Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Lindo or Portland? Anyone have and opinion?

143 replies

p555nat · 31/10/2006 11:12

I recently went for a tour at the Lindo Wing of St Marys and was a little dissapointed for £3500!! I am now thinking of changing to The Portland, has anyone else looked into both? Any other opinions? Also is the Portland more expensive?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
bundle · 31/10/2006 17:02

I cannot think of anything more important to check out than the maternal death rate

CountessDracula · 31/10/2006 17:03

At least if there are the facilities there you get the option of using them

Anyway I shall bow out of this now. If you want to take a blinkered approach to your birth then so be it. Things don't always go as planned (in fact they rarely do if the experiences on this site are anything to go by). I sincerely hope that yours is fine, I am sure it will be. However I maintain that it is more important to have facilities than a posh room

Original poster
p555nat · 31/10/2006 17:08

thankyou very much for ALL your opinions. It all went a bit Jerry Springer but I think its good for everyone to put there views across and others to put thiers back! A good debate! Best of luck to everyone on the births of thier babies!! xx

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 31/10/2006 17:12

Am PMSL at the thought that there are other things more important than maternal death rate (ok, and baby death rate) when choosing a hospital ... what matters more? paint colours?

bundle · 31/10/2006 17:13

menus?

CountessDracula · 31/10/2006 17:13

This poor bloke called for the information to be made available but I can't find it anywhere.

CountessDracula · 31/10/2006 17:14

whoops sorry

am really going now

NotQuiteCockney · 31/10/2006 17:14

Private loo? Hairdresser on staff?

I did have a work colleague who was v happy with the Portland, and had no problems.

I blame the higher CS rate on the fact it's obstetrician-led care. Midwife-led has a lower CS rate, from what I know.

bundle · 31/10/2006 17:16

but aren't the figures skewed a bit, by midwife led units having the less complex cases? (genuine question)

lalibela · 31/10/2006 17:17

How about asking Guy Thorpe Beeston? He's such a shrewd and balanced man -- I am sure that you can trust his opinion!

Anchovy · 31/10/2006 17:18

Hmm, I don't think a fairly sweeping statement from a bereaved husband/father on the website of a firm of medical negligence solicitors actually constitues, you know, evidence of low standards.

I'm just always faintly amused that when people opt for a homebirth on MN everyone is running around going "Oooh, how lovely" not "but you don't have a NICU in your garden shed"!

NotQuiteCockney · 31/10/2006 17:18

bundle, I'm sure that's true, but I think there have been studies that tried to compensate for that (obviously not double blind , but still).

NotQuiteCockney · 31/10/2006 17:19

Yes ... but if someone was opting for a home CS, I think they would be saying that.

Thing is, on a home birth, you have to go to hospital for CS, forceps, ventouse, etc etc ... so you're moving to a place with an emergency unit earlier in the "things going wrong" experience, iyswim ...

Original poster
p555nat · 31/10/2006 17:20

Guy Thorpe Beatson was the one who highly recommended The Portland. I even went to him with my concerns I had heard about the care etc, and he sternly dis-agreed.

OP posts:
bundle · 31/10/2006 17:23

I doubt Guy Thorpe Beeston will ever have a baby

NotQuiteCockney · 31/10/2006 17:24

God, I hadn't realised full private meant that if things go wrong you have to pay more. Ugh.

Private midwives are a "this is the fee" deal. Granted, if you end up with a CS, you're on the NHS, but still, they're there for that, too ...

Original poster
p555nat · 31/10/2006 17:25

Oh now Im being told not to listen to my highly qualified doctor because he is a man!! Now I have heard everything............

OP posts:
bundle · 31/10/2006 17:26

I didn't say that, I merely stated a fact.

CountessDracula · 31/10/2006 17:27

Ask Prof Steer

He is the oracle IMHO

bundle · 31/10/2006 17:28

Miss Henson is pretty good too but she only frequents more downbeat locations like norf London

CountessDracula · 31/10/2006 17:29

Anchovy I was NOT presenting that as evidence of low standards! If you read my post you will see that I said he called for the stats to be available which I THINK THEY SHOULD BE

Original poster
p555nat · 31/10/2006 17:33

Arghh CD you are still with us.........

OP posts:
bundle · 31/10/2006 17:34

and why shouldn't she be? she's had some relevant experiences when it comes to giving birth.

lulumama · 31/10/2006 17:35

p555nat-

Hi - when you ask for opinions on mumsnet...you get them..good and bad!

FWIW - maternal death & foetal death rates are importsnt. But i never looked at the ones for my local NHS hospital....i had no option for a private hospital ( none near me) or the funds for a private midwife.

Obstetric led care by its very nature is intervention driven.....obstetrics are experts in the worst possible cases and tend to opt for medicalised birth IMO. Cascades of intervention occur and your natural, active vaginal birth is out of the window.

I am not suggesting you will end up with a c,s if you go private...but seems more likely IMO

If you want a low tech birth,,,,why not go for a private midwife and a homebirth.will be lees costly and more likely to get you the birth you want. Spend the money you save on a holiday for when LO is older......

FWIW - i had obstetric led care onthe NHS - had a natural birth,.,my obstetrician was unusual...he said the midwives were far better at handling birth and if he was at the birth, something has gone wrong....!

WitchICouldGiveUpWork · 31/10/2006 17:36

As lovely as he is-I am sure he would disagree-it's a great source of revenue for him.

My preference for Lindo over Portland was actually due to two very senior midwife friends who strongly advised against the Portland-they are professionals in the field,one had worked there and she said "even if they paid me I wouldn't have my baby there"-anexdotal it may be but when I was choosing where to have my baby I took her advice.