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I am interesed to know if anyone has gone for this option. The Portland seem to do a programme where you have NHS care until 36 weeks then swap to their midwives for your last month and delivery. I have had 2 uncomplicated deliveries on the NHS but am keen to make certain that whoever delivers me will have enough midwives that I get one on one care and as a GBS carrier cannot get a birth centre to take me and my husband will not even discuss homebirths. I don't feel that I need a consultant to take my blood pressure and check my wee but would really appreciate some good aftercare and a couple of days with the baby away from 2 other children to get b/f established. Just wondered what other peoples experience of this is like?
I thought about this, but ended up hiring an independent midwife. You could do this and take her into an NHS hospital with you, as many of them have contracts that allow them to do this. It would be cheaper than the Portland most probably, and you would have the assurance you would be properly looked after with 1:1 care throughout labour.
You would have one to one care but it would be a duty midwife rather than the ones on midwife led delivery. However, the ones I met are all lovely and fantastic with B/F support and aftercare.
Hi I recently had a C section at the portland. I was cared under the NHS until 37 weeks when I was cared for by my consultant and the midwifes at the portland. You would have 1:1 care and the support, aftercare, food and nursery are most excellent. All the midwifes had extreemly long service with the portland and were ex NHS, from what I understand they have left the NHS so that they can deliver a service new mums deserve and strive to deliver this. The only thing I would say is that while I was there, one of the midwives told me that a couple had arrived for an induction all the way from Surrey, and they had to turn them away as there was not enough beds! I have to say that I would not be at all happy to be sent home if I was paying that kind of money, so that might be something you want to check. However my personal experience was A1.
DA3, what are people supposed to do if they turn up to give birth at the Portland and there are no beds left? Do they have to go to the NHS after all, do you think?
I stayed in for 5 days after my CS at the Portland, also you usually are booked in at the start of your pregnancy, I guess that as the above was an induction she came back when there was a bed available. I might be wrong but I would think that priority would be given to early bookers but given the nature of birth it is difficult to do this. When I had my tour I was told that the "bedrooms" if neccessary could be converted to delivery rooms
Hi I don't know what the couple from Surrey did, not sure if she was over due or if it was a social induction? I have absoultly no complaints about the portland and recommend highly, but it is just a question I would ask if I was planning on a vaginal birth there. I stayed in for 4 nights after my section. I put my baby in the nursery every night and got a good 10-12 hours sleep which put me in good stead for when I got home. I would also recommend a mobile epidural, which took away all the pain and the painkillers I took home with me kept me 90% pain free. I recovered really well and was back in the gym 5 weeks later.
