C-section at the Portland?

[StrangeGlitter]

Hi,

I'm considering having a c-section done privately at the Portland in London.

My last birth was a devastating experience, an emergency c-section at 27+4 at UCLH followed by an immediate transfer to the Whittington because there were no free incubators; our twins died in infancy after a series of medical errors.

I am now 29 weeks pregnant and hoping to go full term(ish) and I am desperate to know that there will be people available who I know and can rely on when I go into labour, which was not the case last time.

I'm really keen to hear from anyone who has had a caesarean at the Portland in the last year or two - what was your experience like and who was your obstetrician and were they good or one to avoid?

Many thanks.

I might be wrong, but they don't have SCBU at the Portland, so if anything should go wrong then your baby would have to be transferred. There are a few NHS hospitals have private wings which might suit you?

I think you have a good case for having a c/s on the NHS, do you have a consultant just one? Might be worth speaking to?

I don't think you would get much change out of £15k for a c/s at the Portland?

Sorry for the loss of your twins.

So sorry to hear about your loss.

I had an elective section at the Portland in 2009.

Cannot praise Jonathan Brooks too highly (on not just the op, but also ante-natal care) - especially if you have a sense of humour!

He is v experienced (take a look at this website www.obgynae.co.uk) - but he does get booked up.

Epidural - post op took 40 mins.

6 inch scar, very neat and tidy, would be covered by bikini bottom (should I ever dare wear one again!).

On discharge went home with paracetemol which I stopped taking the day after I got home. No problems with pain/mobility at all.

Breastfed for 10 months, no problems.

Congrats on your pregnancy and all the best for the birth!

Do let me know if you have any more questions.

On the Portland website it says they have a SCBU

(I did not have cause to use it, so have no experience of it)

I had a c-section at the Portland in March last year, it wasn't an elective one, but planned, as dd was breech, and in a position very unlikely to turn.

It was an overwhelmingly positive experience, I stayed in for 4 nights, and I can honestly say I had no pain at all, as pain killers were given regularly. Even the epidural was fine, which was the bit I was worried about. The staff were all excellent, gave me lots of help with breastfeeding, and my room was lovely. My scar is tiny, about 4" I'd say, and healed really well.

My obstetrician was Mr Kevin Harrington, who is just fantastic, I'd trust him in any situation. I know a lady who he took care of, and her husband, who is a doctor himself, credits him with saving the life of both his wife and baby after an emergency arose and she had to be delivered very early.

With regard to cost, if you have medical insurance, there are some circumstances under which you can claim for a private c-section.

Best of luck with whatever you decide, and do let me know if you have any more questions.

By the way, I found people very judgemental of our decision to have a baby privately, which I found quite annoying. It's a personal decision, which dh and I had our reasons for, and not something I brought up unless asked. I wouldn't dream of passing comment on how anyone else chooses to have their baby.

Absolutely second Jonathan Brooks...I had the most fantastic experience with him and with the nurses and after care. I was back on my feet incredibly quickly, and can honestly say that I really enjoyed the whole experience.

contrary to what I said above, my scar is also 4 inches (I just measured it!)

Didn't know that I had scar envy....

I didn't actually measure mine, just held up my fingers and guessed!

Wow - thanks for your kind thoughts and swift responses. This is really useful information, sounds like Jonathan Brooks and Kevin Harrington are good bets.

The Portland does have a SCBU and an NICU - I'm aware that generally in complicated situations you are better off in one of the big NHS hospitals, but then, we were in UCLH last time so this is not always true.

I will only go to the Portland if things are looking straightforward, but I feel physically sick at the thought of being at the mercy of truly heartless midwives and unavailable doctors at UCLH again. I also don't want to be kicked out 24-48 hours after a caesarean if I don't feel ready.

I'm not too worried about people judging me for having a private birth - it's just not their business and I can honestly say that I have far more important things to worry about. Given maternity services are so overstretched in London that I had to spend 36 hours in preterm labour begging to see a doctor last autumn, they should be grateful for anything that relieves pressure on NHS services.

Absolutely StrangeGlitter, I wouldn't let other people's opinions affect my decision. You must do what you feel is right for you, both physically and emotionally. One of the reasons for our choice was knowing who was going to deliver the baby on the day.

Hope all goes well.

(4" scar confirmed btw!)

Good luck x

StrangeGlitter, I am judging you for considering a private birth.

.....and I judge you to be absolutely correct to do so (especially given what you have been through).

