To ask who has done a private birth at KINGSTON hospital? (Or any other hospital really)

[crispysausagerolls]

Sorry about posting for traffic!

Wanted to look into it after horrific first birth: consultant fees etc an eye-watering 8.5k BUT doesn’t even include hospital fees or cost of the birth so not really sure wtf the money is for and would love some insight from anyone else.

Any other private birth experience welcome too please, especially re the hospital costs 🥴

When we looked, it was about 20k all in for an uncomplicated case at the Lindo wing. When you go down the private route, everything is obstetrician led, you have lots of appointments, more tests, a private room etc.

Thanks JoJo. Did you go down the private route?

The private options were pretty far away so I went down the most local NHS route. I did see a private obstetrician privately for scans and checks throughout the pregnancy + got a private room at the hospital but the Labour itself was all NHS. However, I see it's the Labour you're most concerned about so that probably wouldn't work.

One of my friends paid for an experienced midwife to come along to hospital to keep an eye on things. That could be of some help if you don't fancy spending £££ for the whole package.

I did NHS Ante natal. Private scans, 2 private and obstetrician appointments and private delivery with private room on postnatal ward.

I had 2 NHS deliveries before and it was night and day: epidural on demand, induction done by breaking waters and no messing about with predators, epidural in before waters broken, one to one midwife care with chosen midwife, expert stitching repairing the botch job the registrar has done in a previous pregnancy. Lovely room post natal, breastfeeding support constantly. It’s no coincidence that no3 was the only one successfully breastfed.

I went down the private route with dc2, had him by elcs at the Portland. On paper it looked like the costs would be around 18k but they ended up at about 24k due to things not included in the basic pricing such as blood tests, scans, anaesthetics, medications, physiotherapist (who turned up, I said wasn’t needed as I was ok and then we got a bill for £250 ) and due to having the elcs late in the day I needed to stay 2 nights rather than the one planned. But it was awesome. There was a nurse who would sit with baby so I could sleep and I still crave some of the meals I was fed there, you just phoned them up and they brought you a bloody banquet.

I had a private birth for DC3 as I had some medics concerns and wanted the comfort of knowing that I would see the same consultant every time and have additional scans/appts.

I paid £8,500 for ELCS, then on top of that, it was £350 for each prenatal appointment, of which there were probably around 10, so around £12k all in.

This is in the midlands though, and the actual birth was in a normal NHS hospital, no fancy private wing. I got a private room but that was it - no other special treatment. But that was fine by me, as it was the individual care I wanted, not a nice room and better catering. It was a really positive experience.

However, I have gone on to have DC4 and I realised that the additional care prenatally had actually made more of a difference to me than who did the section at the end of the day. With DC4 I therefore paid privately for all my antenatal care with the same consultant who delivered DC3, but delivered on the NHS so a much cheaper option.

What was it about your first birth that you want to avoid? I’ve been looking into private midwives - circa £5-7k I think. Might be an alternative if what you really want is the support and someone to advocate for you?

The first birth I was induced and someone was supposed to check on me (in the main labour ward) at 10pm but they were understaffed and couldn’t. I was vomiting and real labour had started but no one came - DH went to find someone and was given a cardboard bucket for me to be sick into. That was it. By the time someone came at 11.30pm I was 8cm and I was in the worst state of panic of my life. Can’t even describe it. Made the birth horrific as I couldn’t calm down at that point.

I just don’t want to go through anything like that again! Tbh aftercare wasn’t fantastic - needed a shower as covered in gore and vomit (as one is!) and was given one small baby towel. Wtf is that about 😃

Really appreciate all the input re private births. I just assumed 8k would be all in as it’s not central. Hospital still not responded re actual birth cost, so I can’t see how much that will move the needle.

Those who did have a EMCS, did insurance cover that part?

madeupmymind

Fairly outrageous re the physiotherapist!

OP in that case I would employ an independent midwife for the birth to advocate for you in the hospital. Paying £10-20k seems like a huge amount for one day giving birth.

I had all 3 of mine at the Portland privately after a late loss handled badly in the NHS first time round. Youngest is 10 now so costs well out of date.

No 1 was elective c section for breach and no issues.

No 2 was VBAC. When I arrived in labour they told me I had to have an epidural as they were busy and wouldn’t have a midwife to 1:1 me. Which is kind of what you are paying for. The consultant only arrives when you are ready to deliver. The aftercare wasn’t fabulous either. My allocated midwife went on a break and I had a PPH which the HCA didn’t recognise as such and just changed the sheets and left them in the bath. The consultant when he checked me didn’t believe I’d been bleeding heavily and the midwife only discovered the sheets after he’d gone and asked me not to tell him as she’d get into trouble . I ended up needing a transfusion to consultants astonishment and being in hospital for 10 days post natally but medical insurance covered it all.

