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Childbirth

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

Original poster

NHS antenatal and then switch to private for ELCS

38 replies

Sazzamac1983 · 27/07/2017 20:39

I've decided to have an elective C-section (with help from this forum).

Now I have to decide where to go and get one!

I've heard the Lansdell Suite is good and I'm keen to go to Dr Kelleher for the C-section. I'm happy to pay etc

The only thing is - can I reduce my bill a bit by going to the NHS for the antenatal care and then just transferring to private for the last month or so?

Has anyone done this?

I've heard that they do get booked up! And I don't really know how much you'd really save?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

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Sugarcoma · 30/07/2017 23:08

Yes you can do this - I did exactly this due to a pre-existing medical condition that was better catered for by my NHS antenatal clinic but opted to have the actual ELCS privately because I wanted to be able to pick the surgeon myself. The difference in the obstetrician packages of full care v delivery only was about £2/3k.

I was very embarrassed about telling my NHS clinic and only did right at the end (although I felt justified by my decision because the two things I'd worried about on the NHS were a) never seeing the same obstetrician twice & b) being pressured into an induction, both of which happened) - as it happens they were absolutely lovely about it and said it wasn't a problem at all and I could still come to the clinic any time up to delivery.

And yes you do need to book in fairly early with the obstetrician although in fairness I booked in with mine (and he was v highly recommended) at about 5/6 months and he managed to fit me in.

Iggi999 · 30/07/2017 23:15

Are you going private because you think you won't be "allowed" one on the NHS, or do you just want to go private anyway?

Original poster
Sazzamac1983 · 31/07/2017 07:09

Thanks! Sugarcoma ! Good to hear you were in control. Which surgeon was recommended to you?

I am booked in to Guys and Tommys for the ante natal appointments (I was there last year for D and C after a MMC). So I thought of going with Mr Kelleher... but if you have a good recommendation then please let me know!

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Original poster
Sazzamac1983 · 31/07/2017 07:17

Iggi999 I would love to save the cost and go with the NHS but I just don't know if I have the fight in me.

I was pregnant last year and found the midwife to be unsympathetic to me bewilderment and fear (I was unexpectedly pregnant and I was still overwhelmed at 10 weeks!)... she asked me if I had varicose veins and I said 'no'? And she said - 'oh just you wait'... I described my whole medical history as requested at the first appointment and I mentioned within that that I was quite concerned about giving birth but I saw the look in her eye and I just don't have that fight in me!!!

I also had a bit of a scare in Guys and Tommys when I then needed a D and C - the morning of I was absolute chaos! My bloods were taken and mislabelled (for cross match) - which luckily I absentmindedly spotted. My labels ended up on Someone else's so it could have been a major issue for me and another woman that morning. The day surgery unit was manic and I was seen by about 12 nurses and was told I would be operated on by 3 different surgeons..... everything went fine in the end and I was totally calm but it was just a small op.

If that was the atmosphere for my C section I would panic!!!!

So - I feel the private route may just be a little less pressured.

My husband works in the NHS and I know how stretched the staff are.

I do love the NHS but as you may have gathered, I am also quite a baby when it comes to having a baby. Confused

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sparechange · 31/07/2017 07:20

Yes you can do it and yes Mr Kelleher will probably be fine with it (but you have to books him and the Landsell now before it gets booked up)

But don't tell the NHS because you're not supposed to mix care
So nod and smile when they ask you if you've thought about birth options

Iggi999 · 31/07/2017 12:31

Both times my obstetrician signed off on my c section by a bit before 30 weeks. Didn't ask midwives about it at all. If you can get a csection agreed to (and the consent forms signed) you might be able to save your money. I don't live in London so there were no options were I am for a private elcs. Good luck :)

eurochick · 31/07/2017 12:47

Kelleher is very good.

I started off booking in with the NHS, then engaged an independent midwife to ensure consistency of care. Then in the third tri I developed complications and went back into the NHS system. I wasn't happy with the care so I found Kelleher who luckily had space and delivered in the Westminster suite by CS. It was unconventional antenatal care and the delivery was as far away from my planned home birth as could be imagined, but I'd recommend Kelleher.

Sugarcoma · 31/07/2017 17:24

I had Guy Thorpe Beeston at Lindo and couldn't recommend him highly enough. All the staff there were lovely too.

As PP says, it's probably better not to tell the NHS clinic you plan to go private for delivery. Although my hospital were lovely I was actually at another hospital before that (also NHS) who were awful and would probably have discharged me. I say that because they discharged me without telling/asking when I simply mentioned I was considering going to another NHS hospital for antenatal treatment.

Mustangsallyis · 31/07/2017 17:37

I was told by my private midwife about 4 or 5 months ago that everyone is entitled to shared care (i.e. NHS and private).

That said I refused induction with my first (NHS) and had an ELCS. Had to keep repeating my stance, to about 5 different people, but got an ELCS agreed. It wasn't that much of a fight but I can understand if you feel this way early on you might want to be clear you know how you're going to deliver now and not be worried about having the conversations about it late in your pregnancy.

Original poster
Sazzamac1983 · 04/08/2017 20:22

Thank you all for the advice x I'm going to get in touch with Mr Kelleher now!

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NurseMama · 05/08/2017 01:05

Hi there. I thought I'd pipe in because I'm a nurse and have worked at GSTT (I'm also booked in to have my baby there). If you go private w/GSTT all of your care will still be delivered by NHS staff, just under slightly different protocol. You'll be in good hands either way. :)

Original poster
Sazzamac1983 · 05/08/2017 08:25

Can I ask you a question then?

If I request a C-section (I do have actual reasons!) how much of a fight do you think it will be?

(thank you for that advice so far!) x congrats on baby x

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sparechange · 05/08/2017 10:48

It depends on your actual reasons..!

