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Childbirth

Portland Hospital- which type of room?

11 replies

starchildmum · 06/08/2012 20:18

Hi

I am about to give birth at the Portland Hospital and was wondering which room to choose. Standard or double bedroom. (Suits are not being considered).

I was wondering if it is worth it to choose the room with the double bed ( any experience with it????) or if anyone preferred the standard beds anyway? Maybe more comfortable or just a bit more appropriate?? I can somehow imagine that one might feel more as ease with a bit of distance after giving birth. Otherwise I am just thinking it might be more comfortable for the husband to not sleep on the companion bed which looks rather like a fold-out wooden prison pallet and I was hoping this to be a very special moment for our little new family.

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EclecticShock · 06/08/2012 20:20

Can I ask how much it is to give birth at the portland? Have always wondered since watching it on sky and my last birthing experience was so dreadful.

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starchildmum · 06/08/2012 20:35

It is very expensive. You can find the price list on their webpage. I think around 5/6000£ depending on the type of birth and the length of stay. Consultant fees are on top if that.

However, if you have a private medical insurance (which is not cheap) they will pay for all costs Not the english insurances but most international ones. If you are not pregnant yet, let me know and i can give you some guidance on that. However if you are already pregnant it does not work as they have a 9 month waiting period.

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Sunshinecurl · 06/08/2012 21:15

Did they give you the choice? I was allocated a standard room - I think the double bed ones are fairly limited in number - and my OH slept fine on the camp bed which the nurses made up every night for him. I can't remember the exact price differential but it was a good few hundred pounds extra a night for the double bed. Are you having an ELCS? I loved every minute of my stay - you'll love it! x

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starchildmum · 06/08/2012 21:48

Hi Sunshinecurl

Thank you so much for your comments.

Its 200 £ more a night and wondering if it is worth it as the standard beds look indeed more comfortable than the double bed on the website. Its also a bed which has many functions and is adjustable which the double bed does not have. So if you like to sit up you need a lot of cushions whereas the standard hospital bed can be adjusted which might be better for me.

Really? The nurses made it up nicely and he slept well? Its really reassuring to know as I am worried about him. He had to go through so much recently as I was not well and he was so worried all the time. Really would make my birth experience so much better if i know for sure he has a good time.

I am actually trying for a natural birth.

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Sunshinecurl · 06/08/2012 21:58

Yep - the height adjustment etc was perfect. I don't think he'd sleep any better in a double bed with you and baby next to him tbh. I am probably slightly exaggerating the comfort of the 'guest bed' but my OH slept in it for 2 nights out of the 3 that I was in and he was absolutely fine. Remember too that there won't be a great deal of sleep going on - unless you leave your baby in the nursery but I was keen to BF and kept him with me throughout.

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RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief · 07/08/2012 06:11

If the double bed doesn't adjust, I'd go for the standard bed. It's really great to be able to bring the back up to support you in a sitting position (for breastfeeding, eating, watching TV etc) without having to actually haul yourself upright, especially if you're sore post childbirth (basically you want to avoid having to shuffle your bum around too much).

I just had my daughter last week at Hong Kong's Portland equivalent and was actually wondering why they don't make hospital style beds for your house as the multiple features are so damn handy

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RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief · 07/08/2012 06:17

I'd also second sunshine re managing your expectations on sleep. I recall with my first, Dh and I spending much of the first night peering at DS and running through the "Why's he crying?" checklist. The midwives are great, but ultimately you want to leave being able to do everything yourself (so get them to help you wind and settle the baby rather than get them to take the baby to the nursery and do it). Also, depending on baby, some of them do get pretty mixed up re day and night. My DD is now 5 days old and only slept for more than 40 mins at a time at night last night- just go with it. They get themselves right. I guess all I'm saying is, guest bed comfort will probably not be a big factor in sleep quality.

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BagofHolly · 08/08/2012 11:26

The double rooms are bigger - I had one first time, but had a cs so needed the electric bed and all the attachments etc rather than a double bed. DH was fine on the fold bed.
Second time he had MY bed as I was in recovery for 24 hours, so he got my room!
Have to disagree with wanting to settle the baby yourself etc - the nursery is there, you've paid for it, use it and get some kip!

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piedaterre · 08/08/2012 14:38

I second Bagofholly on using the nursery - with my baby they took him the night we stayed, brought him in for a BF when he needed it and then settled him again - because they are so good at it he left with an idea of day and night and I was not exhausted and left having had a decent night's sleep. wasn't the Portland but private maternity elsewhere (same setup) but I would say it is one of the big advantages!

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Sunshinecurl · 08/08/2012 22:02

You may well be right re the nursery and if I'm back there again I may well use it but I was so besotted with him that I couldn't bear to be parted from him.., he was and still is a v chilled baby so I slept when he did during my time in the Portland. Nursery or not, I have the most amazing memories of my time there - I really loved every second of it. Now you come to mention it, the nursery manager did berate me a little for not having used her services aside from bathing etc

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starchildmum · 16/04/2013 10:25

Just wanted to share my experience.

I stayed 5 nights in total. My daughter had to go to intensive care for 1 night. It turned out she was fine but it was a shock nevertheless.

My husband stayed with me all the time so the classic room is perfect.

My waters had broken early and after 48 h without contractions I was finally induced. So by the birth I already had not slept for almost 48h. After the birth I was on such a HIGH and my body produced this incredible about of energy that on day 3 after delivery the nurses and my husband forcedme to use the nursery as I was just on the go non stop 24 h and had not slept more than a couple of hours in days. I agreed to take a sleeping pill and finally slept 6 h without interruption.

Now my daughter is 7 month old and all I can say. Girls USE the nursery!!!!! The sleepless nights are going to come and you will go beyond exhaustion anyway. :-)