PRIVATE VS NHS

[jdr1234]

Hi all
I found out I was pregnant last week with my first, am only just over 5 weeks so very early days and very nervous, have booked a private scan at 7 weeks as don't think I could wait till 12!
What I would like to know is if anyone has had there baby privately and been covered on insurance without having complications.
Lots of my friends I know have had everything covered and I am now not able to ask how they managed this as I thought it was only if there was an issue that insurance kicked in.
My nearest NHS hospitals are not great but I am not too keen on spending 7-15k on private!!
Any advice would be warmly received

It's very unusual for insurance here (excluding international policies) to cover birth so I'm not sure how yours friends managed that. I opted for a private midwife (3-4k) as a halfway house.

Also had a private midwife and private scans throughout. Our private healthcare doesn't cover costs and we do have most comprehensive band of cover. I didn't think it was covered except for complications on most policies. Are you in Uk?

Sorry have just read Nhs so you are Uk.

Where you live in the UK will drastically effect the options open to you.

What it is exactly that you are concerned about with regard to the NHS as if you aren't keen on spending so much money, then you need to look at and trying to tackling your individual concerns one by one to form a plan of action.

Are we talking postnatal care, access to pain relief, not being listened to or other issues?

I have insurance that covered me completely, but it's an international policy through work. There are no UK insurance companies that will cover maternity if you are based here unless, as you said, it's a complication.

Also, just fyi, you'd be doing very well to get complete cover for 7-15K. Not including my DS' stay in NICU, my maternity costs inc scans, consultant care and hospital stay were closer to 20/23K (can't remember the exact figure off the top of my head).
I had a problem free, low risk pregnancy and my son still ended up in NICU which was a further cost of 13K.

I think RedToothBrush makes a very good point about tackling what it is that concerns you and working from there.
If you are anxious about certain areas, like only having two scans, then absolutely supplement your NHS care with a couple of private scans if you can manage it etc.

I could have gone totally private for my first, but that was only because it was not a "straight forward" labour. We didn't really consider it as the only hospital my Insurance company would pay for was the Portland in London. We did take the private room though (in an NHS hospital); although lots of midwives would prefer a labour ward themselves.

Having a private room isn't that expensive. I have known several people afford a private midwife - I didn't look into that myself as it wasn't appropriate.

A lot of private hospitals don't do pregnancy, or do pregnancy but ship you into the NHS for labour, and certainly for anything complicated.
Scans are possible independently.

I think independent midwives are great and would get one if I could afford it.

You might as well do the NHS tour though.

A lot of private hospitals don't do pregnancy, or do pregnancy but ship you into the NHS for labour, and certainly for anything complicated.

The only private maternity wards in the UK are in the Greater London area. Which makes it very difficult if you don't live close enough.

Thank you for all the above comments.
We live in Hertfordshire about an 45 mins out of london.
My concerns with nhs are only down to a few horror stories my friends have kindly shared with me such as they are reluctant to give pain relief, and anything else that is expensive. That the after care has been almost non existence and a lot of the wards under staffed.
Watford General have a private wing and inc obs it is 7k long as not a c sec, lindo wing however said to allow 10-14 depending on consultant.
I have heard good things about Barnet so going to look there and Watford

First of all, just because your friends have had bad experiences, doesn't mean you will.

I don't know how anxious you are, but if its becoming problematic and affecting you to the point that you end up having nightmares, please share this with your midwife. I am getting mental health support because of anxiety about birth and its been invaluable. It may or may not be appropriate in your case.

If you have particular concerns about pain relief, make a point of raising this ahead of the day. They may not take you seriously, but equally it may help your cause - it really depends on where you are. Some places will help you plan your birth and include this as a consideration ahead of time, which may be reassuring.

Also, it might be worth considering hiring a private midwife or doula to help you with this and to assert your wishes whilst you are in labour. It could be a much cheaper option for you.

You might want to give consideration to what happens in an emergency situation where you have to go to hospital unexpectedly/ or you go into labour in the middle of rush hour. Does this still make the Lindo a viable option to you? Be realistic and honest with yourself. (There's no right answer here and other people may feel differently, but its pointless creating an additional worry for yourself)

I take it that, you wouldn't consider a home birth, from the direction and tone of your posts. Is this right?

In terms of post natal care, it might be worth having a think about going with private rooms rather than completely private care. Some places allow visitors to stay and this could help you cope if post natal care wasn't as good as it should be.

There isn't a right answer here, but you do have a lot of options. Perhaps more than you think. Really have a think about THE most important issues to YOU, rather than let someone else put words into your mouth.

I am with BUPA on an extremely high level of cover, and they do not pay for maternity.
I am going private anyway at the Westminster Suite at St Thomas's which will come in at around £15k all in.
Should I need a c-section then BUPA would pay for the surgery, ie around £5 or 6k. I would be liable for everything else.

Thanks I'm not actually nervous about the birth I think in just overly anxious ATM given it's my first and this is all very new and overwhelming.
All the above has been really helpful so thank you all x

Arm yourself with knowledge and don't be afraid to ask questions. Know your rights and don't necessarily take what you are told at face value. Its ok to say no and assert yourself.

And get yourself on the ante-natal section, as you'll find like minded women going through the same thing at the same time as you, asking all the same questions and having similar anxieties.

Go and talk to your local hospital!
My local one gives a talk on pain relief from an anaesthetist as part of its labour preparation, and is very happy to give the pain relief you need.
In my last I even used gas and air ( the only thing there was time for in a very fast delivery) and it was surprisingly good.
It sounds like your friends aren't the kind you need in pregnancy. Horror stories aren't what you need right now.

