Private maternity in London - how much does it cost???

[Elizad]

Hi
Can someone let me know costs all in for Elective CS at LINDO, PORTLAND and CHELSEA? I know it wont be exact but to get a rough idea would be so fab...each website itemises most things but there is so much I have no clue about ( bloods, scans, consultant fees)

Thanks

[joeymacc]

Hi, I think it came to roughly 7k for me at watford, wouldn't have changed a single thing about it. Used the birth team, felt really looked after throughout the experience. Had all my antenatal care on the NHS, since Watford is not actually that local to me, but would potentially even use them for antenatal care if I have another.

[westminster11]

Hi it cost me £11000 for everything and I booked at St Thomas private unit - Westminster Maternity Unit

[Elizad]

Wow all this for just asking what it costs to have a baby privately!!! I'm chuffed to have sparked such a debate.
My first son was Nhs and we had a range of care from exquisite to horrifying. I see midwives as independent carers. Some are incredible ( in fact the best one throughout my 2 day labour was a male midwive, graham at queen charlottes, we love you!!) and, some had no bedside manner, no sense that I was terrified and needed reassurance and generally made me feel like I was overreacting. I still. Feel traumatised by the whole thing. After every intervention possible I felt like I had been in a card crash but with a new baby. I was left battered on my own with no aftercare. Still hard to talk. About it.

I am going private because I need good aftercare, my own space, not a feeling of being rushed home and a place for my husband to stay over. My son has learning disabilities and I need this birth to go smoothly, predictably and peacefully!

Thanks for all the discussions and advice. Just need to start saving now!
E xx

[PeaceAndHope]

Midwivesdeliver:

Thanks for the kind words about my niece. This happened after I had had my first child, so I can't blame preferences entirely on my sister's experience. I had decided against their use based on my own research. I think they had their place several years ago, as you explained rather well. But now, with the availability of CS (which is becoming progressively safer than it used to be) I think we need to keep the use of Kiellands and mid forceps to a bare minimum. Outlet forceps are often unavoidable, but they can sometimes be substituted with ventouse.

[Justfeckingdoit]

peace I'm glad that you have the choice, and good luck :)

[PeaceAndHope]

Justfecking:

Thank you:)

But my preference for OBs has little to do with the experiences of my near and dear ones, as OBs also had a part to play in their misfortune.

I'm not writing off midwives. I think they're great for those who want them in the first place. I'm just not one of them!

[Justfeckingdoit]

I am not of course comparing midwives with vets, but I know what I meant!

7 years of training, you pay through the nose, and there are good and bad ones, as in all walks of life.

[Justfeckingdoit]

Peace, so sorry that those close to you have had such horrible experiences, I now see why you are so (rightly) determined to avoid this.

But...writing off a whole profession is a little harsh. Simply reading the lovely midwifes posts hopefully makes you see that there are some (and from my own experience, many) midwives who are wonderful, committed people who care deeply and expertly for the women in their care.

If it helps, I gave birth via EMCS in a very busy London hospital and had midwives that ranged from amazing to pretty rubbish, but I'd never write off the profession because of it.

Ditto with vets, consultants and GPs.

I hope you get the birth you want :)

[PeaceAndHope]

Larry:

Meant to add that if you have comments on my posts, please send me a private message. We have hijacked this thread enough.


I'm sorry OP!

[PeaceAndHope]

See this -

www.fpnotebook.com/OB/LD/FrcpsAstdDlvry.htm

Kiellands forceps or high forceps are no longer used in most parts of the world. Simpsons and Andersons forceps are rarely used, because CS is preferred.

Outlet or Wriggleys forceps can still be used because by that time it may be too late for a section.

