Private vs NHS birth in East London

[poupee28]

Hi,
I am pretty anxious about having my first child and would like to hear more about the pro and cons to go for NHS birth, and if anyone has good recommendation for a good hospital and a good obstetrician near east dulwich. I am french and still a rookie to the UK system when it comes to health care.
I think living in East Dulwich I am going to be sent to UCL or Kings college, correct?
Just want to be sure I will be looked after and that it will be as pleasant of an experience it can be...

Poupee - I think you can pick which NHS hospital you'd like to go regardless of where you live. I'm with UCLH and although have only been to two appts have found them v efficient despite it being an incredibly busy maternity hospital. Although my first booking appt was quite rushed and you weren't given a lot of 1:1 time with the MW I was v impressed with the detail of the scan I was given which was really thorough. If you're looking at private options then the Portland Hospital is one of the most famous (though there are several others private hosp in London) and they have a full list of their obstetricians on website. If you just wanted the delivery at the Portman and assuming it was a normal vaginal delivery it could set you back £10-15k so not a cheap option unless you have private medical insurance. Sorry don't know of any doctors specifically in E Dulwich, many of the private obstetricians have consulting rooms in Central London around the Harley Street area.

Think you have also got Guys & St Thomas' Hospital not too far from you although have no experience of either.

Grove,
Thank you so much, this is very helpful. So if I understand well, in the UK you see midwives, not obstetrician? In France you only have the midwife at the birth, as a obstetrician assistant. When do you see a doctor in the UK? And is there health insurance that cover private?
Hope your pregnancy is going well

Kings (based in Camberwell) is the closest to East Dulwich and has a very good reputation. St Thomas' is also not that far, and is excellent in my opinion (my DS was born there prematurely and we both had fantastic care). I know that St Thomas' has a private wing too, not sure about Kings.
In the UK you are unlikely to need an obstetrician unless you are considered high risk for some reason, otherwise all your antenatal care will be provided for by midwives (bar possibly the occasional GP appointment).
As far as I know, health insurance doesn't tend to cover pregnancy, but if you have a non-UK policy this might be different.
If you particularly want private care, there is also the option of an independent midwife - I think the insurance issue that was threatening their practice has been resolved.
Hope that helps a bit?

Poupee, to confirm what the the lady above says, in the UK you are routinely seen only by midwives for all your antenatal appts. I'm in fact getting one doctor appt at about 22wks as I'm considered high risk but am not sure there will be any/many others. Again for the birth I think care is midwife-led if considered low risk unless there are complications.
To be honest am not sure about the medical insurance situation, only that I've heard of some women going private and saying it was done on their husband's insurance although have no real knowledge of how it's done. You could try ringing the Portland Hospital maternity helpline and ask their advice (0)20 3582 6613.
Yes, I'd heard in France it is very routine to see an obstetrician - it's a very different system here in the UK!
A less expensive option than going privately, but a way of still having own one to one care, is to employ a Doula who will be there with you during the birth providing practical and emotional support. You could find someone local to your area. I'm interested in having one and have found the price range between £500-£2k. www.doula.org.uk
Good luck with everything, must be extra hard being in a foreign country.

As a previous poster said the closest NHS hospital is King's, followed by Guy's and St Thomas'.

I had my first daughter at King's in 2010. I didn't have a great post natal experience but I gather there have been some positive changes since.

It might be worth asking in the family room section of the East Dulwich forum. www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/list.php?25