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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Help…NHS or Private c-section delivery!

26 replies

Hendricks124 · 27/01/2023 20:45

Looking for some advice please… I’ve overthought myself into a state of complete confusion!

I am about to have my second baby and can’t decide if I should go private or stick with the NHS. I had my first baby via emergency c-section during the pandemic in my local NHS hospital and had a horrific experience. I appreciate it was during covid times but they were so understaffed I was left with no help or support and am terrified of a repeat experience like that.

I decided to look at going for a private c-section this time so I could try and relax and actually enjoy the experience. However, I am based in the midlands and the closest private hospital I could go to is 3hours away! I remember how sore I was after my last c-section and am scared of the 3 hour flight plus journey home and if the pain will be too much!

I was hoping to get some advice from you guys to help me decide what to do!

has anyone else had a similar experience?

has anyone travelled a long distance after a section and if so was it manageable?!

has anyone else got any recommendations on going private?

thanks in advance for any help!

OP posts:
Stardustkid · 27/01/2023 20:52

A planned nhs c section is nothing like an emergency one. It should be a far better experience. I was fine after mine supported well, but healed really well. I don’t think I was lucky. But I know some don’t have the same experience

Rainsdropskeepfalling · 27/01/2023 20:56

I'm a bit unclear - you have to fly to the private hospital? How are you going to do that when 39 weeks pregnant? And you can't fly back while on anticlotting nor will baby be able to fly. Did you mean train?

Original poster
Hendricks124 · 27/01/2023 21:03

@Rainsdropskeepfalling I don’t know why it’s ended up putting the word flight in there… autocorrect! 🤦🏻‍♀️
it should say it’s a 3hour plus drive back from London… my husband would be driving us obviously not me!

OP posts:
Original poster
Hendricks124 · 27/01/2023 21:04

@Stardustkid thanks for the reassurance, I’m glad you had a good experience

OP posts:
dew141 · 27/01/2023 21:09

I had two planned ones privately which my health insurance paid for.

They were pretty easy, nice to have our own room but then again the NHS side of the hospital was nice too. One upside is that you can pick an experienced surgeon but it's not the most complicated surgery either.

berksandbeyond · 27/01/2023 21:12

I’d have the nhs planned section.
private hospitals often don’t have the same facilities if something goes wrong for you or baby. I’d want to be in an nhs hospital.
Planned sections are nothing like emergency sections (also had an EMEC)

GAW19 · 27/01/2023 21:17

I've had 2 planned NHS csections, honestly, they were so relaxed and calm. I'm in north Lincolnshire.
One was before the pandemic (2019), one was during (March 2021)
They were both very calm, relaxing and the midwives were amazing Smile

AmandaHoldensLips · 27/01/2023 21:23

It's all about the man holding the scalpel, in my humble opinion.

I went private (but still in local NHS hospital) because there was a high chance of me getting a sub-standard surgeon. I knew from inside info that there was one surgeon who was excellent, and the only way I could guarantee having that particular doc was to become a private patient.

I don't regret it.

The hospital is in special measures and I didn't want to chance me or baby becoming a statistic.

Original poster
Hendricks124 · 27/01/2023 21:39

@dew141 do you mind me asking which private hospital you used?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hendricks124 · 27/01/2023 21:41

@GAW19 thanks for the reassurance 😊 I have heard people say that the planned ones as better… I’m just so anxious about it all. do you mind me asking how long they kept you in for before you went home?

OP posts:
Original poster
Hendricks124 · 27/01/2023 21:45

@AmandaHoldensLips I am in the same position with the situation with our local hospital… I feel a bit like I’m taking a risk going there.

I agree about the surgeon, it’s such a minefield trying to find a good one, I think I’ve overwhelmed myself with information!

OP posts:
SealsOnWeels · 27/01/2023 21:49

Planned ones are ace, I’m having a second one soon.

First one was on the NHS and the op was lovely. But the postnatal ward was grim.

This time around I’m hoping that my insurance will pay for private, but if not I’ll be happy with the NHS.

Despite regular scaremongering, everywhere in London that does c sections (I think all births but I’m not sure) either has its own NICU, or is attached to an NHS hospital that does. So that’s not something you need to worry about.

YomAsalYomBasal · 27/01/2023 21:49

I'd go private, I work with children brain damaged by botched births in the NHS. I'd go somewhere like St Thomas' as there are excellent facilities right there should anything go wrong.

Blueisthecolor · 27/01/2023 21:52

I'd only do it if private hospital was fairly nearby. I would not do a 3hr journey with a c section wound!

The best bit would be a private room and I'd assume decent food but I wouldn't swap that for 3hr journey, no way! Also a newborn shouldn't be in car seat for more than 30mins I think guideline is. So that 3hr journey gonny be a lot longer with stops and feeds, nappy changes etc.

dew141 · 27/01/2023 22:09

Hendricks124 · 27/01/2023 21:39

@dew141 do you mind me asking which private hospital you used?

Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea. My room overlooked the walls at Wormwood Scrubs so not the best view...

