Private Birth vs. NHS

[TheGentleMoose]

AIBU to ask your experiences on giving birth please whether private or NHS? And if you've given birth on both what were the differences?

I started looking at amenity rooms yesterday, and someone raised giving birth privately. I was under the impression that no health insurance covers birth unless for a medical caesarean. However, DP looked into it last night [our insurance is through his company] and thinks we could claim a vaginal delivery on the insurance. We've never used the insurance before so have no idea what it's all about really.

I had a great NHS birth experience at North Mids which is probably not far from you OP. Same consultant all the way through, took my care very seriously, private room after giving birth, nice food bought to my bed. The hospital doesn't have a great reputation but the maternity bit is very new and shiny, and I could not fault them really.

If you can get it on your insurance (I'm amazed you can) then I would go private every time. So much better after-care.

I'm booked in to deliver at The Kensington Wing at Chelsea & Westminster in July for my first baby. It's fully covered by my insurance (I'm an expat, living in Dubai) and I've plumped for the midwife-led care package for a natural birth as luckily I'm classed as having a low-risk pregnancy.

I've previously had surgery and a long stay on an NHS ward at Chelsea & Westminster and the ward scenario was awful. There's no way I would risk not having a private room for pre- and post-birth, and as a previous poster said there are plenty of horror stories on the new MN postnatal care campaign thread... If it's covered by your insurance (or the majority is covered - £10k is better than nothing!) then I'd definitely choose to go private if I were you.

I agree with Lalalandfill.

I would do it for the cream teas alone!

The teas came on tiered platters. A whole one all for (not so little) me!

I've done both and private is a different world entirely. I had a dedicated midwife with me throughout labour, my baby was delivered by the consultant who got him out expertly and he also stitched me up properly repairing a botch job done by a more junior doctor in a previous NHS birth. I had an epidural the moment I asked for it and the aftercare was superb. I had a private room which was so lovely rather than being on a ward but more importantly I had one to one breastfeeding support day and night and I'm sure it's no coincidence that this was the only time I fully breastfed. It was worth every penny. You might be able to get it on your insurance, we didn't but there are 2 levels of private health care at my DH work and the higher one does cover private ante Natal and delivery. Anyone who tells you it's not worth it clearly hasn't had experience of both.

I had a private birth at the Westminster suite in St Thomas's. I stayed 4 days, had my own ensuite room, nice catering and good midwives who got me breastfeeding well before I went home.
It's quite unlikely your insurance will cover any private care unless a) you are an expat of b) there is risk to maternal life.

I had the exact same experience. Mine was on the NHS, in my.local hospital. I don't think my treatment would have been any better paid privately. I guess it was slightly unusual that I was given my own room with en-suite!

I would guess the people who had good NHS experiences were not in London. I'm still scarred by my experiences 12 years ago and things are worse now.

Nc to not link this to other posts, and to avoid journalists. In a very similar position regarding choices OP. I had a stillbirth at term at UCLH. Medical personnel were lovely, very kind, very competent.
Overall admin antenatally and postpartum has been absolutely shambolic. In the middle of PALS investigation.

We might still return there given our choices for a high risk pregnancy, and are debating between that and going private. Not for the flipping tea, but because sometimes its useful to have a consultant who actually knows who the f* you are.

I had private (at the Lindo). It was superb. Own room for 5 days. Midwives had time to stop and chat and help me with stuff. Excellent nursery at night so that I could get some sleep.
I liked the continuity of care throughout my pregnancy too (seeing the same consultant regularly).
And AMAZING cream teas every day during my stay in hospital.

Did you pay any more for the 5 days? I thought even privately you and partner only got an overnight stay.

lalalandfill I'm sorry you had a bad experience.

A lot is down to your borough, I was lucky enough to have been in an area with case load midwives, and had a very positive experience at St Thomas, which really couldn't be more central London.

I have a friend who went privately, she was under one named consultant who she saw at his own private practice for her routine appointments. However she gave birth in the same NHS hospital as me (I was NHS), just under the care of her private consultant. She was probably a bit unlucky with her dates but her due date was just before a major holiday period and she went overdue. As the consultant was then going to be off on holiday for 2 weeks she ended up having an induction which was painful and she didn't have a chance to wait to see if she went into labour herself. I know she was unlucky but not something I wouldn't have thought about had I gone privately. I think she was otherwise happy with all the care she received.

Chelsea and westminister have a private maternity ward ( fancy and the dr who the royals use ) however they also have a birthing centre which is fancy and on the NHS.
I had the same doctor on the NHS and they were amazing.
They also have a level 3 NICU which my daughter was in for 4 months and they are incredible to.

I've been with The Portland since finding out I'm pregnant - they're amazing!!!! I cannot recommend them enough! I've had extra scans booked in the same day I've called, did the Panorama test at 9 weeks, and not once have I ever felt anything less than appreciated as a client there.