My obstetrician has always maintained that the riskiest way for a baby to be born is by means of a forceps delivery. Outlet forceps are not always bad (by that time it is too late for a CS anyway), but she has always told me that as a doctor she herself would never agree to mid or high forceps. These include the dreaded Kiellands forceps of course, but also the Neville Barnes, Anderson's and Simpson's forceps.

www.thieme-connect.com/ejournals/abstract/ajp/doi/10.1055/s-2003-42775
(states that forceps are known to cause brachial plexus nerve damage)

journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/1984/06000/Birth_Trauma__Incidence_and_Predisposing_Factors.7.aspx
(Logistic regression analysis of fetal, maternal, and intrapartum complications in labor and delivery revealed that midforceps, shoulder dystocia, low forceps, infants greater than 3500 g, and second stage labor exceeding 60 minutes were the predominant events associated with fetal injury)

journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/abstract/1990/01000/facial_nerve_palsy_in_the_newborn__incidence_and.1.aspx
(states that facial nerve palsy is most common in macrosomic infants or those born with the aid of forceps)

facm.unjbg.edu.pe/revistaspediatria/Clinical%20Pediatrics/2004/Pediatric%20Clinic_51_June2004_%20the%20Newborn%20Nursery%20Part%20II/Management%20of%20birth%20injuries.pdf

^ Fabulous article about birth injuries. From what I could make out majority of the birth injuries had forceps listed as the major risk factor, other than of course fetal birth weight of more than 3500g.

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0029784496001512
(lists forceps as a major risk factor for pelvic organ prolapse)

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937803005726
(there is an increased risk of anal sphincter damage and hence incontinence with a forceps delivery)

www.bmj.com/content/308/6933/887.abstract
(lists forceps as one of the major risk factors for third degree tears)

[MrsApplepants]

It cost us 11k all in. (midwive lead care, mobile epidural, superb aftercare, all scans, check ups, tests at the portland, 2 years ago) I can honestly say it was the best money I've ever spent. I thoroughly enjoyed my whole pregnancy and birth as a result and the peace of mind was wonderful, I had the same 2 midwives all through my pregnancy and labour, no waiting for epidural either. I was also given pelvic floor physio the following day. There was no one else giving birth at the same time as me, I had the entire unit to myself!, my DH could stay the night, which was fantastic. I got exactly the birth I wanted (luck may have had something to do with this as well!) I do feel slightly resentful that I had to pay so much to get an experience that should be everyone's right on the nhs but that's the way things are theses days, I guess.

[PeaceAndHope]

I meant to add, that I refused forceps because the chances of baby being brain damaged are higher with the use of forceps, than with a simple lift out procedure. So your justification of forceps having saved your baby from brain damage is a bit ironic. Read the numerous threads here on forceps' risks and benefits- they are the leading cause of birth injuries.

[PeaceAndHope]

Larry:

My niece who died due to spinal cord injuries inflicted by Neville Barnes forceps and my doubly incontinent sister would also beg to differ.
As someone with a permanent mark on his face due to forceps injuries, my husband too would beg to differ.

I'm not sure if you're aware but it is always the consultant or registrar who uses forceps, not the midwife. I fail to see why you felt the need to bring that up. Consider yourself lucky that the person who used the forceps knew what he/she was doing. When strangers deliver your child, you don't know much about their experience and expertise, so it's a shot in the dark isn't it?

By the way, my daughter had a cord around her neck as well, and her heart rate was abysmally low when I went into labour prior to the date of my scheduled section. There was a consultant who said we could have a trial of forceps in theatre with me prepped for a section, but I refused and an EMCS was done within minutes. I now have a healthy, happy 4 year old who was born without any birth injuries at all. (I would not have been given this choice on the NHS btw, I would have had to consent to a trial of forceps).

I'm sure your wife preferred being cut to a dead baby, anyone would. I was cut too, except it was on my lower abdomen and I preferred it to a dead baby as well. What's the point here?

I'm not being controversial with my views. Im not the one who puts holidays before ante natal care and safety.

In many parts of the world preferring private OB led care, and refusing forceps isn't exactly considered "controversial". In fact it's the norm.

Secondly, I'm curious what you're achieving here on the childbirth section? It's more suited for HCPs and women isn't it? Since you will personally never have to consent to either forceps or a CS or live with the repercussions of poor maternity care I don't much care about your opinion on which is better.

[larrygrylls]

Peace,

If my younger son were able to express his point eloquently, I suspect he would beg to differ. When his baseline had sunk to around 90/100 and decels were down to 30/40, due to having a cord round his neck, he was profoundly grateful for the anderson forceps that pulled him out and the paediatricians who supplied him with oxygen to get his breathing going. My wife and I were also not unhappy about it either. Although she did not enjoy being cut and the healing process, she definitely preferred it to a dead or brain damaged baby. And, at that stage, it was the consultant obstetrician wielding them, not a midwife.

