The Portland/Dr Donald Gibb - any experiences

[spudballoo]

I am rather unexpectedly pregnant! I have a 9 month old boy, and had a very traumatic delivery which left me with a 4th degree tear and a colostomy bag. We had decided not to have more children, as I am due major surgery to make me continent without the bag, and I didn't want to take the the risk of further damage to my pelvic floor. Well, it seems Someone Up There has other ideas!

I will be having a section which is medically indicated due to my problems, and will be covered by my medical insurance.

I paid for an early scan yesterday at the Birth Company in Harley Street, heart beating away at 7+1.

I am considering Dr Gibb for all my antenatal care and opting out of the NHS altogether, and then having him deliver me at The Portland.

Anyone have any experience of either Dr Gibb and/or The Portland? Please feel free to be as honest as you like!

x

Dr Gibb is a lovely man - when you visit him you will see folders and folders of babies that he has helped bring into the world. I personally wouldn't have a CS privately (they don't have the ICU facilities that the NHS have available) but if I ever did, I'd certainly use Dr Gibb.

Have only just seen this, sorry if too late.

I had a private 3D scan with Dr.Gibb, lovely, lovely man. Has a very impressive portfolio, made me feel v.comfortable. HTH

I had both of my DCs at the Portland and had very, very positive experiences there.

I can comment on dr gibb but I agree with mrsrecycle about a cs privatly.

DH & I considered private care while expecting dd and was told by our consultant that the private care would be provided BUT would be done at an nhs hospital (obviously this wouldn't be the case at the portland). Basically the reason being was due to the fact that private hospitals (esp in our area..northwest) don't have icu care and if care was needed it would be given at a local nhs hospital.

BTW we did use a consultant from our private hospital but she cared for us under the nhs iykwim as she was also based within the nhs.

It may be worth probeing (sp..?) deeper to gets the correct info for the portland. Congrats btw..!!!

Thank you so much for all the responses, I'm so grateful. I do take the point re ICU, and of course that is an issue. I particularly like Dr Gibb but he only delivers at The Portland. I guess, ideally, I'd like to go to the Lindo Wing at St Marys so that the NHS is righton the doorstep.

Imagine the shame of being transferred from The Portland or wherever to an NHS hospital, kind of 'Oh er hello, um it all went a bit wrong at the fancy place so can I come in please? You know, to a place where they can actually deal with big fat medical emergencies and everything.....'

Mind you, I'm working on the basis that surely one absolutely appalling birth gives me a free pass on other medical emergencies this time. No? You mean it doesn't work like that? Hee hee.

Any other thoughts very gratefully received!

x

i'm an nhs girl all the way. i had ds at st mary's & had an amazing consultant, mr teo, who i think does private work there too, he might be worth investigating.