Baby 3 was another elective c section for a transverse lie and different insurer so that one was covered completely by insurance. Midwife asked me to discharge myself on day 2 against medical advice as she wanted to go home and the ward wasn’t busy so if I left she’d be allowed to do so. . She also lost my drug chart so I ended up with no pain relief for 3 hours until she found it again. The anaethetist was not impressed by that. But generally not a bad experience compared to number 2

I had mine at the Portland. Approx £20k inc consultant care during pregnancy and elc. Pricey, but fab care and absolutely no pain.

Not what you're asking I know but I know someone who recently gave birth in Kingston, NHS not private though. They can't fault them, lovely midwives and great aftercare.

I had two nhs births at a SW London hospital and ds2 died. He was going to die but I could not have entered that maternity dept again.

I had a miscarriage afterwards very quickly and saw an obs privately due to an infection and sobbed all over his desk.

I was pg again v quickly and booked with Kingston where he was one of the consultant obs. I asked if he could lead my care and he agreed but only via the NHS. I had all my apts with him - quite a high risk pg. He promised if I had a vaginal birth I would have an excellent midwife.

DD was born at Kingston on the NHS 51 weeks after DS2 died. A very well managed labour and an induced one. 8lb13oz baby and no tears. Lead midwife and another called Hawa from Senegal who was an absolute angel and so gentle and kind.

It was very cathartic and healed a lot of fear and heartbreak. The obstetrician is now sadly retired. That little baby is now all grown up.

OP was your 1st birth at Kingston?

@OhTheRoses ...I cried tears reading your post.

I'm so sorry for your losses @OhTheRoses and @Katrinawaves

I had a private birth at the Lindo wing in 2017. Was about £20k in total, but we did everything privately - including all the scans, fully OB-led ante-natal care, and all visits to check for reduced movements etc.

I had quite high anxiety and depression after a stillbirth at an NHS hospital where an investigation showed some serious lapses in care. I couldn't bring myself to go back to the hospital or to the NHS. After being forced to wait in a labour ward full of women on the verge of delivering when I went to discuss my baby's postmortem report, I realised the NHS is full of well-meaning people but just too large to cope with people's feelings and trauma.

Couple of things to keep in mind regarding paying privately :

• You can pick and choose to keep costs down, so can have your antenatal care on the NHS and just have your delivery privately
• You can check if you might well be consultant-led on the NHS if your previous birth was difficult. I was offered a consultant-led birth but I just couldn't handle the trauma of being asked repeatedly by new MWs if this was a first pregnancy etc.
• Remember that if you're paying everything privately (and not via insurance) then it's best to pick a private wing of an NHS hospital. If the baby needs a night or two in the NICU or under the blue light after birth then paying fully privately can mean the costs get quite astronomical. (if you're insured the baby gets added onto your insurance after birth and this is covered). This is particularly relevant at the Portland.. I'm not dissing the hospital - it is lovely - but if the baby needs the NICU there it can get really expensive. And they will typically have no space to transfer you to St Mary's or UCLH unless there is a medical need to do it - they won't transfer just to save your costs on insurance.

Good luck and I hope you have a pleasant pregnancy and birth!

Just to clarify, you can't engage a private midwife to be with you in hospital. That is not allowed. It would have to be a hone birth. For a hospital birth, the right doula can make a massive difference.

Kingston hospital doesn’t have a private maternity wing so patients will have their AN care with their consultant in a private setting then deliver on the NHS ward. This means you get all the facilities which is great but equally there could be delays on a busy delivery suite.

In reality the vast majority of their private deliveries are CSs on insurance.

After the birth when mum and baby are stable they are transferred to the general private ward where there may be a midwife on duty 24/7 but not necessarily. It’s pleasant but not sensational although the midwife will have much more time to spend helping you when she is there.

NB this is out of date by some years but was the set up for a long time. Definitely call and check on this. Kingston does have a great reputation and a lot of single rooms for PN but it’s busy.

Were you at Kingston for your first baby? I just had mine there (NHS) and it was fantastic, much better than the other three hospitals experienced amongst my NCT group. The birth rate has dropped hugely in the last year so plenty of staff, four water birth rooms, and pretty much all the rooms for postnatal are spacious single rooms x

Sounds like you got very unlucky. I had DS at At Helier last year and was also induced. The midwife never left my side and doctors popped in every so often. Unfortunately, you can never know for sure how understaffed or not they'll be.

Re a private midwife not being 'allowed' - you can bring whoever you want as your birthing partner to look out for stuff even if she's not allowed to treat you or deliver the baby.

ohtheroses

I am so sorry for your loss 🌷

Everyone, thank you for sharing - lots of food for thought.

Yes, my first was at Kingston. Once I was in the birthing room it was great, it’s just the bit beforehand which was a shitshow.

Have you thought about having a debrief re the first birth.

Bear in mind too that the squeaky wheel gets the oil. Be clear that you had sub-oprimal care last time. Write it in your notes and set out what you expect this time to orevent you from being unwell once your baby is born.

That’s a very good idea actually!

Sorry, actually meant to be effusive, not surprised!