Deciding to go privately?

[Zatzi]

Does anyone have any advice on going to a private hospital for the birth? Have been looking at the Kensington Wing of Chelsea and Westminster - am especially keen to know if anyone has decided on midwife-led there.

Background - am 12 weeks and 1 day and have still not even heard about an appointment for a scan from St Mary's and only have my booking appt tomorrow. Am feeling very let down and although not loaded I can justify paying.

If you can afford it then do it but you shouldn't feel let down that you haven't heard about a scan and only having your booking in appointment tomorrow. That's quite normal!
There isn't much they can do before now so see what they do from now.

You just call them for a quote. It's pricey and you shouldn't feel let down by the NHS service. I'd get back on to whoever did your booking in and chase them.

Thanks - they've already lost me twice and when I call they just pass me from person to person. Am just particularly worried as DH has a close relation with Down's (I know it isn't hereditary) so he is v concerned about 12 week scan.

Am also furious that at 10 weeks (before I told anyone) a member of staff at the hospital sent a professional-related e-mail to my sister in law, who has a two month old, saying "someone with your surname has registered (it's an unusual one) for ante-natal care, is she your sister?"

The business with the letter is appalling! I'd escalate that, for sure! As for your scan, you can get them done privately really easily in London, and if you're not keen on the hospital you've been referred to, you can usually just choose another one.
I had my son privately by c section and the bill for me was £15,000. It'd be less if you have a vaginal delivery and are midwife led and therefore don't stay in as long.

Am planning on nhs delivery under consultant led care as I am high risk but private post natal care at c&w.

I'm going for private care at C&W. Decision based on a grim caesarean last time (at a different hospital). There are no guarantees with the type of birth you get but chucking my savings at it does at least guarantee that I'll have consistent, one-on-one care and the delivery will be in the hands of someone whom I have built a relationship with over the past months. If that is a vaginal delivery then that's wonderful but if it has to be a caesaeran then at least I'll be in comfort and will know that my nightmare scar and adhesions will be properly considered.

I've gone for consultant-led which is more expensive but due to my caesarean and healing complications last time I want to be reassured that if I DO have to have a caesaeran it will be done by someone who is well aware of my previous birth and medical complications and is all set to do a Grade A repair job. It effectively boils down to buying some peace of mind. If I hadn't had a caesarean or indeed such a shit caesarean last time I doubt I'd be bothered by the consultant thing and would probably opt for the midwife package.

Seeing my consultant next week for my first appointment. I hope I like him.

Hi there - regardless of whether you go private if you are worried about the nuchal scan (and you need to have it done this week) you should consider having it done at the FMC www.fetalmedicine.com/fmc/contact/. They are the real experts in this and you couldn't be in better hands.

Thank you all - it's a lot of money and don't want to make the decision lightly.

Have already had to use the Portland for an early scan after worries about spotting (all fine thank god) as St Mary's couldn't fit me in despite GP thinking I should have one. If I hadn't, so far I wouldn't have seen anyone as haven't had 8-10 week check up or booking yet....

Thanks Lucy, I'll contact FMC tomorrow unless midwife I see at lunchtime offers me a scan very quickly - so far experience has proved this won't happen!

I think it is quite normal that you don't often meet a/your midwife until 12 weeks.

If the results of the nuchal are very important to you you might want to go to the FMC even if you get offered an NHS one this week. My midwife (NHS) told me privately that she thought they might be more accurate. You also get all the results, including the blood tests, within an hour. I am personally a bit wary of NHS scans though (unless they are with a consultant) as my last baby had something very wrong that wasn't picked up by the NHS scans but was picked up by the FMC. The rest of my care on the NHS was very good though.

Thanks - in that case I'll definitely contact them.

NHS website says you "should" have meeting with midwife at 8-10 and then booking before 12 - should know better than to believe what they say! It would save a lot of worry for first timers if we did know what to really expect rather than what they might do in a perfect world!

Zatzi - I don't think the hospital you've booked with have given you the care you should expect. How about switching to another NHS hospital? It's a pity you're having to make this decision, but perhaps another NHS hospital would give you the peace of mind you deserve?

I've had 2 babies at C&W (pregnant with 3rd), and although they are by no means perfect I have had prompt replies to phone calls, scans on time etc etc.

You should be having your nuchal soon! Good luck!

Thanks Celia, was beginning to wonder if it was normal to be ignored and lost!

Zatzi - you really must complain about the staff member at the hospital writing to your sister-in-law. That is appaling and simply must be reported.

Being ignored and lost is not normal, but it is pretty normal to have minimal care prior to 12 weeks, simply becasue before then, a lot of women do miscarry and there is nothing they can do to help.... Sounds harsh but, from my experience, the care escalates the further along the pregnancy you go.

I have been very, very lucky so far: saw MW at 10 weeks for booking, had detailed nuchal scan on NHS in the 11-13 week "window" (the MW let us know that the sonographers at my hospital happen to be the sonographers from FMC (they are on loan apparently for 2 years..?), so the hospital has the highest accuracy rates poss!). I then saw MW at 16, 20, 24, 28, 30, 32, 34 weeks (due 36, 38, 39 and 40 week appointments too), as well as the consultant 3 times and 2 growth scans. i was measuring small at 24 and 28 weeks and was booked into the growth scans/cons appointments the same day!