We are self-pay but they do take insurance and you can always juggle some costs if you're self-pay. Maybe go for a standard room and not a suite, not do the extra scans and tests unless you really want to?

I doubt I would ever give birth with the NHS. I am going private for my first baby, but I really want to do home births after that (if I can) and possibly private again if need be.

I don't have an issue with the NHS, I just know I'm going to be really worried and don't want any negative experiences with any midwife or doctors. Plus, if I want an epidural, I want it immediately. I can't imagine waiting and hoping that someone will be around to give me one.

thecklick yes we did pay extra. You only get 1 night included in the package.
But my DH was in denial about the fact that we were having a baby and seemed very keen that DS and I didn't come home too soon....I have certainly never seen him so willing to part with what is, after all, a lot of money for just a few nights!

Another fab thing about The Portland is that they make no fuss if you show up half an hour to an hour late. You still get seen and have an average wait time before being seen (5-10 minutes) which I'm not sure you'd get with NHS? I imagine once you miss an appointment you'd need to reschedule?

TheBlushBaby maybe that is why the only negative I experienced in my whole care were the waits in my consultant's waiting room.....they were pretty bad. I get the impression my consultant had perhaps over-booked himself in terms of appointments (or that has wasn't able to successfully steer concerned pregnant ladies out of his office at the end of their allotted time!)
..or, I am now realising, it's because some people don't respect appointment time!! Even if I'm paying through the nose for a service I wouldn't expect to be able to turn up so late for appointments

TheBlushBaby

You still get seen on the NHS.

OP, you don't say how far along you are but I will caution that the consultants get booked up very quickly
Most want to pencil you in when you're around 8 weeks and then confirm once you get to 12
Once you get past 14/16 weeks, you won't necessarily get your first or second choice, especially if you want someone like Nick Wales or Guy Thorpe Beeston, although GTB does prioritise high risk pregnancies if he can
So even if you aren't 100% sure you want to go private, it's worth paying for the initial consultation to lock in a consultant sooner rather than later

OP - if you're considering the Royal Free or the Whittington you're not too far from me. I had my son in the birth centre in the Whittington, was very well looked after there.

Postnatal ward is shite though but I was only in for one night so I didn't really care.

Are you the lady who posted yesterday you have epilepsy if it is you and you decide to go private you will have to tell them about the epilepsy and what triggers a fit also make sure you DH's insurance would cover you if you had a fit during labour. Sorry if I have you confused with a different poster.

I had all my antenatal care and birth at the Portland. Things like appointments made to suit me, plenty of staff with plenty of time, the same staff throughout my pregnancy and clean, calm surroundings free from other people and their visitors made such s difference to me. When I went into labour, I had 2 midwives with me all the time, had an epidural immediately I asked for it, a birth pool available if I had wanted and lots more. Afterwards, my DH stayed in hospital with me for 2 nights, in my spacious ensuite room, I received plenty of freshly cooked, good food and the option for the baby to be taken care of while I slept. I returned home rested and ready to start motherhood. It was the best £11K I've ever spent (midwife led care package) a c section would have cost another 5k at the time. Nothing covered by our health insurance.
My sister (I was with her) gave birth in an NHS hospital in another part of the UK. It was dire. She had a dreadful time, denied pain relief, treated like dirt by harassed staff in filthy surroundings, her DH and I cleaned dried blood and filth off her bed and bedside locker and were shocked at the inhumanity of it all. Postnatally she was on a 6 bay ward, could barely walk and didn't have enough to eat and drink and other people's visitors were loud,?swearing and being a real nuisance. Her stitches were infected and she returned home ill and in pain. It was shocking. So if you can afford private and are in London, I would recommend.

GP here, with obstetrics in a previous life (private and NHS). I have had all 3 children through NHS. Funding was never an issue, but absolutely not a chance I would have ever chosen to have a private delivery. First baby was born at 31 weeks by elective LSCS with severely restricted growth and required SCBU for 8 weeks. Second was ventouse in theatre. 3rd was my only "normal" delivery. I would only ever give birth in an NHS hospital (IE also not at home/ birthing centre) as I have seen first hand the dreadful consequences of unexpected complications in the "wrong" place.

IWantAnotherBaby
Just out of interest, can you explain the rationale of why you feel safer on the delivery ward of an NHS hospital with junior staff than you would on the private ward of an NHS hospital with an experienced consultant?

peanut Yes, that is me.

I just had a GP appointment and been told that Royal Free doesn't actually have a neonatal unit even though that's what they call it. It would be a transfer to Barnett, UCLH or GOSH if that was needed. They do have a special care baby unit. We went through the options and have ruled out Portland, Lindo Wing and Royal Free. I am going to see if I can book in with a consultant at Chelsea - thank you for the recommendations with names, it's hugely appreciated.