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.

Hi Curlyems - what was your experience like at the Portland? I am booked for a delivery there, not sure yet if it'll be VB or an ELCS. Reading some of the threads I am starting to wonder if Portland is the best choice...although it's very late in the day for a change, I am due in April.

Any more feedback on the Portland would be much appreciated!!!

I had ds2 there a couple of months ago and it was fabulous like it was back in 2005.

I have had 2 ELCS at The Portland. Aftercare is what you're paying for really, and it's fab.
As for late in the day, with DS1 I only transferred care at 37 weeks and it was just a matter of my consultant organising when he and his team could get the theatre. With my second pregnancy my CS was signed off earlier by my insurer but I kept up with my NHS antenatal care at my local hospital (where I'd been admitted for monitoring) and transferred by ambulance on the morning of my surgery. There's still plenty of time to choose what you like, the hard bit is getting it all IN WRITING from your insurer.

I'm really sorry to hear about your twins.

Have you explored the option of having an independent midwife and a homebirth? Most Independent Midwives offer VBAC, which is quite often a safer option.

Just something to think about.