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Original poster

How to get a private room after giving birth

114 replies

DancingHat · 14/06/2015 17:27

I'm having a planned c-section tomorrow and after last time I'd really like a side room/private room. I only know one person who got one and her DH kicked up a fuss to get it. My DH isn't the type so just wondered how they got allocated and how I go about requesting and getting one?

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Iloveonionchutney · 14/06/2015 17:28

Not all hospitals have one, but usually you have to pay for a private room i think unless there is some medical reason for it.

WorldsBiggestGrotbag · 14/06/2015 17:29

Generally you pay for one

TinyMonkey · 14/06/2015 17:29

I don't know about your hospital, but mine actively discouraged me from being in a side room the night after my elcs due to observation reasons. I did ask

SunnySomer · 14/06/2015 17:30

I had a seizure during labour and got one, but that isn't an approach I'd recommend.....

TurnOverTheTv · 14/06/2015 17:32

They might not have one, if they do, you normally have to pay.

NashvilleQueen · 14/06/2015 17:33

I have just been in hospital for a few days (hysterectomy so within a women's unit) and, to be honest, I wouldn't have liked being on my own. I enjoyed the fact that there were other women to talk to as the days do drag a bit between visitors. I appreciate that it wasn't great for you last time but that may not be the case again. There were empty private rooms in the unit and I don't know what criteria they used for allocating them. Maybe people just assume your not allowed to ask! Good luck anyway.

OddBoots · 14/06/2015 17:35

Side rooms tend to be allocated on the basis of need first and want second and it will depend how many your particular hospital has, you are not likely to get one the first night because they like to keep women who have had sections where they can be more easily monitored, there is no harm in asking but don't set your heart on it.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 14/06/2015 17:35

They usually don't let you for the first night after a section as they need to observe you and help you with the baby if you're immobile.
Some hospitals let you pay for one but many will bump you if someone is in need of it so no guarantee.
I'd check your hospital's policy. Mine recently changed it based on need rather than who can pay. The midwife said still births get priority, then those separated from their baby (in nicu / scbu), then those that have had a hard time of it etc. A much better system I think. I don't think kicking up a stink is a good idea unless you're in genuine need as others might have a greater need.
I agree the ward is not fun though!

VashtaNerada · 14/06/2015 17:36

At my hospital you can pay if it's free. Got it first time round, was already occupied with DC2. Tbh there's pluses and minuses of each.

CoffeeTwo · 14/06/2015 17:39

I had a private room after birth because my son had jaundice and needed to be in the light incubator. After 2 days on the maternity ward I was looking forward to it but it was actually dreadful. We were very much forgotten about and on our own for hours at a time. I normally like being on my own but found it quite a lonely and scary experience. I'll be hoping to be on the ward this time.

rallytog1 · 14/06/2015 17:39

I was injured by a surgical error and so they were pretty much falling over themselves to give me whatever I wanted. As a pp said though, not a recommended route to getting one.

Best thing to do is just ask - and be willing to pay.

JinglyJanglyJungleBigGameTours · 14/06/2015 17:40

I was struggling to establish breastfeeding and the other women on my ward were bottle feeding and had lots and lots visitors constantly so I was moved into a side room so I'd have more privacy. I didn't ask though, they just moved me.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 14/06/2015 17:45

I should've said, I got moved after the first 2 nights because I'd had a premature baby, emcs and a few blood transfusions. I also wouldn't recommend it.

Orangeisthenewbanana · 14/06/2015 17:46

All you can do is ask - and hope that one is available. You have nothing to lose. As pp's have said, they are usually allocated based on need. Some hospitals have private rooms you can pay for, but again medical need for someone else would likely trump that if needed.

As for kicking up a fuss - unless there is a justifiable reason such as those mentioned earlier, remember it's a hospital, not a hotel!

ChazzerChaser · 14/06/2015 17:49

My baby was in neonatal so I got one. Bit of an extreme strategy though.

Bakeoffcake · 14/06/2015 17:51

I had a 24 hour labour then an emergency csection and got a private room.

Maybe try that or decided to leave the private rooms for those who actually need them.

Thurlow · 14/06/2015 17:51

Our local one was pay if it's free too. However it seemed to be allocated on need, and as there were only two rooms out of 30-40 beds, I imagine it was mostly filled with patients with a need for it most of the time. Certainly I couldn't even get a bed in the NICU side ward the first night (with a baby in NICU) so I'd say as lovely as it would be to have a private room, it isn't something to plan for in a standard hospital.

Micah · 14/06/2015 17:51

Honestly, I wouldn't have wanted a side room. Like pp said, maternity wards are so under staffed, I felt far better being in the general path of staff, I could grab a hca as they went past rather than waiting for them to respond to a buzzer.

I think in a private room it'd be far easier to be forgotten about. On the ward they just routinely go round everyone.

DixieNormas · 14/06/2015 17:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Magicalmrmistofeles · 14/06/2015 17:52

I got one as my twins were in NICU. I don't think kicking up a fuss is the way to go either.

Jojobinx2005 · 14/06/2015 17:57

We just asked the Midwife after I gave birth to DS1 if there was a room free, although I knew we would have to pay for it as it had been mentioned at a NCT class. Didn't realise then that I would be there for 4 nights due to complications with blood loss, so it ended up costing nearly £400! Will be asking again when DC2 is born in October though, it was definately worth it as I could relax and sleep when DS1 slept without any other interruptions.

PercyGherkin · 14/06/2015 17:57

First time round, with DC1 in Neonatal unit, I was on a shared ward surrounded by other babies. Second time round, planned c-section, I went straight from recovery to a private room - no payment, no questions, no begging. Actually it was bliss to be alone with my baby. Only downside was that I had a nice view of the private ambulances collecting from the mortuary out of my window. Clearly from this thread every hospital is different and even hospitals can differ from time to time. No harm asking- they can only say no!

zombiemeow · 14/06/2015 18:06

I was in a private room for induction and postnatal when I had ds. I had private rooms as dd was stillborn 10 months previously so I was very emotional/scared so I didn't scare other patients!

I did not like it. It was very lonely, and I was regularly forgotten about, put in a complaint in the end as I was completely forgotten about when giving out pain relief.

Purplehonesty · 14/06/2015 18:20

In our hospital you automatically get one after a c section. Check this might be the case in yours.
I had the same room with both ds and dd so it was lovely! I really enjoyed the peace and quiet and snuggling down with my babies. I never buzzed for the midwives I just got on with it and even emptied my own catheter the first night. I really do like my own space though!
When I had visitors it was nice having a private room but we did go down to the day room too.

Original poster

DancingHat · 14/06/2015 18:24

I'm happy to pay to make things easier. I didn't get any sleep after my 24 hour labour and EMCS last time and I was rung out with sleep deprivation. I am such a light sleeper DH can't even face in my direction in our kingsized bed if I'm facing inwards as his breathing disturbs me. Yes I am lucky he doesn't snore (except when drunk )

There was a constant drone of expressing pumps on my ward last time and it was relentless. I also didn't chat to any of the other women as they had to be asked each day by the midwives to open their curtains or I'd have spent all day looking at lovely flowery curtains round every bed! Not friendly at all. And I quite like my own company

Having your meds forgotten is something I experienced on the ward so will be aware of that this time.

to those of you who got one because of trauma. Of course I'd be happy to give up my room for someone in greater need. I'd just quite like some peace and quiet to bond with number 2 like I didn't get the chance with number 1

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