All the very best for the birth (and everything else afterwards).

I have had 2 private sections at The Portland, the second was with my twins, both with Paul Armstrong. He's nice. Unflappable, v confident, unphased by things, which is what I wanted. The aftercare is extraordinary and it's a real shame that the difference between private and nhs is like night and day, sadly.

And there's a scbu and nicu. Someone always pops up and say "there's ni scbu, they transfer the babies if there's a problem" but that's not true - I asked and it seems that they're fairly choosy about the cases they take so anyone delivering before 34 weeks or with known major issues is sent elsewhere anyway.

Both my deliveries were painfree, positive experiences. I had a couple of silly "too posh to push" comments but I just smiled and said "Yes!"

If you can, you should.

Thanks ladies, for your wisdom and experience. So helpful.

The only thing about the Portland NICU/SCBU is that presumably your baby would be treated as a private patient and you would be billed for their care, which I guess could be a lot in some cases. If that could be an issue for you then maybe a private maternity wing in an NHS hospital would be a better option.

Sorry to hear about your awful experience and loss. Don't listen to any judgemental comments you might get, just do what you feel is best for you and your baby.

I am having DC2 in the Portland later in the year and I am really looking forward to it.
That old chestnut about the Portland having no SCBU seems to crop up every time and it is rubbish - I should know my DS spent 48 hours in there and it was fantastic!
I had and am having judgemental comments but it is not anyones business. The cattiest comments I had came from the community midwives but I am thick skinned enough to tell them where to go.
I am so sorry for your loss, I know you darling babies cannot be replaced but I hope that your beautiful new baby will help to soften the pain.
You will be in good hands at the Portland, please let us know how you get on. XX

Much as I loved the Portland, given your history, I'd also consider the private ward at Queen Charlotte's. They have a world class reputation in neonatal medicine and a very nice private wing too. And as has been pointed put, private scbu is amazingly expensive. I had an uncomplicated ELCS but my DS had some minor breathing issues and was monitored in scbu for 2 nights, and our total bill was £28k, a huge chunk of which was scbu.
Very best of luck x

I would suggest the Kensington Wing at C&W. I am seeing Keith Duncan there. They have an excellent neo-natal unit / accompanying record, and if the baby has any issues it is transferred onto the NHS as soon as it is born so you are not paying for private neo natal.

Good points, Ephiny, Bagofholly and citymonkey - we were willing to pay the £15k or whatever for the c-section but I guess a special care bill could be huge.

I live in North London, hence my preference for the Portland rather than something further away (I'm trying to rest rather than trek around London for consultant appointments), but I'm now considering St Thomas's as they have a level 3 NHS NICU and a private wing...

A surprise revelation - even if your health insurance doesn't cover pregnancy/birth, if you need a c-section for medical reasons it may cover this plus any NICU/SCBU costs.

So as long as I make it past 34 weeks I'm off to the Portland!

Yes I meant to put that in my earlier post but had to rush out for DS sports day. You should have your hospital stay plus any special care costs covered by insurance, just make sure you tell them you are expecting. The Portland are also going to be taking early deliveries from 28 weeks soon if they have not started already.

I know its a bit of a bind but try to see as many consultants as possible so you can make sure you have one you are really comfortable with and dont leave it too long as they do get booked up. XX

My GP and doula talked me out of a private birth using the "there'll be no SCBU if there's an emergency" argument. Like an idiot I believed them and it didn't even occur to me that there might be private maternity units located within NHS hospitals. Anyway, this is a roundabout way of saying that after my own experience of an NHS birth, I think you are 100% right to go private. Everyone who disagrees can sod off. I am so terribly sorry about the death of your twins and wish you all the best with this pregnancy and birth. As for covering any SCBU costs (God forbid you should need this), why not talk to your health insurers and find out how soon you can get your DC put on the policy (we put DD on ours the day she was born) and ask what happens in the event that DC needs medical treatment immediately after delivery? XX

I have already booked an ELCS at the Portland in September so am interested to hear all these responses. The one thing I agree with is the judgmental approach from so many women. I have told very few for fear of this but I suspect that they are jealous and wish they could have done the same thing!

Just to add another story. My friend gave birth at the Portland in April. She was due for an CS but went into labour early. They left her in labour from 5pm on the first day till 8am the next when the consultant finally turned up to perform the CS. She had a horrid time of it, but unfortunately I don't know the consultant's name.