Hi everyone,
My husband and I are relocating to London and I am a bit lost on
how to begin the transition for my maternity care and delivery plan. My first birth was a bit rough although i managed to have him vaginally in the end (18 hr labor, threatened with cesarean throughout, epidural, episiotomy), so I'm a bit anxious about the second, especially because as a foreigner I'm not familiar with the process here. I appreciate any advice or answers to my questions you ladies can give!
-As i understand, there are both public and private options in the uk-do people tyically first choose a practitioner and then a hospital or is it the other way around?
-We will be living in Kensington,can anyone reccomend a practitioner that is within close proximity (preferrably female).
- Am i going to have a hard time finding someone to accept me into their practice this late in the game? Is there another resource that has rankings/reviews, etc. or something?
-We will have private insurance, so is it best to just go private?
-Ive read that several of the private hospitals have very high cesarean rates, which i would like to avoid if necessary. Are there any practitioners in particular that would be considered relatively "low intervention" at a private hospital? (although on the other hand i'm not completely against epidural and would hate to be denied one by a practitioner who felt i didnt "need" it) Since i went vaginally the first time is the risk for c section or over intervention not something i need to worry about?
thank you all in advance :)