Private birth- NHS postnatal

[Goldleaf76]

AIBU to expect the NHS postnatal care (midwives and health visitors at home) if I'm having a private elective c section? My understanding is that I will have to pay for the visits (around £1200) but it does not sound fair as I only wanted to have a section and my baby should still receive free health checks as all other babies do. My antenatal has been under the NHS in the same hospital. Has anyone done this?

Emmastone123 yes and not only saving the NHS a hefty sum of money but giving a hefty sum to the trust as I am with the same hospital all the way through.

Emmastone, it isn't rude. It's the way it works. Cancer patients have wanted to pay for very expensive drugs not available on the NHS and have been told that they have to pay for their entire treatment if they do that. But then I only worked in the NHS for over 20 years so what do I know?

I’m at the Chelsea and Westminster as well.

I did not pay for postnatal NHS Care.

You can pay for 38 week plus care and then have NHS post natal. You really can pick which bits you want to pay for.

Personally I’d pay for the whole damn lot but I didn’t have a great nhs experience.

genuine ?? why change to NHS after the birth,is it cost? and why choose private for the birth

thank you

I had 2 private births at C&W OP. As others have said, the baby is automatically
an nhs patient upon birth. The community midwives will see you and your baby when you get home just like anyone else.

You might change because you have the baby in London and live 200 miles away. Not feasible to get back for checks.

You choose private because you actually get choices then. It’s very much more patient focused- because it’s low volume and you’re paying for it.

I actually didn't know you could pick and choose. I bought you'd want the private aftercare for the same reasons you want the private section. If not then what are your reasons for going private just for the section? I'm not challenging your choices but interested to know

I’m sure the OP will be back, but I’m choosing a private section because my first birth was fucking awful and I’d like to be able to choose who does it this time and be in total control. And also get some post op care... and some painkillers...

But I live too far for the post natal community care. So back to nhs it’ll go.

thank you glueinteresting thread

Thanks everyone. I chose to go private because I don't have any medical reasons to qualify for a c section but having my first baby at 41, I don't want to take any risks or end up having emergency section. Tobebythesea - that's great, good luck with yours.

Did you know you can have a c section for maternal choice on the NHS?

Who is providing your antenatal care?

Surely if you are a UK resident you are entitled to NHS care whenever you need it? So if you are discharged from private, and then want to access the NHS they can't really turn you away can they? On what basis would they be able to refuse you medical treatment?

I think cancer is a little different because of the possible impact of taking the drugs, which is something that can be entirely avoided by not administering them. Whereas with obstetrics, OP is pregnant already and she's going to have the baby somehow. You can't just avoid the possibility of delivery complications by doing nothing, but you can avoid the possibility of eg reactions to cancer drugs by not giving them.

There would also be the problem of refusing to provide the child with NHS treatment when he or she hasn't necessarily received any private care at all. This is different to cancer too.

FWIW, OP, a GP friend of mine says all births should be c-section as much safer!

My SIL is a GP and has had 3 x vaginal births. One was a home birth too.

I have quite a few doctor friends who just say it’s personal preference. Some of them have dcs and most have had vaginal births.

My dad is a surgeon though and he says all births should be C Sections.

My point being, that doctors probably differ on this as much as everyone else.

I’m a student midwife and in the area I work in we look after ladies that have gone private antenatally and postnatally at no cost.

I'm a GP who has to have a c section. I have worked in obstetrics on several occasions. I would much rather have a vaginal delivery, if I didn't have the risk factors I have. Not that that's really relevant to the OP. Just to say that not all GPS think c section is the best option!

"My dad is a surgeon " so presumably doesn't have a vagina and has never carried a baby.

C sections carry huge infection risk. I wouldn't choose to have another.

"My dad is a surgeon " so presumably doesn't have a vagina and has never carried a baby.

Indeed!

"My dad is a surgeon " so presumably doesn't have a vagina and has never carried a baby.

He’s not even the right end btw. Completely non-baby surgeon. I love him and he’s brilliant at his job, but I won’t be taking his advice on having babies anytime soon.

I’m another one who has to have a CS, but I’ve had a VB before and would prefer to have another one this time.

There's no automatic safer across the board choice. Both modes of delivery carry risks, some more of an issue in certain groups than others (eg one risk of attempted VB is EMCS, which is much more likely if you're 40 than 20).

When it comes down to it, you only get to choose the risks that are more acceptable to you. Those are a personal call.

^ yes this .

There are a multitude of risks for vaginal births that aren’t shared with people too .

Useful thread as I will be having elective c section privately if the NHS won’t honor “maternal choice” so good information to know .