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.

mainly
Where have you got that stat from, because it's bordering on libellous if you can't back it up with something
And weirdly, it totally contradicts what's published on the Portland's website and the CQC website so you might want to ask MNHQ to delete it unless you are sure you can stand by it...
www.theportlandhospital.com/maternity/about-our-maternity-services/our-statistics/

I don't know why some people are so anti-private births and indeed, healthcare in general. I've have had a huge amount of medical treatment both NHS and private. On balance, I do prefer private care, although it's all not all afternoon tea and fine china. However, when I've had a bad experience privately, I felt that my concerns were listened to and I received an actual apology. Fat chance of getting that on the NHS and they cocked up very badly with me on one occasion.

I had an elective CS fully covered by (expat) insurance at the Portland. I stayed the full five nights I was covered for, even though I was declared medically fit to be discharged on days 3 and 4...I just didn't want to leave!!

It was like a fabulous five star hotel: three course meals, wine list, afternoon tea, spacious room, 24hr nursery and fold out bed for DH - absolute bliss!!

My sister was exactly the same number of weeks pregnant as me at the time, and couldn't believe the amount of support and care I got as a patient post-birth - I had a revolving door of specialists popping in to check on breastfeeding, wound healing, physio etc.

By contrast, she had an EMCS at St Mary's ten days later, having been sent away from the birthing center there due to meconium in her waters, and had a terrible experience: overcrowded and hot six-bed bay with patients moaning out in pain; and too weak to get up and tend to her newborn (my DN) and of course my BIL wasn't allowed to stay overnight.

If your insurance covers it, I say go for it, it was one of the best experiences of my life!!

I had consultant-led care on Harley Street from about week 28 of pregnancy - they usually offer different packages depending on when you want to start seeing your gynae, and the price reflects how many scans, tests, appointments etc you need based on how far along you are.

Everyone gets a private room with ensuite at the new Nhs hospital near me.

I had continuity of care with the same midwives too.

Apart from a few cream teas I don't think there much difference at all.

In answer to Bisquick's question, yes your costs do start to spiral if you need NICU care in the Portland. DS1's 48 hour stay was a just under £14k

And for this saying about being moved by ambulance... the Portland has the same level of care/categorisation as St Mary's. So if you need to be moved from the Portland, you would be moved from St Mary's too. And the Portland's NICU can take preemies from 30 weeks

I've never had private care so I can't comment on that, but if it was a possibility I definitely would. Both of my Nhs births have been absolutely dire and I would avoid that if at all possible. And yes, both in London.

Bisquick at St Thomas's At the time I was involved my understanding was ICU services would be NHS so you wouldn't end up with giant NICU bills. But if you are looking at it now do check.

My understanding is that Portland can transfer care to NHS for NICU. They have to transfer care elsewhere for adult ICU [Either the Princess Grace, or NHS] as they do not have those facilities on site.

@thegentlemoose how far is reasonable to travel in labour? In my area, the locsl maternity closed so 110 miles to the hospital

On my insurance policies, children are automatically covered as soon as they are born, so therefore if they ended up in NICU, that would be covered by insurance
But check your policy
It looks like you've got very comprehensive cover though, so it's unlikely to be an issue

@Ginfernal I was clearly being a Londoner with that question wasn't I, i'm sorry! Thank you for the response, i won't worry about a hour through peak-hour traffic anymore!

I gave birth twice in a midwife led unit. It was immaculate, gas and air in private shower, birthing pool, sound proof walls and it looked like a 5 star hotel. That was NHS so look into MWLUs near you. (The ward afterwards was a different story however!)

@Talith - thank you for your feedback, I unfortunately need consultant-led care due to a medical problem I have. However, it's a very useful post for anyone else reading this (and other's have suggested the Whittington which is close to our Local hospital)

The Portland have a NICU just not a level 3. That means they can handle all babies born after 28 weeks. They will redirect you if you try to come in before 28 weeks. I gave birth there last year and they hadn't had to transfer a mother to the NHS in years.

The NHS could not have done enough for me when I was pregnant. They are equipped and ubiquitous.

Would your insurance cut of in the unpredictable incidence of an EMCS?

Also I don't see how having a consultant led pregnancy is desirable. I saw no doctors, had no unnecessary interventions. Midwives were perfect.

@pardreg - have you read the thread? Because I've explained a few times why I have to have consultant-led care.

And yes, my insurance would cover EMCS - most insurance companies do, even if they do not insure elective CS or vaginal birth.