But even armed with a letter from my back surgeon saying 'this patient needs a c-section please', the official midwife's line was 'we will book you in to speak to a surgeon and anaesthetist at 32 weeks and it's their decision' which made me nervous because there was no guarantee any of the private consultants would have space if I only got in touch at 32/33 weeks after being told 'no' by the NHS

joepommedeterre · 05/08/2017 10:53

If private and you want a section, no fight at all. If NHS, it might not be the fight you think.

Have you got insurance? I got all 3 of my deliveries covered by insurance and my consultant said that unstable/unfavourable positioning was an indication for CS in any event so my insurer covered it.

Original poster
Sazzamac1983 · 05/08/2017 11:17

Joepommedeterre. I don't have insurance no but am happy to pay to avoid fighting for it as I felt a good bit of animosity the last time I had was there (I only had one MW appt before having to have D and C for MMC) but as mentioned she was quite off-hand.

I am a confident and informed person - my husband is an NHS pharmacist, I have many friends who are doctors and I myself am a biochemist etc.. I felt very informed and very reasonable and presented myself as such.... but I expressed my lack of comfort with being pregnant and having a baby (it's not something I was sure I wanted and this was a surprise pregnancy despite me being 34 and married etc) (Nov 2016)

I felt that this older MW who had obviously lots of spots and also most likely had compassion fatigue tried to passive-aggressively adjust my outlook..... without directly ackowledging it (during a 1 hour appt)

I was not burdening her with anxiety etc, I simply presented my situation and she made comments such as....'do you have varicose veins?' When I said no matter-of-factly she stopped, looked over her glasses and said 'oh just you wait'

This is the kind of thing I mean - I can of course handle this kind of passive aggressive atmosphere and get thru it....

I really don't expect MWs to be able to adjust their behaviour between those women who are Mother Earth types and me - a person who works 70 hour weeks and have never made room for motherhood. A period of adjustment is all I needed really...

Not every married 34 year old is innately ready for pregnancy.

So - like I said I'm not expecting her behaviour to change.

I think I can remove myself from that (self-righteous) environment and maybe get a smoother service in private.

It's a small complaint really but I am determined not to have to 'handle' these situations on my road to getting a C-section

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joepommedeterre · 05/08/2017 11:26

Are you loaded then? My first delivery was £28,000 so thank god for insurance!

Original poster
Sazzamac1983 · 05/08/2017 11:45

Joepommedeterre. Omg!!! I was thinking more like 5-10K!

Lols

No - I can't afford 28K

Eek

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Original poster
Sazzamac1983 · 05/08/2017 11:46

Ps - lovin your frankness ! Xx

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mayhew · 05/08/2017 12:00

I am an NHS midwife in a ( much humbler) London trust and I can honestly say that all of my clients who had a good reason (including psychological) to request an NHS elective CS, have had one. They are given a "birth options" appointment to talk through pros and cons . None have felt the need to pay privately.

Iggi999 · 05/08/2017 12:05

I rarely saw the same midwife twice. You could pay privately and get the same midwife. If you are consultant-led rather than midwife-led you have more opportunities to speak to an obstetrician.
I think you'd be surprised how many pg women aren't ready for motherhood - mostly we aren't ready when the baby is here either, you just muddle through. Try not to think there is some perfect standard of being ready to be a mother Smile

Original poster
Sazzamac1983 · 05/08/2017 12:22

Iggi999 thanks so much! That's reassuring! I think I'll go for the NHS option... this pregnancy was very much planned and I have gotten over that bewilderment I had last time.

I do love the NHS. It is amazing and I have so much respect for those who work in it.

My husband is a clinical pharmacist in ICU and I know how much the NHS relies on good people.

I do trust the MWs and staff!

Thanks for your advice x

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Original poster
Sazzamac1983 · 05/08/2017 12:24

Good point that most are not prepped for motherhood

It is probably something no one can really ever be ready for

Thanks for that point x

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onemoremummy · 07/08/2017 20:49

I have a very recent experience of giving birth at st Thomas. I wanted an elective c section if I went overdue as I did not want an induction at all. I was induced with my first baby and it was a horrendous experience ending in venthouse and forceps delivery, his head very badly bruised, and me almost needing a blood transfusion after losing 1.7L of blood. I suffered from severe anxiety during my 2nd pregnancy, was referred to a therapist and the obstetrician even asked if I wanted to go on anti anxiety meds. I'm telling you all of this just to show that it could be argued I had a good reason to ask for an elcs. However all midwives and the consultant I spoke to categorically told me it wasn't an option at St Thomas and that id have to go private if I wanted one. You also geT a letter from the hospital when you register with them advising that they don't offer elcs...

... so bottom line is, it might not be possible to have an elcs at St Thomas, or you might have to fight a whole lot for it. Just as a final note I ended up going into labour two days before I was due to be inducted and had a lovely, quick labour (with a wonderful epidural 😂) and I am SO glad I didn't go for the elcs!!!

Original poster
Sazzamac1983 · 07/08/2017 21:08

Onemoremummy thanks for that info!! I'm going to switch hospital based on that! I'm not going thru a fight!

Congrats on your baby and also I'm delighted for you that you ended up having a great delivery! Absolutely much deserved luck considering your first experience! Xxxxxx

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Original poster
Sazzamac1983 · 16/08/2017 08:53

Mayhew do you mind telling me which hospital you are referring to - that will allow ELCS on maternal rquest?

I got a very stern NO yesterday in Guys and St Thomass and having spoken to my husband we think we can't afford it privately now as our nursery fees are higher than we thought where we live.

I'm trying to find a hospital in London where I can approach for a ELCS but I chose wrong with St a Thomass unfortunately

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