Private Obstetrician and Hospital Surrey-ish?

[draflyk]

Does anybody know what hospitals Surrey/ Hampshire-way have private consultant-led childbirth and adequate emergancy care? Or suggestions of consultants? I don't want to go to central London or beyond if I can help it. I'm near Guildford.

Before the "all-hail-to-the-NHS-faction" starts lecturing, I should add that the NHS hospital I fall under failed, despite numerous emergency visits during which I was unable to move, to care for me and it resulted unnecessarily in severe neuropathy (in all its forms, all of the time, still), complete loss of feeling in most of my foot, severe muscle wasting (ruining my dancer's legs), and paralysis of several small muscles. My pelvic organs also began to be affected, and at that point I saw a neurosurgeon at Parkside in Wimbledon who immediately operated (last October) and saved me from further horrors. Full recovery may take several years, and I am now nine weeks pregnant for the first time. (We had sex once, so obviously I'm still fertile after all this!) My husband and I are overjoyed but understandably terrified of said local hospital.

Also, I'm 39 (usual for my family), had a loop diathermy (sp?) on my cervix many years ago at Princess Margaret, have a slipped disc in my lower back, and will be self-paying. Are c-sections outrageously expensive if they are needed? I already am having symphysis pubis dysfunction, and my mom had a pulmonary embolism when she had me, so I'm getting a bit antsy. To top it off, the midwife assigned to me refused to give me my exemption certificate until 24 weeks although I had prescriptions to be filled (I won after 10 phone calls) and then didn't turn up to our first appointment, so my opinion of said hospital is not improving.

I know nothing about pregnancy or babies (more yum, less mum up til now). Any help, advice, opinions will be welcome.

Attendant question: Is there a preferred/ recommended cord blood banking company in this region that will transfer to America if we move there in a year or two? What are people's experiences of it? (It was mentioned previously as a "if someday" in relation to my husband by a neurologist.)

I'm so sorry to hear of all the problems that you've had, and many congratulations on your pregnancy! Lovely news after what sounds like a very rough time.

I hear you re the all hail the NHS which I get sick to back teeth of on here to be honest. I had a difficlt first birth which has left me with a colostomy bag. I am pregnant with my second child and am going private but constantly feel I need to justify why, I have no idea why I feel this as what I do is entirely my choice! Anyway, an aside.

The only private maternity care in the country is in London I'm afraid. From memory, the Portland, St Thomas Landsell Suite, St Mary's Lindo Wing, John & Lizzies and Charlottes. I'm sure others will correct me if there are more.

It can be ruinously expensive to be honest. You will get a quote of course, but it seems most people's experience is that there are all kinds of unexpected extras. Plus, as you say, you might plan a natural birth but end up with a section which rockets the cost.

The Portland is the most expensive, but is the one I know the prices of best as that's where I am going. I am paying my consultant £4k for antenatal care, £1k for the delivery fee, about the same to the anaethetist, £5k for the first night/planned section, £1.5k a night thereafter. Then there will be paed check, £50 a night for my H to stay etc etc etc. And on it goes.

There is an endless debate going on on the thread called 'portland v lindo wing' a bit further down this page which has turned in to a bun fight of NHS v private care. In there you will find lots of views about what is 'adequate' back up, in general I would say most people feel they would want to be in a private wing of an NHS hospital for that. I actually had a panic attack in the main lobby of St Thomas' when I went to look round, most unlike me. So I'm afraid all NHS hospitals were then counted out and I went with the Portland, after much careful consideration and research.

I'm sure this thread has the potential to turn in to bun fight too butI really hope for your sake that it doesn't. Hope you can find the right place for you to have your baby.

Many congratulations again! xx

this site might be some use

Chelsea & Westminster also offers private care

You may be able to get private care at an NHS hospital outside London - they don't seem to advertise this very much

Suggest you do a separate thread on the cord blood

Congrats on your pregnancy!
I had my first at 43 (not through years of yumminess, sadly, just years of ttc and miscarriages - knew everything about infertility, nothing about babies/pg either). I was helped at the beginning of my pregnancy by an OB specializing in miscarriage issues, and although he was based at St Heliers on the NHS, I would have had the option of private care at Epsom Hospital with him. I chose C&W in the end, because its much closer for me - but did look around the unit at Epsom, and remember the MWs being friendly and it seeming pretty relaxed. Its a big hospital, don't know anything about its emergency care facilities but imagine they would have more than the private hospitals. Worth a look??

I understand why you're anxious about it all - after losing 4 pregnancies, being older, and having been through the mill a lot I also wanted a hospital with decent facilities should anything go wrong. I also chose private care in the end, for various reasons - mostly so I could have my own room and dh could stay with me.
Good luck!

I had my DD at Epsom. It's funny, you can't have a private care there - it's pure NHS. But you can pay to stay in a private room afterwards - think it was £140 for two nights. It was fine for me - a good, positive experience - but if you feel you can't face NHS again, it's not for you. You don't get any different treatment - just more space for your and your new baby.

Really? Wonder if its changed since 2003? I do remember being shown the private rooms, and the OB I was seeing privately was going to be in charge of all the care...maybe I would have seen him elsewhere (Parkside in Wimbledon, which isn't that far off the A3 if you're coming from Guildford) or somewhere else in Surrey he was working out of (cant' remember name of the place, sorry) for regular appointments, and just had the delivery in Epsom. But he and his team would ahve been in charge of the delivery, and he was definitely private.

epsom does have private care - but doesn't specify what private care they offer

Ahh, perhaps you'd have the baby on a separate ward, and not in maternity unit? I know that there's only 7 delivery rooms at Epsom, and if they're full, you can be transferred to St Helier or Kingston. When I did my visit, one other mum-to-be was enquiring whether it was possible to pre-book a private room and they categorically said no.

Thank you for all your suggestions, links, and best wishes. I really appreciate your warmth and candor and will investigate your leads. Four things/questions:
1)I am new to message boards, so what is the appropriate way to find out the name of the ob you mentioned, Elibean?
2) Epsom has a good reputation generally, I think?? Is that right?
3) I would return to Parkside in a heartbeat, so if anyone knows an ob connected with it, I'd definitely consider him or her.
4) I will start a separate thread as you suggested on the cord blood.

I too decided to go private after traumatic experiences with the NHS.

I had the most fantastic ob. Unfortunately, he only delivers babies at Portland. I paid 4k inclusive to my ob. Hospital charges were 4k too but I only stayed 24 hours. Check out his website .

I have my first baby (emergency section) at Epsom. They are ok. Not great, but the horror you've typed in the OP either. I had my second (planned section) at Queen Charlotte. I by far prefer QC. They were fab. Wasn't terribly impressed with midwives, but the medical team was great.