Having had a lot of NICU experience this is what I will say. If you are in any danger of giving birth to a full term baby who might be sick you really don't want to be 'transferred'. CATS and London NTS are brilliant (they saved my friend's daughter's life when she had to be resuscitated 6 times in a transfer to GOSH from a level 1 Unit) but if your child may have problems then do look into private care in an NHS hospital.
Basically having spent a lot of time chatting to NICU nurses they all say that sick full term babies are their nightmare scenarios- a 28 weeker will do what a 28 weeker does (even if he/she doesn't make it) but with a potentially sick full term you could deteriorate rapidly. Before we were discharged from our local Level 1 Unit we had two full term babies born in that week who had to be intubated and transferred (one for seizures) and what this meant was that once the baby was intubated it involved calling up every Level 3 Unit within that network hunting for a bed which in one case took nearly 12 hours while this baby was stuck in this Unit (getting perfectly decent care but not optimum care). Having researched this stuff a lot I know that being within a Level 3 Unit can have a really significant impact on long term outcomes (beyond mere survival).
Now this would not be an issue with a non complicated low risk pregnancy but since this is not I would strongly recommend a Level 3 Unit. I had all my obstetric care at C&W and although I saw them on the NHS I can recommend both Keith Duncan and GTB. Dr Duncan is not the most garrulous of doctors but he took fabulous care of me and my baby. Dr Gubby Ayida was also simply fabulous. At Queen Charlotte's I would recommend Dr William Dennis who saved my life and that of my baby and who was simply fabulous.
PS Just to reiterate that I was treated on the NHS but I know that all these doctors practice privately.

I'd really like to know if this cream tea thing is real as my friend had her baby at the Portland and claims she never once saw a scone!

In all seriousness. Has anyone gone private and regretted it?

We went private at the Portland - covered by work health insurance (and we are not ex-pats)

The advantage of private is that you get a nice private room, decent food, a bit more time with the mid wives and consultant. Had emergency CS with DD1 after she got stuck. Couldn't fault the care - but can't compare with NHS as we didn't go there!

I had my son in an NHS hospital, and I found the entire experience was actually quite good. I think I seem to be in the minority. The staff were friendly, and parents were placed onto wards with other parents who were breast feeding/bottle feeding. The food was awful ... but I think that's personal taste!. Meals were delivered to your bed and fresh water was by everyone's bed. The ward it's self was quiet and the nurses were attentive and helpful throughout. My friend had her lo a few weeks after me and ended up being squeezed against the window because they were limited on space. I suppose it can be pot look as to how busy they were.
May be worth trying to find out other people's experiences of your local NHS. I think I would rather go NHS if my local private hospital couldn't provide the right level of care if something went wrong. It's precious seconds that can make a big difference and if something went wrong because I fancied my own room and a nicer meal plan I don't think I would be able to forgive myself. That's my own opinion mind. If you can afford private and the 'reviews' of the private hospital are better than the NHS go for it.

I had my son in an NHS hospital, and I found the entire experience was actually quite good. I think I seem to be in the minority. The staff were friendly, and parents were placed onto wards with other parents who were breast feeding/bottle feeding. The food was awful ... but I think that's personal taste!. Meals were delivered to your bed and fresh water was by everyone's bed. The ward it's self was quiet and the nurses were attentive and helpful throughout. My friend had her lo a few weeks after me and ended up being squeezed against the window because they were limited on space. I suppose it can be pot look as to how busy they were.
May be worth trying to find out other people's experiences of your local NHS. I think I would rather go NHS if my local private hospital couldn't provide the right level of care if something went wrong. It's precious seconds that can make a big difference and if something went wrong because I fancied my own room and a nicer meal plan I don't think I would be able to forgive myself. That's my own opinion mind. If you can afford private and the 'reviews' of the private hospital are better than the NHS go for it.

If you don't want the Portland there's always the Lindo wing etc who offer a private birth but inside an NHS hospital. It's a bit like being on a plane turn left for first class etc.

I had a very traumatic NHS birth and wouldn't have had a second child if we couldn't have had the insurance to cover the private birth. The infant mortality rate on the NHS is appalling. It's something to consider.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/may/07/i-cant-forget-the-horror-of-my-sons-birth-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-childbirth?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

Thanks LadyOrangutan and TheClacks. I'm not under insurance so emergency costs are a concern. and apols to OP for taking the thread in a slightly different direction.

This has been such a useful thread though, thank you to everyone who took the time to reply!

Private is fine for a straightforward birth.
If there is an issue then there is a strong likelihood they will take you to an NHS area. The Portland etc don't have the facilities to deal with serious issues with the baby.
I agree have the kid in a regular hospital in a private suite.