NHS or private delivery

[Mjlondon]

Hi mums ,

Sorry for Long post!

I am pregnant and was weighing my options here. This is my second child , I had C-section with first born. But I am currently confused as how it works with NHS and private delivery options . I am currently registered at hospital in London but I don't feel well supported. I am not sure is it because my case is uncomplicated or it's just the way it is here. Every question I have , midwife just share some QR CODE to scan and ask me to read on those sites. What's the point of appointment then?
I Had lot of bad experience with NHS a&e for different issues and I am really nervous.
Additionally if I want to go for C-section would they really consider my wish or would they force me to have normal delivery. Do they wait till I go I to labour or can I insist if having planned C-section? How surgery, post surgery care provided?

How is it in private? If any issues occur during childbirth will I be sent back to NHS? Can I only opt to have childbirth in private and continue with NHS till that time say till 36 weeks? Also how is postnatal/ neonatal care works here?

I am new here so my question may sound naive but any help guidance is highly appreciated.

Lastly, anybody has any reviews about Queens Charlotte hospital London?

Thanks!

100% go private if it’s something you can afford I would recommend going the non NHS route.

I would imagine the attention to detail and care you receive will be much better and will put you at ease knowing you will receive good service without having to fight for what kind of birth you’d like in a private hospital setting and private midwives will take the time to answer all of your questions.

it’s luck of the draw with the NHS services, I also found that if English wasn’t your first language the care given to the patient was not as great as someone who’s first language was English in NHS.

Private. Be prepared to pay £25-30k total.

I have no experience of Queen Charlotte’s but I know at another London NHS/ private hospital if you don’t use them throughout it’s not guaranteed you’ll be able to use them for the birth (it’s very dependent on availability). That may be different if it’s a planned c-section, I’m not sure.

You’ll also be transferred to NHS/ NICU if there are any complications with you/ the baby. We didn’t go private in the end, which is just as well as I ended up with serious complications (not in any way the NHS’ fault) but when I was in NICU with DC I saw a few babies being transferred in from the private wing. It seemed they weren’t even able to do the most basic checks on babies in the private wing (blood pressure, for example) so if there were any concerns at all they’d be transferred.

Oh..ok thank you

Echoing other moms here who recommend private midwife companies with a configurable package here. I did research that for myself - I briefly considered birthing “outside of guidelines” with a private midwife until I was told by a consultant that the birth I wanted was fully supported on the NHS (VBA2C). The options I was looking into were
Womb and Bloom and Privatemidwives.

I didn’t get there because of low placenta at term, so went with another NHS caesarean (#3).

Essentially, I would only be paying if I were having a vaginal delivery. I think continuity of care is very (!!!) important there. I think that with today’s cost of living, one should only consider paying 20-30k for a planned caesarean if they have a level of wealth that does not register that kind of expense (i.e. one does not have to save for it).

Private or NHS, you are operated on by the same team. If it is an easy case, one does not need a consultant. And if it is a difficult case, you will get a very experienced team anyway. Granted, you get absolutely no frills care on the ward, but you can absolutely make it work as stays are short. Instead, I would put that money in a high-yield savings account and hire more help at home for the early days, have a reserve fund for a maternity nurse, a physiotherapist, a private lactation consultant, a postnatal doula to help with meals and hold the baby, etc.

In case you are particularly worried about stitches, most are dissolvable now, and you don’t need to do anything.

Thank you so much this puts a good perspective and relief . I have been so stressed since I got the news. And the way currently NHS treats the patients. I am not getting required attention or my questions answered properly by midwife at hospital as my case is less complicated and only requires planned C-section. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.

I totally get it. I felt the same way about my first c section - baby was breech with a head measuring quite large so he kind of made the decision for me. I was very scared and coming from a country where continuity of care is a given, I felt very wobbly. At least I had the same midwife throughout that pregnancy! With DC3, I literally saw a new midwife at every single appointment.

