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Pregnancy

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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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unlucky83 · 14/06/2015 21:07

I was going to say might not be all its cracked up to be...
I got put temporarily in a side room when pregnant - (think they were checking me out for diabetes or something) -they took blood and urine and said they'd be back with the results when they had them ....4 hrs later I was still sat there -no-one had been to see me, absolutely starving, bored mindless when the 'dinner lady' (can't remember their correct name!) put her head round the door and asked me if I wanted any food ...I said I did if I was allowed. They went off to ask and the next thing I know a nurse came and said sorry I'd been forgotten, they were chasing my results...but best not to eat anything just then. 2 hours later I was ready to gnaw my arm off (Actually almost in tears) so I went to ask what was happening - yep I'd been forgotten again - all results were fine and I could have left hours ago! At least on a ward I'd been a visual reminder to them ...and I might have had someone to talk to...or at least could have done some people watching.
I was in a bay of 4 for both mine after birth ...actually did most of my labour on the ward for DD1 (got a space in a labour suite when I was 9cm dilated) DD1 in for a few days was a bit of a nightmare -mainly people ignoring the max number visitors - the next bed to me had about 10 visitors for hours -they kept being told to go and coming back .
DD2 fine but I was out within 12 hrs -would have been even quicker but waiting for them to check over DD2....

BikeRunSki · 14/06/2015 23:39

So how does it work if the private rooms are all full, including someone without a medical need but who has paid for it, and then someone else comes along with a medical need? Does the paying person get moved out?

Bluepetra · 15/06/2015 00:15

I had a private room which we had to pay for per night, I'm going to do it again this time. It is quiet and private, suited me.

Wittynewnameifonly · 15/06/2015 00:22

I had a few nights on the ward then about 3-4 nights in a private room. DS was losing weight and screaming 24/7, I was not doing well after a crash section with infected wound and was getting very upset seeing so many people come in and go out again so quickly when I was still there.

I thought it would be great but I hated it really. Being able to sleep was great but I felt very lonely, not cared for and forgotten. I wouldn't do it again to be honest and didn't for DC2 (but was also not as unwell that time). We even said if the health insurance would pay we didn't want one again.

It's the lack of people just checking you're ok and feeling cared for that I really missed when feeling vulnerable anyway.

Brambles35 · 15/06/2015 04:58

If you or your DP have a job that can possibly put you at risk you can ask for a side room. My DH is a policeman and there was a family that was 'well known' to him there so for security I was given a side room. I think it applies to solicitors, police, etc etc. my hospital also told me that most of the side rooms were given to 'overseas' mums because they hadn't had the MRSA swabs taken that everyone else has had so the rooms are used as a kind of quarantine to protect everyone else.

tiggy2610 · 15/06/2015 06:24

I spent a week in a private room as DS arrived at 36 weeks and was severely jaundice following a very brutal forceps delivery. We spent 6 days in a phototherapy incubator which was simply too big for the ward. The midwives and HCAs were brilliant and we were checked on regularly, mind you poor DS was having blood tests regularly and paediatricians were coming and going at all hours. The couple in the private room next door were placed in there following an emergency section which left her daughter in the SCBU.

I always thought private rooms were for those who medically needed them, it never would have occurred to me to 'kick up a fuss' and I hate to say it but I would judge someone for doing so without having a pretty good reason.

MrsCampbellBlack · 15/06/2015 06:30

I agree with what the majority have said. After all my c-sections I had to be in a small room of 4 women for the first night as it was nearest the nurses and you need more monitoring.

After my 2nd - I was then moved to a private room the next day but my baby was in NICU.

I don't actually think there was the option to pay it was just used for those that 'needed' it most.

TrojanWhore · 15/06/2015 06:38

Either you pay (if your hospital offers pay beds).

Or they're allocated by need.

The usual pecking order is roughly: baby stillborn, baby in serious condition in ICU, supermultiples, other complications, twins, others.

WaxyBean · 15/06/2015 06:43

Pay for it. Or have a baby in neonatal and sympathetic midwives.

VivaLeBeaver · 15/06/2015 06:44

You ask nicely and say you're happy to pay.

ARV1981 · 15/06/2015 07:02

I think you have to have complications. My sister had a stillborn baby girl three years ago, and it would have been even worse if she'd not been allowed a private room because someone had kicked up a fuss or paid for it and got priority.

Why not have your baby at home? Then you get the private room anyway!

