Pregnant and returning to the UK

[WelshVix]

Hi all,

I'm relocating back to the UK after being out of the country for a number of years. When I arrive I will be around 3 months pregnant (my second pregnancy), please can anyone tell me what I need to do? I'm going to be living in Berkshire so assume I need to register with a Dr's and take it from there?

Sorry feel like I need a dummies guide to what to do. After being outside the NHS for so long I'm completely used to the private system where I turn up see my consulting Dr. every 2/3 weeks and get a scan every time... Not sure I realise what I have let myself in for...

What are my options for private care living outside of London, does that exist (again outside of London) and does anyone happen to know the costs involved?

thank you!

I don’t think you can have a private delivery outside of London. Maybe other posters know better but I’ve never come across it.

Many private hospitals only do c-sections, but some will do natural deliveries too. I think consultants fee’s for natural deliveries are about £3k. Then antenatal care is about £3k. And hospital fees are around £1k+ a day, depending on where you go.

But if you end up needing an emergency section you’ll have to pay for that... so realistically I’d recommend you have £20k set aside just in case and hope not to use it all.

Also check if you’re eligable for NHS care after so long outside the UK. You might not be.

You’ll be eligible for NHS care as soon as you become a UK resident (as opposed to visiting).

Register with a GP who will be able to tell you how to contact a midwife in your area (either they will refer you or will tell you how to self-refer). I have high risk pregnancies and having been pregnant in the UK, the US and Ireland, would choose NHS care as my preferred option.

Roughly where in the U.K. will you be based?

Sorry, see you said Berkshire

You can access private maternity services at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

See here

pineapple when I moved back to the UK after a long time away I was told I would only be considered ‘habitually resident’ after 3 months. I actually didn’t investigate this much further and didn’t need to use the NHS during this time, so it may have been incorrect advice!

Would also agree that NHS care is generally good. If you have a high risk pregnancy or any complications a private obstetrician will probably refer you back to the NHS anyway. The reason I am using private this time is for the post-natal care, which sadly can be dire in some of the big hospitals.

You only have to be “ordinarily resident” to access non-emergency NHS services.

Habitual residence applies more to benefits, and even then “returning U.K. citizens” are usually considered “habitually resident” as soon as they return.

This guide is from Age UK but applies to younger returners too.

I moved back from Ireland to NI when I was 8 1/2 months pregnant.

I went to my old GP and had an antenatal appointment where he reviewed my notes from the RoI hospital. He then contacted the hospital on my behalf and arranged a transfer of care appointment with them.

At no stage was it questioned that I wasn’t entitled to NHS care. As an aside, I had a great experience on the NHS at both the MLU and our big maternity hospital.

dinosaur Ireland and NI have special rules about access to things like the NHS that would not be relevant to anywhere else.

Thanks everyone, we are in the process of completing the TOR form (Transfer of Residency) this is a relatively new document and confirms that we are returning to the country permanently. We require this for shipping all our goods back in so hopefully we won't have too many issues once we have that.

I should have mentioned that with my first I had to have a planned c-section, my son was born at 39 weeks at 4.74kg (10lb 7oz) my doctor here thinks there is obviously a good change this might happen again so I'm likely to need a consultant led ward. For my first I had a wonderful private Maternity Nurse who has now relocated back to the UK, if I had the option to have her again I would but sadly she's now back in the NHS system and I don't think that is an option.

@Pineapple Scruchie, thank you for the link on the John Radcliffe, I hadn't come across that so it's a huge help, I'm also looking at Queen Charlotte's to see whats available there. I think our plan is to come back start with the NHS and see the private as an option should we feel we need it.

I am curious, is having your husband stay in the hospital regular practise there? Here my husband was with me the whole time (including the c-section because it was planned not emergency).

You should be fine with the residence, if you have any problems get your MP involved.

IME the NHS does high-risk pregnancy care pretty well, and it’s more similar to the sort of obstretrician-led care you would get abroad. The main difference being that instead of a named consultant you’re likely to be seen by a team of consultants at the hospital so it can be different people each time and you may not know the consultant who delivers in advance.

It is not usual for partners to stay but some hospitals do allow this now. You’d need to check with the individual hospitals.

I’ve moved country several times whilst pregnant (in fact me falling pregnant seems to be a good predictor of dh’s job getting relocated). It’s really stressful moving to a new system and being pregnant means you have to get stuff organise pretty quickly so I sympathise.

Just to add - unless it’s a crash section with general anaesthetic, I think it’s pretty normal for your partner to stay during the actually c-section. It’s onlg once you’re on the actual postnatal ward that they might be sent home overnight.

Thanks Pineapple, thats really helpful. I was so lucky first time around and had such wonderful care I just hope it goes as well the second time (fingers crossed!)