UCL/Fitzrovia --- advice needed!

[whitneyb]

Hello,

I am not from the UK and really struggling to understand all the various options available when giving birth - specifically what is standard NHS and what is considered 'private' and not standard...

Our hospital is UCL and I was thinking that it might be better to go with the private facilities (the fitzrovia suite). My question is, Is the Fiztrovia suite only an option if you are having a cs? I've read conflicting information..

I want to try to have a natural birth if I can (it's my first) so if Fitzrovia is only for CS then that isn't going to be an option.

Has anyone here delivered at UCL and paid for the private room post birth? Was it hard to get into to?

Thanks in advance for any answers /guidance you can provide!

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

The Fitzrovia suite only offers private c sections, not vaginal births.

Other nhs hospitals have private wings where you can go for a natural birth- st Thomas, st Mary's in London.

You could also have your birth and antenatal care on the nhs and ask the private wing if they have space for you to transfer there after the birth if you do need to stay in.

If you opt for a private birth you need to pay separately for the hospital fee and the obstetrician fee, and if you have an epidural the anaesthetist fee, and the paediatrician fee for the newborn check. I think it works out between 10-15k generally.

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

For standard nhs care you will get:
Appointments with a midwife (unless medical need to see an obstetrician)- unlikely to be same midwife at each appt
Screening bloods
2-3 ultrasound scans as standard depending on hospital (uch do 12, 24 and 36 weeks I think)
Option to deliver at home, midwife led unit, obstetrician led unit, however obstetrician would only attend during birth if there was a need

[TiredAndUninspired]

You definitely don't have to be booked to have a private CS to use the private rooms at UCLH. You can have any type of birth but you do need to have registered your interest in having a private room before you have your baby. The rooms are ok, there are 4 of them, with one midwife between them. If you have a normal birth with no complications in UCLH's birth centre, you will get your own postnatal room on the birth centre.

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

The fitzrovia suite only offers c section private deliveries. Not private vaginal births

You can transfer there after a birth on the nhs birth centre/ Labour ward if they have space.