Private Maternity Healthcare in the UK

[LaraCameron]

Hi ladies!
Im am very curious to know how does one go about getting private care for childbirth in the UK outside London? I know there are plenty of hospitals in London but what about outside London?
Does anyone have any experience with this in any city( not London)?
The trouble is that I have very severe tokophobia and when I give birth it will have to be by c section.
I have recieved mixed answers about whether or not this is possible on the NHS. I would be very willing to go private, only Im not sure where in Uk hubby will be transfered. Can I possibly land up in a place where private healthcare is not available? Or is it available everywhere?

Hi ladies!
Im am very curious to know how does one go about getting private care for childbirth in the UK outside London? I know there are plenty of hospitals in London but what about outside London?
Does anyone have any experience with this in any city( not London)?
The trouble is that I have very severe tokophobia and when I give birth it will have to be by c section.
I have recieved mixed answers about whether or not this is possible on the NHS. I would be very willing to go private, only Im not sure where in Uk hubby will be transfered. Can I possibly land up in a place where private healthcare is not available? Or is it available everywhere?

Hi ladies!
Im am very curious to know how does one go about getting private care for childbirth in the UK outside London? I know there are plenty of hospitals in London but what about outside London?
Does anyone have any experience with this in any city( not London)?
The trouble is that I have very severe tokophobia and when I give birth it will have to be by c section.
I have recieved mixed answers about whether or not this is possible on the NHS. I would be very willing to go private, only Im not sure where in Uk hubby will be transfered. Can I possibly land up in a place where private healthcare is not available? Or is it available everywhere?

Just wanted to give you a preliminary answer before someone more expert steps in.

The NHS does thousands of C-sections every day. If there is a specific medical reason why this is necessary, of course they will do this. The only controversy I personally know of with the NHS and C-sections is that if there is absolutely no medical indication for a C-section they won't do one, and you would have more chance of getting it privately.

Why would you think that this isn't possible on the NHS?

The only places which will do a c section privately are in London, or just outside in Watford. You may still get one on the NHS, at your local maternity hospital and can maybe book a private room but for a private service throughout, there is no where outside of London.

We were told if you sit there over and over and refuse to give birth they have to do eventually give in.

That said private c-sections are possible. It might help to post your general area for specific recommendations.

For example - Hertfordshire has the Birthteam based in Watford.

The NHS will do a c-section for many reasons, one of which will be mental health issues. But you may have some convincing to do depending on the consultant.

My very good friend had a section citing former abuse and tokophobia on the NHS at North Middlesex.

I have been raped and had previously thought I wanted a section and was prepared to set about 'demanding' one. But as it was I had my daughter abroad and had private healthcare anyway. As it turned out the nearer I got to my due date I wasn't at all hung up on the idea but I ended up with a planned section as she was breech. Was happy with that.

I'm having a private section this time around but it's here in London and I have to pay for the rest of the antenatal care even though I haven't used it.

My obstetrician saw me privately in Birmingham, and I was treated as a private patient at Birmingham Maternity Hospital many years ago.

Thanks so much for the replies!
I wish i could post my general area, but I have no idea where my hubby and I will be transfered! Could be anywhere in UK!
Any advice on what I should do if Im in an area where there are no private services available?
For example the OBs in Manchester who do private work dont do private deliveries. So if we end up there I will be at the mercy of NHS.
I called up the NHS helpline and they said no c sections unless there is a requirement for one.
I know the risks involved but I genuinely think this is a better option for us.
I have to say I am surprised by the healthcare in UK. When we were posted in India, everything was so pleasant! You can choose your doctor no questions asked, and you can elect to have a c section- the patient autonomy is paramount. There seems to be such a lack of choices here!

I want private care for many other reasons- Id prefer my own room and want hubby to stay with me overnight which is never possible in NHS hospitals.
Im mortally afraid of giving birth and was diagnosed with tokophobia in India.
I CANNOT give birth naturally but Im not sure if my midwife( given that they all just LOVE natural birth) will allow it.

I was horrified how difficult private care was outside of london. My midwife is a massive HB fan but after discussing my previous birth completely understood my need to opt out of the NHS and recommended a CS!!! That said nor reason I can't do it naturally and I will try!

Good luck.

Thanks Katiebeau:) You were lucky to get a good midwife. However if you finally did go private how did you manage it?
Do you need an NHS referral? Can a gp refuse to refer me to a private ob/gyn?

So ladies, any chance of things changing in the UK with regards to private healthcare availability?
Do you think there will be a change for the better in the coming few years?

LC if its for sure you want a CS then you could come down to London for it. Loads of people do, when I was in the Portland having DS there were women who had come from abroad so it can be done. I think its a shame that women outside London have such few choices. I will probably get slated for this but I personally think that care being so midwife led in the UK takes away a lot of choices. Usually if a an ObGynae does private work you do not need a GP referral.

Thanks ajmama- what you say makes a lot of sense.
However if Im booked for a c section at a private hospital and go into premature labor, I'll once again be at the mercy of the midwives. And they just hate c sections.
I have severe tokophobia and I am a victim of sexual abuse but i dont know if they take that seriously at all.
I find it quite shocking that women here are not given Obstetrician led care!
In most other countries women would have a heart attack if they were told that they would not have consultant led care. I could never trust a midwife as much as an obstetrician.