Do some research, try to have a sneak peak into the postnatal ward. Most trusts now have an instagram account and do walk-through videos. It’s by no means a luxury hotel, but if you know what to expect, you can make it work. Since there is zero uncertainly about how you will be giving birth, you are basically paying for a better and quieter room, not for the luxury of access to a senior medical opinion throughout the pregnancy.

Again, like I said, for a vaginal delivery I would definitely try to find the money because I would want to have strong rapport with the person delivering the baby in a situation that is a lot more uncertain (again, not 100 percent guaranteed because babies can arrive when your chosen consultant is away at a conference/on holiday etc.).

But generally, if you are not happy with a midwife, ask for another one. Ask for a consultant appointment. Get in touch with PALS, etc.

And to better understand how a planned c section is done in the UK and what you can ask for, I recommend this podcast episode. It’s very accurate and reflective of my experience. x

open.spotify.com/episode/0NL7TyUgRApQea1PdF0H7G?si=iE_mA9A2TfWhP5qRjdtjgQ

Thank you so much it really helps. I never imagined that pregnant women have to struggle this in this country. Again appreciate you taking the time out to answer the question.

if it's the questions answered you want i'd either go with a private midwife or book a couple of ad-hoc appointments with a private doctor. you don't have to commit to the birth to have one or two appointments with them

My wife and I have picked a private midwife. Happy to share details if you’d like via private message.

My wife and I have booked for a private midwife through Zest. We were able to go through many midwives and picked the one that made us feel happy. We did look at The Portland Hospital but they don't support home births.

I have had 2 elective C sections (after a first emergency one) on the NHS and both were great experiences. Had a private room both times (paid for and can’t guarantee you’ll get one, but subject to other needs, you can). Really couldn’t fault it. Conversely had a friend who paid God knows how much for one at the Lister and did not have a great experience. If you ask for a c-section on the NHS, they have to give it to you these days. They might try to persuade you otherwise but they do have to do it.

Also I had a private midwife for DC1, planned a home birth, but sadly nature had other plans for us.

Hello
I had a vaginal birth on the NHS during COVID. The experience was not good.
I had a private elective c section at Guys and St Thomas with my second and it was the most wonderful and healing experience. I recovered easily (not quickly, as it does take time!), but never had any issues with my scar. The care was very hands on and absolutely superb.
This third time I'm attaching a local NHS hospital, however, it is the only hospital in a 50 mile radius rated as Good for Maternity care, and so far the experience has been fantastic and very attentive, so I am happy and confident to stay NHS this time xx

Sorry - to add to this, there were really no questions asked when I asked for a c section under the current hospital for baby 3. They ask why, but that's about it, and talk you through all the pros and cons, but generally I have found consultants (who you'd have an appointment with if you are planning a c section) incredibly supportive xx

Do you have to have c section? Is going completely the opposite direction of an independent midwife and homebirth an option? Was about £5k many years ago when I did it but had two wonderful experiences (with births that would have been far from straightforward on an NHS ward)

Hi, not sure if anyone is still around.

I am 8 weeks pregnant oldie the first time and I’m not originally from the UK - I have similar experiences as above in the thread, where in my country of origin continuity of care is more or less a given and an ob rather than a midwife is the one tracking the pregnancy and leading the birth. Whilst a midwife led birth sounds appealing to me, as I am hoping for a physiological birth, if all goes well with the pregnancy, continuity of care seems essential in that case and I don’t know how to proceed. I am leaning towards private route as we have insurance - I have seen a consultant at the Portland, but didnt click with her, I am new to the idea of private midwives, how’s does that work? Can you have a private midiwife within and NHS hospital?

@avocadotoast11 Chelsea & Westminster have a private wing within the NHS hospital. I had both my DC at Chelsea & Westminster. I did view the private wing but decided it wasn’t necessary. If I were to go private though, I’d definitely have gone there. Private hospitals don’t deal with emergencies so if you are giving birth/ give birth in a private hospital and something goes wrong, they will have to transfer you. For that reason I’d much rather already be in a NHS hospital as these things can be time critical. My second DC ended up in NICU and I saw a few babies come in from the private wing which was unable to deal with anything out of the ordinary.