital and St George's in rooting has a very good NICU unit.
lapin can I ask how much the 4 days at St Thomas' cost you?

Original poster
TheGentleMoose · 05/05/2017 10:15

I have to have consultant-led care as I have an underlying medical condition, otherwise I would be seeing if I could have a home birth.

Yes - we've been told it's luck of the drawer with the rooms, and I will probably need observation which they can't do from the amenity rooms.

Thank you for sharing all experiences and thoughts.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheGentleMoose · 05/05/2017 10:16

Just to add - our local hospital is Royal Free, though Whittington is close too. Neither offer private floors from what I understand (I thought the Royal Free did, but I can't find it online)

OP posts:
JustAKitten · 05/05/2017 10:18

NHS here. My birth was scary in that the baby was very sick but it was dealt with excellently.

My care was initially poor, but we had to transfer to a hospital that could meet my son's needs and there it was brilliant.

JustAKitten · 05/05/2017 10:19

I had a private room by the way, I explicitly asked for one.

Original poster
TheGentleMoose · 05/05/2017 10:20

Dumb question but how far is reasonable to travel in labour?

My biggest concern would be NICU for the baby due to medication I take we are at higher risk of birth defects.

OP posts:
OrlandoTheCat · 05/05/2017 10:21

Likewise I get health insurance through work (pretty good..no excess etc). And NO WAY would they cover private birth.

JustAKitten · 05/05/2017 10:23

OP go to a hospital with a NICU.

My son had to be transferred as an emergency and I couldn't follow until the next day. I spent the night thinking he'd die without me even getting to hold him, alone.

I'm not trying to scare you, your baby will probably be fine, but if there's any chance you need NICU give birth where there's one. It's horrible being in a different place to your baby.

OrlandoTheCat · 05/05/2017 10:23

I had private (at the Lindo). It was superb. Own room for 5 days. Midwives had time to stop and chat and help me with stuff. Excellent nursery at night so that I could get some sleep.
I liked the continuity of care throughout my pregnancy too (seeing the same consultant regularly).
And AMAZING cream teas every day during my stay in hospital.

BillyButtfuck · 05/05/2017 10:24

I had NHS
I was told I would get a priority private room after being in for a month pre birth and having babies in different areas of the hospital after (twin 1 in SCBU and twin 2 in NICU) but no, they stuck me on a ward with 5 other women who had their babies with them. That first night when I was all alone, hadn't seen my babies and was surrounded by happy new mothers with their newborns, was devastating.

When the 3 of us were reunited, again I was told we would be given a private room as we had at least a weeks stay all together but it never happened. All 3 of us were stuck in a tiny curtained off corner of the ward. They kept saying they'd find a double 'cot' for the twins instead of the standard little one they stuck them in one squished together (and then wandered why they kept pulling their feeding tubes and monitors off of one another) they then said they'd get us two separate ones as the double one had been misplaced, that never happened either.

The staff were amazing from a health perspective, I was in for 6 weeks total and the actual care was fantastic but the facilities were shocking. I didn't really care at the time I just wanted to be all together, but it was very uncomfortable.

OrlandoTheCat · 05/05/2017 10:24

Lindo is part of St Mary's hospital, by the way. So access to ICU if needs be.

WayfaringStranger · 05/05/2017 10:26

If you're going to go private, go for a hospital with a specialist baby unit very close by. I know a few people who had private births at the Lindo Wing as St Mary's is next door.

LuchiMangsho · 05/05/2017 10:30

St Mary's is not Level 3 though is it? Or a full Level 3? If you think you might need the NICU go to one with a full Level 3 unit. I had a v premature baby at Queen Charlotte's and they were fab. Chelsea and Westminster have an excellent Level 3 NICU as well. Both have private rooms after birth.

C0untDucku1a · 05/05/2017 10:30

I had a private room after my nhs birth. I had a nice quick delivery in a birth suite, then complications after the birth meant i had to be bluelighted two towns over to hospital. I was in a private room on the antenatal ward for the week i was in hospital.

There's no predicting these things.