I feel the same as you do about obstetricians. Im expecting number 2 and am really nervous and its wonderful having an expert on call. You also dont see the same midwife twice and it will be painful for you having to go through your reasons all the time. I know what you are saying about premature labour but there is a small chance of that happening and if your London Ob signs you off for a section it would be hard for them to refuse. Hopefully QTpie will come on later, she came up to London from Bath and had no problems.

Ajmama- I hope you have a wonderful delivery and pregnancy:)
Just one more very stupid question- even if the London Ob who signs for the section is a private doctor, will the NHS hospital still honor that decision if I go into labor early?

"I could never trust a midwife as much as an obstetrician"

pssst, don't say that on here! Doctors are meddling idiots who are useless at birthing and intervene to early with diastrous consequences.... blah blah blah.

For sure, some midwives have excellent training and are good at their roles. Same goes for doctors. Some good, some bad. But they are not out 'to get you'. Some mothers, however, think that they are. Anway, I don't want to get drawn into a heated discussion about consultants.

For what it's worth, I feel as you do. I was lucky enough to get treatment for Ashermans Syndrome (caused by post mc D&S in UK) in Asia from a talented surgeon who cared for me throughout my pregnancy (saw him once a week more or less) and performed my section. I was informed, we both trusted him and the level of care was amazing. I miss that this time around, though I will say that the NHS consultants I've seen so far have been good, also.

I am sorry to hear about your problems. I too am a rape victim and felt very strongly that although I have no problem with exams and procedures I wanted to be in control during birth. I couldn't watch a birth video without throwing up. That said, as the pregnancy neared its end I cared less really and was more focused on what life would be like after I had my daughter. I saw her exit in very practical terms. This surprised me. As it was, she was breech and I had preeclampsia, so we had a section anyway. My doctor was reluctant, as it happens, to just do a section on the basis of having been raped. He tried to steer me away from it and said it would be good for me to try naturally.

This baby I plan to have another section. I considered vbac simply because if it went easily I would be out quickly (I don't have an urge to give birth naturally, although many women do) but with Asherman's the rupture risks are raised and the level of risk very high.

I wish you all the best. A successful birth (as I felt mine was) and a good recovery and getting to grips with breastfeeding (still ahem doing it years on...) was really instrumental in making me feel I'd conquered some of my fears and deep-seated loathing of my body that had been caused by the rape.

"I have severe tokophobia and I am a victim of sexual abuse but i dont know if they take that seriously at all."

They will. Honestly they will.

otchayaniye- So sorry to hear about what you went through.
My reasons however are not just about abuse. My family has a history of horrible births- forceps, 4th degree tears, sexual dysfunction. My aunts both deceloped rectvaginal fistulae, and one of them had to use a colostomy bag for 3 weeks.
My sister nearly died giving birth, her baby had severe nerve damage and could not use her arm for untill she was 4.
My cousin lost her baby due to a forceps delivery.
Can't blame me for being squeamish!
As many of these births were outside the uk, I cant provide the consultant with any proof of the same and he probably wont take me seriously and will just say that no two births are alike.

They will take you seriously. If you have an official bit of paper with a diagnosis on then that might help.

In the UK we're very aware of the benefits rather than the cons of natural birth and v aware of the cons of a section. That said, many many women do have them. When you know where you'll be posted, make an appointment with your gp and be utterly frank with them. Acknowledge the added risks of a section but stress that with your previous abuse history you feel that mentally it will place to much pressure on you to birth naturally.

Then, ask to be referred to a sympathetic consultant. One of the consultants at our hospital believes that all women should have zips inserted with #1 and actively encourages women with any issue at all to have a section! In fact, he turned my dc3 via ecv and I had to really stand my ground to get him to do it!

otchayaniye- I feel better after reading your post.
However I have no medical records or police reports to prove anything as all this happened outside the UK. They'll probably think Im making something up.

Indeed - no two births are alike but all this adds to your fear of childbirth.

Don't make any decisions until you're here and have spoken to several consultants.

Buttonmoon78- Thanks. I have no official documents about the abuse as I never reported it- it was a family member and I was young. But the feeling of being abused and out of control still tortures me.
But I could manage to get a counseller to confirm my tokophobia- even if I had to go private for it. And like you said I'll stand my ground and hopefully they'll listen.
Thanks so much! I feel better after reading your post.

I had a c section (emergency) on NHS (outside London) first time around, which automatically meant I was not MW led care but had consultant second time around. Even 3rd time I have been referred to a consultant (but we agreed that he wasn't necessary after my VBAC) and I am now MW led.

These are without your important issues.

I am sure you can be referred to an NHS obstetrician.

"However I have no medical records or police reports to prove anything as all this happened outside the UK. They'll probably think Im making something up."

My rape happened in Russia when I was a student and I couldn't report it even though I tried. I don't think that changes anything.

My friend who suffered abuse from a family member (I am so sorry ladycameron) and who had a section also did not report it. They won't want to see 'proof'. They will want to talk to you about it and possibly refer you to a psychologist for a consultation. Don't think this is to fob you off -- this could be very useful to you.

Be strong, and don't be surprised if you change your mind. You may, you may not. Sounds unlikely, but I changed mine (although was pleased enough to have the section in the end)

Eek - I didn't mean prrof of the abuse! I meant of the tokophobia! The abuse is quite frankly nobody's business but your own.

And yes, I'm sure another counsellor would confirm it.