Good luck with the birth - I mean this sincerely, I genuinely hope you have no reason to need a private room. Xxx

ShadowFire · 15/06/2015 07:06

I got a private room with both DC.

DS1 - 6 weeks early and in SCBU, also I assume the midwives thought it would be kinder to put me in a private room away from other mum's with healthy babies next to them.

DS2 - in a shared ward the first night, then he had to get phototherapy for jaundice, so they moved us into a private room to avoid disturbing the others on the ward. The sunbed they used for DS2 wasn't any bigger than a normal hospital crib, so would have fitted on the ward.

I didn't have a cs, but women I know who've had c-sections at that hospital have said that they like to put women who've had c-sections on shared. wards because it's easier to keep an eye on them.

ShadowFire · 15/06/2015 07:10

ARV - OP's having a planned c-section. They only do those in hospitals.

ARV1981 · 15/06/2015 07:11

Oh, sorry. Course!

cherrytree63 · 15/06/2015 07:23

I work on a maternity unit. The private section is on a different floor, and you can't just have a postnatal bed there, you need to have the full antenatal package unless there are very exceptional circumstances.
On the PNW there are only 5 private side rooms, and they are used for mothers of SCBU babies, anyone infectious or for safeguarding reasons. If the ward is full they will use the rooms until a bed in a bay becomes free.
There are separate rooms on the labour ward for still births.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 15/06/2015 09:19

BikeRunSki at the hospital I was at last time if you'd paid but someone else needed it you'd be bumped out. I think one of the 'kick up a fuss' types was due to have my room but couldn't because I was in it because of what the midwives said.

answersonapostcardplease · 15/06/2015 09:22

Just ask for one. I had one 2 out of 3 times. First birth didn't ask. I actually have 4 dcs but had one at home.

Be prepared to pay, although I was never actually charged!

neversleepagain · 15/06/2015 11:25

My twins were in special care, I was put in a side room. Seeing all the new mums with their babies in their fish bowls was pretty shitty considering mine weren't with me and were poorly. Not worth a side room.

TheEmpressofBlandings · 15/06/2015 11:30

Just ask for one. I had one after first birth because it was free and I asked (and also went up to ward at 4:30am so avoided disturbing everyone else). Also had one when dc3 was admitted with jaundice because of the incubator.

Bue · 15/06/2015 11:31

It really depends on the unit. Our postnatal ward is mainly single side rooms, but women who who have sections would not be allowed to use one on their first night post-surgery. They are allocated to the two-bedded rooms which are closest to the midwives' station as they need closer monitoring. Almost everyone else gets a single room though. I think our ward may be unusual in that respect!

Heels99 · 15/06/2015 11:34

i had one and it had an en suite, but I had twins, a c section and was unwell and had to have another operation. Had private room for four weeks.
The priorities fornicate rooms were people who had a sick baby, then people with twins or who were ill themselves.

PerspicaciaTick · 15/06/2015 11:38

I asked on my birth plan and got a room after both labours. No idea if it was on the basis of my request or medical need (but I wasn't a special case in anyway).

Heels99 · 15/06/2015 11:38

Fornicate????!!! Sorry, there was no fornicating in the private rooms!

Also, I didn't pay for mine

I wouldn't advice kicking up a fuss. That's not a great thing to do. Just politely ask.

MummyPiggy87 · 15/06/2015 11:50

Why is everyone repeating everyone constantly? Yes we all know that the OP will only be given a room if it's free and if someone else needs it then she'll have to leave.. Omg I think I have read this about a million times now!
OP I'm hoping for the same, after my emcs and going on the ward having no sleep (also a light sleeper) and the midwives barely even looked at us anyway so I don't really care if we get ignored again I'm sure we can cope without them. It would be so nice to have your own room for some peace and quiet and like you said bonding time without everyone else's noise. GL hope it goes well this time

Lauren83 · 15/06/2015 11:55

Not the same but I got a private room after my Gynae ops in 2013 as I have emetophobia- vomit phobia, I didn't ask for one but I was a crying mess before surgery at the thought of being sick afterwards or other patients being sick (first time in Hospital) It's really severe I spent thousands on therapy. I was on the same ward 2 weeks ago for a ERPC after ivf pregnancy loss and they remembered me as the vomit lady and gave me one again, they did say that if someone needed it more I had to vacate which of course was no problem at all I would of happily moved

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