*Private Hospitals*

[norash40]

Hey Ladies,

Anyone had their babies in private hospitals (in London). If yes can you recommend any? Is it worth the extra spending?

[LGJ]

I used to think I would do this, and then the Portland made one too many mistakes and I went NHS with a private consultant and a private room.

[BadHair]

Checked out private facilities in the old Queen Charlotte's when I had ds1, and they definitely weren't worth it. Had him in QCs but in the NHS bit. Only difference with private was that you got a room to yourself after giving birth and the consultant was more likely (though not guaranteed) to be there. The medical facilities were the same, even the food was the same.

IMO you might as well go NHS and spend the money you've saved on fab stuff for baby.

[norash40]

Hey LGB,

At what point in your pregnancy did you go private? Did you get a private room during labour and post natal? And which hospital did you have the Baby at? How was the experience for you?

[LGJ]

I went private from the start, I had a private room pre and post labour and I had DS at the Royal Surrey. Consultant was worth it for the private day visits as her clinic always ran close to time.

My labour was long 16 hours through the afternoon and night and ended up with an ECS and this is where she made her money. It wasn't until I spoke to the MW the next day and she said, we rang your Consultant and HE said X then a little later HE said Y.

My Consultant was a she and I still do not know to this day what poor bugger they got out of bed 4 times that night.

LGJ

[norash40]

Thanks LGB. I think I left it too late this time though. I only have 4 weeks to go and I don't think I have much choice left. The hospital I am going to is O.k but I have met some of the midwives annd did not think much of them. Oh well I just hope for the best.

[Amanda3266]

Not too late to book an Independent Midwife or a doula who can be with you for the birth and offer support.

[norash40]

Have you had either Amanda?

[Polina]

Can you have an independent midwife at a NHS hospital birth? And does it wind up the hospital staff too much?

[norash40]

I have seen some NHS MWs at work and to be honest with you I would not be too worried about winding them up.

[franch]

Agree with Amanda. If you don't like your m/ws, don't risk being saddled with somebody horrible on the day - I was, and she ruined the birth of DD (although she was perfectly technically competent). There's lots of info & experience on indep m/ws in the archive - including personal recommendations of specific m/ws - or start a new thread on this. Also try posting on the ukmidwifery newsgroup for info, experience and advice, and see the Indep M/ws Association . I've done a bit of research and Caroline Flint (The Birth Centre ) is the top dog, but very expensive - there are much cheaper options which are excellent too. You'll find lots of recommendations in the archives.

An indep m/w would win over a private consultant for me because I'm keen on active birth and had a traumatic, over-medicalised hospital birth first time round.

Out of interest, which hosp are you booked in at? (Remember another option is simply to change hosp - ?)

[franch]

Polina - yes, an indep m/w can deliver your baby anywhere. No idea how the NHS m/ws feel about this but in any case your m/w would be in charge! I'm sure they're pretty assertive ladies (on your behalf). There was a discussion on the ukmidwifery group recently about how m/ws feel about doulas - there was quite a mixed response but I got the impression quite a lot of m/ws feel that doulas tend to offer advice which they're not qualified to give as they don't have medical training, and that this annoys the m/ws. I do recommend this newsgroup (link below) as it's a place where people like you and me can ask these kinds of questions of a huge and diverse group of m/ws (although mostly very 'woman-centred', pro normal birth, etc etc).

[Amanda3266]

Depends on the hospital. Some won't give independent midwives a contract to work within them although many will. Doulas are excellent too.
Didn't have an independent midwife myself but used to be a midwife and wasn't always impressed with what I saw - which is why I left but that's a whole other story.

[franch]

Amanda I bow to your superior knowledge - I had the impression that indep mws could work in any hosp. So norash would need to check with her hosp.

[WideWebWitch]

It's to do with the hospital not being insured for an indep mw isn't it? (not sure should prob shut up!)

[norash40]

Booked at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, it's a new one, was open couple of years ago when they closed the old Greenwich hospital. Facilities are good and the place is clean, just some of the MWs lack "people skills". I think I will go with an independent MW.

[Amanda3266]

Yes - am sure it must be an insurance thing. Don't quote me as it may have all changed since I left (3 years ago).

[franch]

Good decision norash. Please let us know how you get on - I'll be very interested to know who you choose and how it goes. I'll be going indep myself with #2 in Sept if UCH can't do a homebirth for me (I'm just outside their catchment area but am moving).

[Amanda3266]

They are brilliant norash. You won't believe how different the care is.

[Xena]

Hi N40 We live really close to QE woolwich but I had all 3 of my DC's in QMarys Sidcup. I felt that although the faciltys at QM's left alot to be desired the MW's seemed on the whole alot better. However I think that if we go for number 4 we would consider using QE's facilitys and hiring a independent midwife. I have never experienced knowing my midwife before meeting her in labour and I would be keen to do so.

[norash40]

Any recommendations?

[hatsoff]

you can have independent midwives at your birth in an NHS hospital but they need an arrangement with the hospital. Some hospitals will let them act as your midwife. Others won't - however they can't, of course, stop you from having them there as a birth partner. Any independent midwife covering your area will be able to explain what her arrangements are. Why are you thinking of going private? There is a huge difference in approach, between, a private hospital such as the portland, where I think the emphasis is on consultant-led care and somewhere like the Birth Centre in Tooting where you get mid-wife-led you-centred care. I had dd2 at home with the latter and can't sing their praises enough. They had the resources to listen to me, to understand what I wanted, to avoid the horrors of dd1.

[franch]

norash I recommend starting a new thread on this as there'll be loads of MNers out there who've used indep m/ws but aren't looking at this thread. Also search the 'Childbirth' section of the archive, using the search terms 'independent midwives'

[norash40]

I was at QE the other day and was seen by four different midwives. I really don't want to go through this in labour. And they were so bossy as well, I don't think I want to go through this during labour and especially not with the first one. Might put me off for good, don't think my hubby will like that hehehehehe

[motherinferior]

I wrote a piece on this last year. I think an independent midwife can be very well worth the money - if I'd actually had the money it's an option I'd certainly have considered, but no way private hospital care.

[franch]

Sounds like my antenatal care with DD, norash - doesn't bode well - if I had my time over I'd definitely have gone indep.