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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Private Birth vs. NHS

167 replies

TheGentleMoose · 05/05/2017 08:13

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.

OP posts:

Sugarcoma · 07/05/2017 20:50

Been reading this thread with interest as I recently went private (Lindo) for an ELCS due to underlying health condition that made me high risk. I chose delivery only and it was for many of the reasons stated here - continuity of care, patchy care on the NHS (I heard so many horror stories from both friends and in the press about various London hospitals) and the main thing I wanted was to have a familiar face performing the procedure (and knowing his credentials etc).

A huge bonus that I didn't realize until afterwards was the anesthetist was also consultant level and he was absolutely brilliant - I was terrified of the epidural and he was utterly fantastic.

The other main thing was I didn't have to fight for an ELCS which I absolutely would have done on the NHS (they wanted to induce me).

QueenoftheAndals · 07/05/2017 21:57

So you read all the multiple posts from OP where she has said she is high risk, before posting your option for a low risk birth?

Sorry OP, I missed that.

Fuck off sparechange

sparechange · 08/05/2017 08:29

Aren't you just a charm!
And I won't, thanks.
You quote my own post to point out you hadn't RTFT and then see fit to make a personal attack on me.

WburgWanderer · 08/05/2017 08:39

I've given birth twice in the Kensington Wing of Chelsea & Westminster. You have the option there of either consultant or midwife-led care. I chose consultant and had the same consultant for both births and she was fantastic (Mina Savvidou). She was always available either by phone or by email for any minor question. For my first I wanted an epidural and got it within minutes of asking. You have a midwife with you during labour for her entire shift (12 hours) and the consultant comes in and checks you every hour, at least. Rooms are nice, food is good, and you're right next door to NICU in a large NHS hospital should something go wrong. For the second birth we lived about an hour outside of London and continuing care in London was not a problem. Yes, it's expensive, but we felt it was worth it for continuity of care and just overall reassurance. Good luck with your pregnancy and birth!

Dolwar · 08/05/2017 11:06

I find the whole concept of private maternity care a bit hypocritical. You're happy to go private for the birth and shun the NHS but as soon as the sh*t hits the fan you come crying to the NHS to sort you & baby out.

Original poster

TheGentleMoose · 08/05/2017 11:22

@Dolwar There are no private Level 3 NICUs or hospitals with adult ICUs. It's not about coming crying to the NHS in the case of an emergency, it's the fact they are the only option.

I find it hypocritical that given we are a couple who put huge investments into the NHS you think we shouldn't me using the service when it's the only option available to us.

OP posts:

Original poster

TheGentleMoose · 08/05/2017 11:23

Thank you so much for all the replies, I really appreciate them and am glad I started this thread - hoping it helps more people than just us.

OP posts:

Sugarcoma · 08/05/2017 11:34

Big lols at the concept of private healthcare being 'hypocritical' when actually it means you're paying into the system twice.

The fact is the NHS is better for some types of care and useless at others. Also the problem with the NHS is that at the root of almost every decision - except literally a life or death one - is budgets, so you can't always trust they're acting in your best interests.

So ignore snooty comments OP - I've always found it fascinating that it's totally acceptable to spend 20k plus on a wedding (i.e. a big party) but if anyone wants to spend the same amount on giving birth - i.e. an actual life or death situation - they're subject to lots of snide and judgey comments.

Kokusai · 08/05/2017 11:37

That is a really good point!

Radishal · 08/05/2017 11:39

I would have been safer/cleaner and more supported by wolves in a ditch than my NHS hospital 9 years ago. Unsurprisingly it has been put in the Keogh Report naughty list. I don't have more children because of this.

AnneofGreenGablesAgain · 08/05/2017 12:23

I don't think anyone has the right to comment on the ethics of this kind of thinganyway. By that logic it's hypocritical that you live in a house when there are homeless people

sparechange · 08/05/2017 12:58

You're happy to go private for the birth and shun the NHS

NHS maternity services are on their knees, especially in London. I'm pretty sure the NHS has no objection at ALL to people taking some strain off by using their own money to go private.
Even fewer objections if they use the private wing of an NHS hospital, which means profits are ploughed back into that hospital

Whatthefoxgoingon · 08/05/2017 13:40

I went private (self-paid) for all my deliveries. Consultant led care, no fuss about elcs, good food, private room, great midwives, nursery, bed for DH etc etc. Recommend lindo wing, Kensington wing or st thomas all used either by me or my sisters. We have family who also used the Portland, but I prefer private wing with full nhs back-up if things go wrong. I'd budget £20-30k for this, bearing in mind if intensive care is funded privately it will be much more (thankfully we never needed it!)

QuackDuckQuack · 08/05/2017 17:41

I find the whole concept of private maternity care a bit hypocritical. You're happy to go private for the birth and shun the NHS but as soon as the sht hits the fan you come crying to the NHS to sort you & baby out. hmm*

If you go private then you normally will be using consultants who also work in the NHS. So if the shit hits the fan then the same shit would have hit the fan in the NHS because you'd be treated by the same people. That's obviously not quite true because going private means you are less at the mercy of random junior doctors and the staffing levels privately are higher, so the shit is less likely to hit the fan privately. When I think of the people I know who had problems with NHS births, I am pretty confident that they would have been listened to by a private consultant and the problems wouldn't have happened.

hopsalong · 11/05/2017 18:13

I would second the recommendations for the Kensington Wing at Chelsea and Westminster. (Not that I've seen inside it!) But I gave birth there last week on the NHS and thought everything about the consultant (I was under Gubby Aida, who was very practical, intelligent, and unpatronising) and antenatal care and eventual c-section was excellent. The postnatal ward was a living hell, but that's another story -- and one you would obviously obviate by going privately...

If I ever have another pregnancy I would try to save up and make that choice myself. I have also had a baby at St Mary's, but was low risk then and so never saw any of the consultants. But I liked the way that everything at C&W was collocated, so labour ward, Kensington Wing and birthing centre all together...

PforPhoebeHforhoebe · 11/05/2017 18:41

Uclh is excellent

Newmumm2017 · 25/09/2017 18:29

Hi there, can I ask which Private hospital?

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