Are you deliberately being controversial with your views?

[PeaceAndHope]

Midwives deliver:

I knew that Canada and USA do have midwives, although not in every state. If someone prefers a midwife, she can find one almost anywhere in the world, except certain parts of Asia.
In Canada, people still mostly go to OBs. Some of them opt for midwife led care, but that isn't the norm yet. You can confirm all this easily over the Internet.

There are of course midwives and L &D RNs , but they will not look after ante natal care (unless you request it), nor will they single handedly handle the delivery(unless you request it, in which case an OB is usually required to be present somewhere in the premises).

The point is that their healthcare system is still traditionally OB-led and the women opting for midwives are smaller in number (so far). I never claimed they didn't have midwives, I was simply saying they have essentially OB-led maternity care, which is true.

The good thing is, people there have a choice. No one system is forced upon them. Although the rubbish Obamacare may change all that...

I can't say anything good about whoever invented the forceps (although I'm fairly certain it was a French obstetrician/physician who invented them), because I'm passionately against their use.

[PeaceAndHope]

bemybebe:

I'm so sorry to hear this. I can't imagine the grief you must have experienced. I wish you the best of luck with this pregnancy!

Having heard several stories like yours, I was adamant that I would not risk my child's and my own safety, which is why I preferred to go private. I cannot understand how anyone would think private school, holidays eyc. are more important than a safe entry into the world.

[MsF1t]

bemybebe - I am speechless and profoundly saddened. What a horrible thing to have happened- I am so sorry. I hope that you made a complaint.

I wish you all the best with this pregnancy. Hope it is event free and as smooth as possible.

[bemybebe]

Sorry, one important point I wanted to make but failed is that producing a child does not start and end with the birth itself. There are numerous things that can potentially go wrong for a v small minority of people and arguing "shit happens" and "next time should be different" is just not valid at all.

In my case we are amazing lucky having conceived naturally at 38 and 39 after years of failed IVFs, financial sacrifices and emotional rollercoasters. I realize now that I was taken through the NHS sausage factory without any regards for my personal circumstances and paying attention to my concerns. I wish I spotted it earlier - it all would be so different now.

[bemybebe]

I respect mw and the care they give. I guess this is the best way for 90% of uncomplicated births. Last time I was pg with DD1 she (DD) paid with her life for the hands-off approach of my MW. I kept telling anyone who would listen - her (community MW), sonographer, consultant (1 v rushed and useless NHS appointment) that I experience strange sensation in my vagina like the baby is kicking actually inside the vagina, that I am too bothered with dull constant period pains. All told me that "this if fine", that these are all "normal pg symptoms", "poor you, it will all be worth when the baby is born". And not one sod looked inside.

DD1 was born at 24 weeks, abroad (I was proclaimed fit to travel and I dismissed myself as over-reacting mum-to-be as I needed to finish my work), alone and in the foreign private hospital (great facilities, but I had to pay and claim from the insurance over 50K GBP). My little girl was born with great apgar score but due to prematurity was placed strainght away in a SCBU for 23 days, then she died. This gaping hole in my heart will be there forever.

It turned out I had an incompetent cervix, which allowed GBS to come in and disintegrate placenta over some time. "This is just one of those unfortunate events in life" - this is from the NHS consultant I have seen once in 24 weeks and who was told in length about my concerns.

This time I am not taking any risks. I am under private consultant who is seeing me 3-weekly and whos direct line I have for all concerns.

[PeaceAndHope]

And by the by- working at the till is not part of a CEO's responsibility or training.
However, overseeing ANY kind of delivery is part of an OB's training and responsibilities. The things that he/she isn't required to do are things like fitting catheters, IV's, or cleaning bed pans etc.


On the NHS, the OBs don't oversee deliveries, or do pap smears(the nurse does that) or take care of antenatal appointments, or prescribe BC ( we go to GPs for that), which are all basically essential parts of their responsibilities in most other parts of the world.