Unfortunately, NHS maternity care does seem to be a postcode lottery. I had the choice of 2 hospitals - at the other hospital (which i didn't choose!) I would have had no nuchal scan and 3 less MW appointments!

I do think that, if you are not happy with the level of care you are receiving and can afford it, paying for private is prob worth it for the peace of mind. I have chosen to pay for private healthcare for other things - didn't for maternity becasue I have been more than happy so far. MW led should be totally fine if you are low risk. I would go to a unit on the site of a hospital though, just in case you need an emcs or something - there is no telling what might possibly happen!

Oh and I would second Celia76's idea about shopping round for another NHS hospital maybe before committing to the private route - as I say, it is a lottery and another hospital might make you feel much better about everything. Where are you? In London I guess. Could you transfer to UCH?

Thanks all. Am seeing midwife for first time today and am definitely going to complain about breach of confidentiality - although do worry that it might give me a bad rep straight of if the first thing I do is complain - and demand a scan asap!

Will see how I feel about today and discuss with DH about going privately if I'm not happy with it.

OMG, went for first appt with midwife and they gave me the wrong time on the letter (it said 13.15 - should have been 11.15) so I missed it by 2 hours.... Now they can't see me until 1st Sept, by which time I'll be 13weeks and 4 days.... Am definitely thinking private is the way to go.... Am I just unlucky?!?

Shocing!

I would try and transfer to another hospital and see if you get any joy there before you def decide to go fully private. I would call the antenatal reception desk and/or the midwife team of your chosen hospital (I would go for one near-ish you as bear in mind you have to get there when in labour - my hopital is 40 mins away and that is about the upper limit of what I would want!). If you are in London, try UCH, or Guys & St Thomas'?

I am in outer London, and am with Princess Alexandra, Harlow - prob nowhere near you but they accept referrals from literally all over (i.e. I have met someone who transferred herself there from central London).

In theory, we all have the right to chose where we are treated for anything I think... but that doesn't always work!

In the meantime, you need to get a nuchal scan between approx 11 and 13 weeks. I would book one with FMC today. If you then don't go private, you have only spent a couple of hundred £.

Sorry - shocking!

Agree with the others, as you are keen to have a nuchal scan you should go privately for that asap (there is a limited window in which you can have it done) and the FMC is the best place for it.

My experience of the London hospitals I have booked at (not Mary's though) was that I had a scan first to confirm the pregnancy and do the nuchal test. The MW booking appointment was scheduled for after that, but of course I was notified of when things were a few weeks in advance. I wouldn't be too worried about not having a MW appointment until a bit later since not much happens at them anyway IME.

If you have the energy do complain to PALS at Marys. They need to know that this is going on and the breach of confidentiality is particularly shocking.

From what I hear all hospitals have issues with record-keeping. My DSis is a doctor and says she rarely has a clinic where all the relevant patients' notes turn up! But you deserve better that you have had so far so maybe look into other units.

UCH and QC in particular may be worth a look (and you could go private at QC if you wanted). I found QC ante-natal care to be quite hit and miss, but generally it was ok and when things went wrong the docs were good. Both hospitals have nice birth centres if you are that way inclined. Alternatively I have had some ante-natal care at CW and found them very organised, I never had to wait long for anything.

Zatzi - I had both DC's at QC privately (after being unhappy with antenatal care at another hospital). I know it is a big spend but if you are considering private care I would check QC out. It is not as expensive as C&W, if you call the Sainsbury Wing Private Patients they can send you a price list. I cannot fault both my antenatal and postnatal care (first DC was EMS), my consultant was great, as were the midwives in the private ward after both births. I would def recommend it if you decide to go that route.

Lizzylu- slight hijack, but did you have an elective at QC? And if so who was your consultant? And are they still doing "natural caesareans" there? I'm not pregnant (or even trying), just nosy and finding just in case! Thanks

I had DS at the Portland under a consultant and was very happy with it. If you are thinking of going private, best is to book a visit of the hospitals that you are considering, where you can see the facilities and ask all the questions and about costs. If you are going for consultant-led care, you need to book a consultant soon as the best ones get booked up far in advance - your consultant then books you in to the hospital. If you are going for midwife-led care, you probably have a bit more time. Hope all goes well.

First time was EMS (after a very long labour), second time was also CS but because of a few factors from first time around, not really elective. Not sure what 'natural cs' means but I was able to hold both DC's pretty much straight away after midviwes wrapped them up and checked all was ok, and was able to breastfeed as soon as I was brought into recovery.

Thanks Lizzylu, a natural CS is this whole thing where they go quite slowly, let the baby breathe while its body is still in the womb, and they sit you up so you can see the birth. I find it really interesting but haven't read much about it lately so was wondering if they were still doing them (esp as the chap who "invented" it has left QC).

Thanks - have emailed Sainsbury Wing and C&W ... Am just too fed up to find another NHS that for all I know will muck me around as much as St Mary's! Great to have a recommendation, thank god for Mumsnet! :)