Public or Private Hospital? What did you choose?

[LondonT]

Hi Mums, I need your help please. My husband and I are deciding between registering with Private Care for childbirth, or using the NHS facilities. My husband thinks £10K is an insane amount of money to pay for "normal" childbirth (we have private medical insurance, but it doesn't cover "normal" pregnancy). His rationale is that if there are any complications, then our private medical insurance would kick in. I, on the otherhand, think of course one would go the Private route if one could afford it. I want to have one Consultant care for me throughout my pregnancy. This is my first pregnancy, and the benefit and trust gained through regular and stable care from one medical professional is something I really want.

But, please tell me Mums, am I being unreasonable here? Is my husband right? Is Public care just as good as Private?

Katiebeau, Thanks I agree with the point about HB.

Why did you refer "My" NHS is such a disparaging way? How do you know that I'm not abroad?

Perhaps my mother is a consultant ob/gyn in the USA and India?

Hi again OP. Sorry we all seem to have taken the discussion off track. I just wanted to tell you that I asked my friend who will deliver at the C&W private wing in november. She is with Dr. Roshni Patel and Dr. Nick and is paying around £ 5500.
This doesn't include the epidural and hospital stay over 2 days. Doesn't include her partner staying overnight either. You might want to look into this further....

Nanno I am not sure what you are getting at?????
I do not know or care where you live or what your mother does for a living.
I was just pointing out that I do not see the NHS maternity services through rose tinted glasses like you do. If you had a fantastic experience then thats great and I am really happy for you but to say that everyone can have this experience , that is bloody ridiculous. Even my local GP admits that maternity care is very sketchy in my area and told me to go private if I can afford it.
DancingWind, massive hugs to you. xxxxx

ajmama, consider them received and more for you in return

Had an NHS and then private birth, not because the NHS was horrible but because I wanted more control over everything. with the NHS you get who you get depending on when you go into labour. All this talk about a consultant being available etc etc isnt really true hence the terrible birth stories and deaths in the papers recently.

And city - have you ever been in a full ward with screaming babies, people coming and going after you have given birth? You will really really appreciate your own room. If I had the money I would go privately every time tbh. I didnt need a birth plan as the consultant knew what I wanted.

"Had an NHS and then private birth, not because the NHS was horrible but because I wanted more control over everything. with the NHS you get who you get depending on when you go into labour. All this talk about a consultant being available etc etc isnt really true hence the terrible birth stories and deaths in the papers recently.

And city - have you ever been in a full ward with screaming babies, people coming and going after you have given birth? You will really really appreciate your own room. If I had the money I would go privately every time tbh. I didnt need a birth plan as the consultant knew what I wanted."

Rocky, I am totally on your side. It is all about gaining some control over, if your really think about it, your own body and what it is going to go through. I believe that pregnancy and childbirth can make a woman feel so out of control and vulnerable as it is. On top of that dealing with the uncertainty of the availability of pain relief, the kind of midwife/consultant on call, the possibility that your birth plan might not be taken into consideration at all, is enough to blow the mind. I know I couldn't deal with it. Nor could I deal with being in a ward literally after giving birth. It is too private an experience in my mind. I'd want to, need to know the midwife/consultant, and I'd have to trust them. I'd hate to have people coming in and out soon after giving birth. Not knowing the person delivering your baby and then being surrounded by strangers coming in and out after what is supposed to be a very intimate experience, seems awful.
I personally, wouldn't want to share such a moment, such an experience with complete strangers at every stage. It seems so intrusive for some reason.

And what you said is so true- when you go private, you don't need a birth plan. Unless you are being a complete lunatic, what you say goes.