I agree that going to look round your local hospital is a good idea - they will do tours and you might be pleasantly surprised!

I don't live in London but I had my DS in an Nhs hospital (and am 27 weeks with number 2 whom I will have in the same hospital) and I couldn't fault it - I had an epidural when I needed one and the after care (private room without paying for it - all of the beds were in private rooms) was excellent.

Hello All! I really wanted to add to this as in lots of ways I feel absolutely the same although I believe very strongly in the NHS and anyway don't have private insurance and certainly couldn't afford a fully private birth. I'm 12 weeks pregnant with my first child and have been extremely anxious about the birth which is kinda ridiculous when it's a little while away.

I've been unpacking what it is that's making me anxious and I think it boils down to a couple of key areas; 1. control 2. having my 'voice heard' - this is especially frightening to me because I have an idea that on a busy labour ward this might be difficult and 3. severe damage post birth.

In a weird way I have come to the conclusion that I would either be happiest with a natural home birth or an elective caesarian - and of course these are two ends of the scale, no intervention vs complete intervention but what these two approaches have in common is control.

As I'm not a private patient it's very unlikely that a ECS is on the cards and despite how much I might want to stamp my feet and say 'I want one', anecdotal evidence seems to say that it really might not be the best option.

So, I'm considering a private midwife lead home birth. It's a lot of money - £3,000 - but I feel that with the support that I would have throughout the pregnancy and beyond I can the best chance of the sort of experience I would like - with the least mechanical intervention which is, I think (hope!!) going to reduce the chances of the damage that I fear the most. I'm also looking into how to best prepare myself later in pregnancy physically to help, I hope, make things easier.

There's a lot to think about before DH and I make this decision (he's very nervous of a home birth) but, I wanted to add to this thread because my original thought when I got pregnant was 'I absolutely HAVE to go private somehow so I can have an ECS' to be point where it made me hyper ventilate and I'm now moving away from that.

I should also say that my GP and NHS midwife have been really dismissive of my worries ("of course you can give birth, it's natural") which is why I'm thinking of opting for a private midwife - but I'm working through most of my fears / worries via a LOT of online research.

I would try and step back and look at what it is exactly what bit of the whole thing is freaking you out and work back from there.

Good luck and congratulations!

Loubylou8 if what you are most worried about are:1. control 2. having my 'voice heard' - this is especially frightening to me because I have an idea that on a busy labour ward this might be difficult and 3. severe damage post birth.
Well for 3, the best place to be is an NHS hospital, with all the specialists on site.
For 2 have you actually seen a labour ward? Delivery almost always occurs in a small room, and ideally you have 1:1 attention from a mid wife.
For 1 your options are limited with a home birth, as for example pain relief is limited to Gas and Air ( plus baths, tens machines etc.).

My birth plan was listened to very thoroughly for all 3 of my labours. DH was very good at his role of ensuring I was listened to.

Even if you plan a home birth, that may not be what you get. For my first there is no way I would have been able to have a home birth.
Labour is not predictable - I nearly had a surprise home birth with my 3rd, and would have if we hadn't lived so close to the hospital ( and we blue lighted our way there).

Hello. I used The Birth Team based in Watford with consulting rooms in Bushy. I'm East Herts.

Fabulous. Just fabulous. Worth every penny and all anti natal and delivery, private ward etc totalled only 8.5K

A serene and calm birth despite potentially complications. These were addressed immediately. No panic wondering where the hell the consultant was.

It was midwife lead though. Best of both worlds.

Katiebeau- which consultant were you under? I am considering boret.

The Birth Team is run by Mr Sheridan. The Birth Team have a website you can check out.

And in Watford there is the Katherine Ward which is the private maternity ward.

Mummytime, the statistics don't support your point about 3. Women have better outcomes away from consultant led environments. Have a look at the Place of Birth study.

Unless you already have health insurance it's extremely unlikely that you will get cover now, as your pregnancy will count as a 'pre-existing condition' that they can exclude cover for. Also, unless it's an international policy like a previous poster's, probably the best you can get is coverage for complications of pregnancy or a medically-required caesarean. I had the latter, fully covered by AXA, at the Lindo. I think if I'd paid for it myself, the bill would have been about £12-£13000. And, FWIW, one of the midwives there tried to withhold post-natal pain relief from me (I waited till she left and then asked another one).

There are horror stories at every hospital, especially in London, where maternity services are understaffed and under a great deal of pressure.

When considering where to give birth it's important to decide what you want out of the birth past the obvious of healthy mum and baby. I study has just come out of Australia that said low risks women and babies are more likely to have poorer outcomes in a private hospital. Australia is obviously different to the UK has there is a much higher rate of private hospital birth and significantly less provision for home birth (public or private). the study eurochick mentions is worth looking at, as is the which birth choice website.

people love to tell horror stories about birth so it might be worth searching out some positive ones related to your area. There are 4 positive birth groups in your area. These groups share positive stories but can also help you navigate the birthing "system" in your area.

As Hazchem says it is worth reading up. I was when I discovered the local (very snooty/celeb) BUPA hospital had very high stats for interventions/corrective surgery needed after birth... and infections of all things! And yet people saved to go there because it was 'private'. In some ways it is like private schooling: the best state provision can be better than the worse end of the private sector, you can't just assume private is better without reading up thoroughly.

I spoke to my GP about being attached to a larger teaching hospital on the NHS, which has better facilities etc' than my local hospital and treats my blood condition (so I 'know it'). She was fine about arranging this! Apparently you can request your hospital (within reasonable distance) on the NHS so this may be something to consider?