I picked it because the facilities felt more modern than the Lindo Wing at St Mary's. Not sure I'd have coughed up out of my own money though, had it not been covered by insurance.

Blahblahblah81 · 27/01/2023 22:20

Hi,I wanted to add in my experience. I had a traumatic vaginal birth in 2009 so for my 2nd baby born in 2020,I opted for a C section. I actually then found something calling a gentle/natural c section (google it) and arranged to have it done at a hospital 45 mins from me. It was the most healing moment of my life,I was totally in control from the word go and I finally got that moment where mum's wanted to have another baby and not be fearful of the birth.

Please do yourself a favour and look into this before shelling out for a private section. I don't know where you are in the Midlands but I'm in the East Midlands and I know of at least 2 cities close to me that know of this procedure. There's also a fb group.

Good luck.

GAW19 · 27/01/2023 23:04

DD1 was born Wednesday morning, we was home Friday morning
DD2 we was home the next afternoon Smile
I had gestational diabetes with DD1 and extra fluid with DD2 so was both deemed as high risk but was absolutely fine!
DP had to go home at 6pm the day DD2 was born due to covid but the midwives were amazing, they changed every nappy and helped me out so so much when I needed them

elevenplusdilemma · 27/01/2023 23:46

YomAsalYomBasal · 27/01/2023 21:49

I'd go private, I work with children brain damaged by botched births in the NHS. I'd go somewhere like St Thomas' as there are excellent facilities right there should anything go wrong.

Stop scaremongering. Are these brain damaged children the result of botched elective c-sections?
OP - c-section surgery when elective is almost always straightforward and very routine. The surgeons will do several a week and even if not a consultant, they will be very experienced.
I'd think hard about a 3hr trip home with a newborn that shouldn't be in a car seat for longer than 30 mins at a time and a painful surgical wound.

dew141 · 28/01/2023 07:26

I know I'm spoilt for choice living near London, but is the nearest private hospital really 3 hours away?

Even our fairly grotty local NHS hospital has a private wing.

starsinyourpies · 28/01/2023 17:35

AmandaHoldensLips · 27/01/2023 21:23

It's all about the man holding the scalpel, in my humble opinion.

I went private (but still in local NHS hospital) because there was a high chance of me getting a sub-standard surgeon. I knew from inside info that there was one surgeon who was excellent, and the only way I could guarantee having that particular doc was to become a private patient.

I don't regret it.

The hospital is in special measures and I didn't want to chance me or baby becoming a statistic.

A woman did mine, should I be worried? 🤔

Bells3032 · 01/02/2023 11:58

I was looking at private C-section for mine. Unfortunately my daughter arrived naturally at 34 weeks in an NHS hospital in the end after a v short labour. However everything was fine in the end. Obv you tend have a longer stay after a c-section so its nice to be in nicer surroundings. I really wanted St Thomas but thought the 1.5 hour drive would be too much so decided on Queen charlotte which was closer to 40 minutes. A few things to consider:

  • cost - i think a lot of people see the cost of like £6k on the website and think that's the final cost. It's not. Consultant fees and aenethatist fees are in addition to that and cost about another 10k plus. so always budget a min of £20k for the delivery and more in case of complications.
  • the long drive is the obv one
  • what happens if you go into natural labour before your c-section date
  • Will you be able to go back and forth to meet your doctor?

V few health insurances will pay these days. i think only Bupa international does in the UK (I may not be 100% of that). So everything will have to be out of pocket

OCDmama · 05/02/2023 18:50

Hi, not sure of you've made your choice - but private hospitals don't usually have the emergency facilities or staff if something goes wrong (that's why there is never an A&E).

You'd be moved to an NHS hospital in that eventuality.

Chippy1234 · 05/02/2023 18:56

I love people who clutch their pearls and say you really must go NHS in case of any issues. Really? The Stafford maternity scandal, the daily media reports about the NHS. Do people really think there are doctors waiting outside to burst in within the NHS should something go wrong?

I went NHS for first and London private for second and there was no comparsion.

Littlegoth · 05/02/2023 19:29

I used to have private medical care and looked into this. I was advised by the private care provider that It would be better to have this via the NHS. Their reasoning was that if I had it done on the NHS then it would be someone who specialised in obstetrics, which wasn’t guaranteed in private health care, unless I went to a dedicated private maternity unit it was more likely to be a general surgeon.

I had mine done on the NHS, it was great, aftercare was as good as can be considering it was during lockdown (I had a fantastic student midwife who was a godsend) and I’ll be having my second in the same place, same team in July.

BiggerBoyMadeMeDoit · 05/02/2023 19:39

Chippy1234 · 05/02/2023 18:56

I love people who clutch their pearls and say you really must go NHS in case of any issues. Really? The Stafford maternity scandal, the daily media reports about the NHS. Do people really think there are doctors waiting outside to burst in within the NHS should something go wrong?

I went NHS for first and London private for second and there was no comparsion.

Did you mean Shrewsbury? The Stafford issue was different.

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