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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Going Private

13 replies

DimpleHands · 23/10/2015 13:48

How many of you are? I never even considered it but lots of my friends do - including a couple who really don't have lots of money to splash around. I was Shock when I found out it costs about £10k just for obstetrician appointments and a completely straight forward delivery (God knows what it costs if you need a CS). Is it worth it?

OP posts:
OddSocksHighHeels · 24/10/2015 03:06

I didn't. I was obstetrician led due to issues in pregnancy. I had somebody that was apparently a top consultant and was treated at a very good hospital (due to post code is all). The obstetrician I had, that many people pay to see privately, was awful. You do what he says and that's that, dismissive, rude, had me crying in front of him and wafted his hand in my face saying he didn't have time to speak to me.

The NHS midwives, I was in labour for three days so saw a few, were wonderful. Paying guarantees you nothing.

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 28/10/2015 13:35

We went private. For us the main benefit was the certainty of getting excellent care. With the NHS you will probably get great care, but there is a chance that you might go into labour on a day when the labour ward is swamped, be assigned a poor midwife, have a section from a less good surgeon. With private you choose your surgeon, the unit has lots of staffing capacity.

Actually I had worked in the same department as a particular Ostetrician previously (I am a doctor). His clinical care was great, but bedside manner distant, sometimes bordering on rude. Someone I know booked him privately and glowingly told me how attentive he was, their long appointments, how he really listened to her. Sad but true, if someone is paying you directly you will be nicer to tgem., or they won't come back. So I bet your Consultant was charming with his private patients, OddSocks.

As for whether it is worth it.... Depends how much money you have, what your NHS alternatives are locally, how much difference it makes for you. I found £12k preferable to 9 months of worrying that I'd go into labour on an under staffed bank holiday weekend!

Original poster
DimpleHands · 28/10/2015 14:00

Thanks for your replies - I actually had a bad experience on the NHS with my midwife for my first child, so I can see that having an expert guaranteed to be with you would be really nice. Having said that, I'm a lot more clued up now about how things should be run and am geared up to be very forthright with my next!

I'm too stingy to pay £12k to go private though!

OP posts:
Suzietwo · 28/10/2015 14:05

can i ask when you approach the private obst? after 12 week scan?

KeyserSophie · 28/10/2015 14:13

I did, in a non-UK country with a public health service very like the NHS (slightly better staffed but slightly worse bedside manner). In retrospect it was worth it as I had an epidural both times and I think with my first birth, if I'd been denied that due to resource constraints I would have just made anything up to get an elective c-section the next time. I was almost mad with the pain (my fault for trying to be a birthing ninja). The midwife I had was better for the second birth than the first one but I did get close to 1-1 care (totally 1-1 the second time as was night time and was quiet). Obstetrician (who I chose for her best in class stats for epidurals with no further interventions) turned up a few times throughout and then caught the baby. The post-birth midwifery/ nursing care was excellent, especially the breastfeeding support and help with the baby. You could choose to have the baby in with you or have them in the nursery and get brought in for feeds- no pressure either way. The private room/ bathroom and nice food were a bonus but obviously not the important things.

hopelesslydevotedtoGu · 28/10/2015 14:15

I think it is typical to see them first after your 12 week scan, but you could book at any time, although some will get booked up.

Mouthfulofquiz · 28/10/2015 14:23

I've given birth on two very busy bank holiday weekends (both 4 day ones - two years apart) and had great care both times. I had considered going private but decided against it for various reasons (I was happy with the consultant I had dealings with etc) and am glad I didn't splash the cash in the end.
However - what I didn't have to do is stay on the wards at all as was discharged straight from the labour ward both times. I have heard that private after care facilities are much much better and probably worth the money to have a decent private room, nice food, access to advice etc.

Suzietwo · 28/10/2015 22:03

I'm totally unconcerned by the aftercare etc. I've had 3 nhs sections. 2 emergency and one elective. If I'm going a 4th I want to know I've got the best surgeon I can have as it's not as simple a procedure.

The guy who did my third was awesome but I can't guarantee having him again so I don't think I would take the gamble.

Tomatoesareyum · 28/10/2015 22:13

I had a private delivery for my third after 2 NHS deliveries. I had NHS antenatal care other than 2 private ante natal appointments. I can singlehandedly say that it's the best money I have ever spent.

I had my delivery in an NHS hospital with a private ward. I had a named midwife, who I had previously met, with me for my entire labour. I had an epidural and top ups as soon as I wanted or needed them and my consultant delivered the baby naturally with an expertise far beyond the hash a more junior doctor had done in a previous delivery. Post natally I had a lovely room, good food and one to one midwife care 24/7 to help establish breastfeeding. It was about £5k several years ago and would have been the same for a section. It's a whole other world away from NHS care

Original poster
DimpleHands · 28/10/2015 22:32

Is that right that it's the same price for a section? So if you are trying for a normal delivery and for various reasons you have to have an emergency C-section, you don't have to pay extra? (Except for the extra nights' stay?)

OP posts:
Tomatoesareyum · 28/10/2015 22:57

Under the package I had, yes, it was a set price.

Tiredandtorn · 30/10/2015 22:47

A much cheaper option is an independent midwife. Either for a homebirth or as your personal advocate in hospital - plus they do all your pregnancy care so know everything they could possibly need to know. Best £5k I've ever spent

eurochick · 30/10/2015 23:00

I did. I originally engaged an independent midwife but I developed complications in the second half of pregnancy and needed consultant care. I was terrified of a section and if I was going to have one (as I did) I wanted to pick my surgeon. I "interviewed" two and went with the one who had been used by two different sets of friends. Even though I ended up with my dreaded section I am sure he was the right choice. If I ever have another (unlikely) I would go for him again.

I didn't find him until around 30 weeks and ended up delivering at 34. I was surprised he wasn't booked up. Maybe I was lucky with timing.

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