Portland final bill

[SACM]

Hi there
I am trying to work out what I would end up paying for a vaginal and / or c- section birth here. I know what obstetrician's fees are and can see on the website the hospital fees but what did you end up paying everything else added I.e. athesthetics, drugs etc. what else have I forgotten?
thanks so much!

[birdybear]

It wasn't London, no . It was Kent . Actually in a new hospital that had only opened two months previously! :-)

But does it vary so much by location?

[Tea1Sugar]

Consultants work set private days and set nhs days so noone is kept waiting

[Alanna1]

If someone wants to have their baby at the Portland then its their money to do with as they want!

But - I had both mine at UCH. NHS. Fabulous care. Own room before, during and after. Same midwife throughout. Second time round, treated myself to the luxury of two new dressing gowns, took my favourite but old duck down pillows (left them behind) and quality towels with me. DH gave me a L'Occitane gift set afterwards for post birth shower - luscious! And my friend is one of the senior paediatricians there so she popped by to say hello.

Food not as great but DH dispatched for take out from gorgeous local restaurants.

And I have friends who paid for a private midwife to accompany them throughout at another hospital, which I think is a similar experience if continuity of care bothers you like that.

So you can add your trimmings to the NHS if you want.

[MrsApplepants]

I loved my Portland birth (11k final bill in 2009, midwife led care, VB, epidural) every nhs hospital I have ever been in has been filthy and overcrowded. Didn't fancy that. Best money I ever spent.

[CPtart]

Jeez Louise! I would rather have a less comfortable NHS experience and put that sort of money into Bank account for DC.

[TakingTheStairs]

Well that's up to you CPtart.

[bsc]

At our hospital, there is 1 waterbirth room/pool per 24 labouring mothers

Not much chance of getting that then.

The midwife-led unit closed when I went into labour due to staff shortages, didn't re-open until 8 hours later

It took 25 hours for someone to notice my baby was OP!

The great NHS...

[SimLondon]

I didnt think it was possible to get a private birth using healthcare insurance in the UK??

I'm torn - i didnt have the greatest of experiences giving DD - like it was a last minute emergency, no pain relief no time for theatre and its made me scared of having another birth - if i could pay a couple of grand for a controlled happy birth with pain relief then i would but there doesnt seem to be an inbetween between a pot luck nhs and a 20k Portland bill.

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

Health insurance can cover, but you have to be careful what it covers and up to how much. You can't assume you're going to have an uncomplicated delivery.

[TakingTheStairs]

My insurance covers everything for me and includes any cover necessary (inc complications) for the baby until he is discharged
However it is an international corporate policy with a level of cover that I would not be able to get as an individual which is frustrating.

Sim, you could go for a private birth, consultant led with one on one care the whole way through your pregnancy, but use an Nhs hospital with a private ward like Chelsea Westminster or st Thomas'. You're still looking at over 10k (I know!) but it's not quite Portland prices. For example a private room in St Thomas' is about £600 a night. The Portland is about £1300 a night.

[NoComet]

Bill for DDs birth, with entire suite of private rooms and the undivided attention of two lovely MWs, £0.00.

Even better there wasn't an obstetrician within 13 miles!

Private Medicine has it's place (I have used DH workplace insurance for something minor and annoying as I'd have had to wait for months), but nothing beats giving birth at home if you possibly can.

[MrsFlorrick]

Hi

Mine came to £18k all included. This also includes £3.5k for a 3 day stay there at 36 weeks for a massive bleed for observation.

I had elcs btw.

Looking at it, it does seem a lot. However given the lovely calm birth I had and the utterly fab treatment by staff, it was worth it.

Enjoy your baby

[Tea1Sugar]

Well we all make personal choices I guess. I've saved money to put dd and this bean when it arrives, through private school and instead I'll have my elcs on the nhs.

[CairngormsClydesdale]

I wouldn't give birth in a London NHS ward if you paid ME 17k!

Private all the way (1 emcs + 1 elcs - same midwife and surgeon both times). Given the horror stories you read on mn about the way people are treated and things which go wrong. I'd pay 17k each and every time for a healthy baby.

[Thisisfreakingmeout]

If I could afford it, I would do it for the sense of control. You know who and where it will all happen. (Not quite how, but almost!!) My main fear is the lack of control and being left alone when things are getting crucial.

I feel lucky the NHS will be there for me but I know I will not be guaranteed this level of personal care. For example, I would love a water birth, there are only two pools. So I have to hope they aren't full!

I like the idea of glamming up your NHS experience though. I will definitely try that!

If this is your choice and you can make it work financially, fair enough, bit jealous!!

[wifey6]

Never had any experience with Portland, I've had both my DC on NHS. Both times I had beautiful accommodation, water-births, great facilities, lovely food & excellent care.
But if you can afford Portland care, then why not...I think it's down to personal & financial choice & as a woman giving birth...it's absolutely vital to go where you feel the best care is - if that's NHS or private

[CreatureRetorts]

The majority of people have healthy babies. No need to imply that going NHS means you will not.

I used an independent MW/home birth first time then NHS second time.

If your baby has a medical emergency or requires special care, is it private or NHS?

[cantthinkofagoodone]

I was NHS. They told me to stay at home as I was calm when my contractions were 1 in 5, closed the ward meaning we had to drive for an hour. No pain relief as no time when I finally arrived at the unfamiliar hospital.

Students and inexperienced midwives encouraged the fastest birth possible leading to a third degree tear. Dh had to leave me at 11.30 pm to go home.

No-one had time to help with bf. I was kept in because there wasn't anyone to discharge me for an extra day.

I know what I'd choose given the choice.

[racmun]

If I could afford it I would go to the Portland unfortunately we can't, the most I'll get is a shitty private room in the local hospital.

For those of you being a bit critical of people who've gone there its their money let them spend it how they want. Also they are relieving the NHS of having to provide for them.

[WalterandWinifred]

The Portland's C Sec rate was 51% in 2012. That's around double the national rate isn't it? My friend had an ELCS there because of a predicted big baby -he was 8lb. I had assumed the high CS rate was because of more complex births and more people on insurance, but my friend's experience belies this. She loved the care but felt the section was unnecessary and was quite disappointed.

Personally, I'd rather know there was genuine emergency backup on site and I would worry about this at the Portland. Were there not some cases a while back where mothers died?

[Steffnexis9]

Hi... Just wanted to add a different perspective... I had my little one over three years ago, had a c section because she was breach then got ignored and shoved onto a ward where i didnt get the meds on time, got no help with anything to do with my baby even though i was still paralysed... And the midwives were incedibly rude if i asked for anything... The food was horrendous and i was a single parent at the time due to my x walking out at seven months pregnant so was scared and upset... I did ge a move to a mmidwife led unit near my home address for four days which was lovely although still no private room there was a ward for six ladies and i was the only one in there for a couple of days and i couldnt fault the midwifes... HOWEVER i have reused to have my next baby in the hospil i had my first in.... I am due in a week nd hve been worried bout the care i will recieve...

i doubt i would py the 17k to go private as i am a skinflint... BUT i think if you have the money and inclination to pay i and get a better experience then im all for it and to be honest i dont think its up to anyone to suggest you shouldnt pay privately...

People buy mercs and bmws and they are more expensive x x good luck to any ladies giving birth wherever they choose xx