Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 15/06/2015 12:02

Probably MummyPiggy, because hospitals differ from place to place. Each poster is saying how rooms would be allocated at the hospital they gave birth in surely Confused.

OP, definitely check whether private (as in paid for) rooms are even available at your hospital before you ask for one won't you? If you just say "I'd really like a single room & I'm willing to pay for it" the midwife might think you're trying to bribe her Grin.

Where I had my DCs, there are two maternity wards with 4 single rooms on each ward (along with 4 bays of 6 on each ward). None of the single rooms are available on a private paying basis. They are all purely allocated on need - but if no-one needs them more, a patient recovering from a C-section would generally be given one.

I spent way too much time 'on the ward' before & after both DS1 & DD were born, so got quite familiar with working out who goes where Smile.

All the best for your delivery.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 15/06/2015 12:04

What a way to be greeted Lauren83 - "oh it's you. The vomit lady." Grin.

Ludways · 15/06/2015 12:08

I might add to anyone who thinks less of me for kicking up a fuss, my breakdown was not to get a room, I didn't know it was possible, I merely had a breakdown and they felt sorry for me and they gave me a room. I was not going to turn it down.

BeautifulLiar · 15/06/2015 12:15

Can I ask something?

When I went in for my induction I was put in my own room, whereas all the other women were on a ward.

I had started out on the ward, then my mum went and chatted to the midwives, and I was all of a sudden in my own room.

Why? Did my mum pay without me knowing?? Or do you always get your own room if you have a pessary in?

Thanks.

cunchofbunts · 15/06/2015 12:27

No idea but you don't get given a private room for a pessary. I certainly didn't!

I also didn't get a private room after a 24 hour labour, EMCS, DD born with leg bent back the wrong way at the knee, infection, urinary retention and emergency catheterisation and a week on a shared ward where the other women told me to shut up when I cried. Sad

rallytog1 · 15/06/2015 12:44

I think it depends on the hospital liar - I had a private room at all times of my induction, but others don't. It'll depend on how your labour ward is set up.

Micah · 15/06/2015 12:51

Liar it was likely your mum asked, or paid, or whatever the hospital protocol is.

My mum did it too, only I refused to move :). She had some misguided notion that private was "better" and he pfb should be in a common ward with other people. I think she also thought that private room = better treatment.

She is very hyacinth bucket though :).

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 15/06/2015 13:01

Just ask. Nicely. And ask again when the shift changes.

Just explain that you are a very light sleeper but arent comfortable using ear plugs with a new born beside you in a cot. You'll be going home to deal with a toddler too so if theres any opportunity to catch some sleep while the baby sleeps, you'd really appreciate a quiet corner of a ward or a private room if there are no emergencies.
You catch more bees with honey and the staff are only human. Can't hurt to pack cake too. Grin

I sympathise, I really do as I left hospital 4 days after an EMCS literally cross eyed due to lack of sleep. Unless you are in a hospital with a reasonable proportion of private rooms it's unlikely though.

Anyway - I see your ELCS is today. Best of luck and hope you get some rest afterwards.

Original poster
DancingHat · 15/06/2015 13:08

Well I've not gone in yet so I'm all ears still!

There definitely are rooms but I don't know how many. I was in a middle bed on a six bed ward which sucked as I had noise on every side. I guess if you don't ask you don't get but will be polite about it. I have no particular 'need' other than c-section recovery, the light sleeping and yes a toddler at home! I can see there are far more worthy residents on this thread and given how many emergencies there have been this morning I reckon my chances are 0 anyway.

OP posts:
AmberLav · 15/06/2015 13:50

With DC1, I'd been to surgery to be fixed for a 3rd degree tear, and went on a shared ward after. The first night was fine, just me and another mum, and I slept most of the night (couldn't move becasue of the catheter!). The second night was bad, as the nice mum had left, and I got 3 new room mates, one of whom had twins who had to be fed every 3 hours, but instead of the midwives coming in quietly, the mum had to set her alarm for every 3 hours, press the buzzer, the midwife would come in shouting, "who needs me?!" waking everyone up. Plus there were loads more visitors that should be allowed, and the girl next to me was watching tv till 10.30pm without headphones, so I couldn't even nap when the bab was sleeping.

For DC2, she had a mystery infection, and they knew we'd be in for at least 5 days. When the midwife said she was going to arrange a bed, I politely asked if a private one might be available, and she said she was good friends with the midwife in charge upstairs. I was on the ward for the first 3 hours (I had no idea at that point if there was any chance of a private room) and then I was quietly asked to move, and it was to a private room. It was fab, and despite the multiple lumbar punctures and painful blood tests, it really gave me a good chance to bond, and sort bfing. It wasn't perfect, as the door banged loudly everytime the staff came in, etc, but it was so much better than that awful second night on the shared ward...

Just be nice to everyone you meet, and as soon as they mention arranging a bed, ask very politely then...

My main issue with the shared ward was the management by the staff, as it could have been better if common sense was used, and the rules followed...

BeautifulLiar · 15/06/2015 13:52

My mum did work at the hospital, though not in maternity.

She's not an nice woman, so I'm shocked to think she might have paid for a private room!!

When I first got to the ward I burst into tears because I was the only one there without a partner (i was 19 and the baby's dad wasn't interested). Maybe that's why she asked. Hmm.

Lauren83 · 15/06/2015 19:09

Santas you wouldnt believe how many people say to me 'I threw up last night and thought of you' Shock

Original poster
DancingHat · 15/06/2015 21:04

I decided against asking when the corner bay with a window became free about an hour after I arrived and was as good as a private room because of the light, the extra space and the quiet people in the next bay.
Thanks for all your advice though. I'm so happy with how it went and I love the space I've got. My DD is absolutely gorgeous of course!

OP posts:
MrsCampbellBlack · 15/06/2015 21:14

Oh many congratulations Dancing Smile

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 15/06/2015 21:16

Congratulations, and good news on the corner bay

LostMySocks · 15/06/2015 23:14

I was transferred to private room with en suite as DS's midwife called in with whooping cough and they wanted him away from other babies just in case. I'd had the jab and all was well. It was great for visitors, good for sleep but lonely and easy to be forgotten

Original poster
DancingHat · 16/06/2015 01:26

Turns out baby in next bay was quiet during the day... and has barely stopped crying tonight. And mum has her bright overhead light on for some reason which I can't imagine is conducive to little one sleeping. Sad

DD was sleeping like an angel so I had to wake her for her feed after 3 hours because I was awake due to next door. Won't be doing that when I'm back home!

OP posts:
JinglyJanglyJungleBigGameTours · 16/06/2015 05:32

Congrats on your DD! Flowers

Hope you managed to get some sleep!

dynevoran · 16/06/2015 06:01

Just ask nicely and state you are prepared to pay the charges and to move if someone needs it more.

I had one both times. Both long messy inductions resulting in baby being dragged out by doctors. First time was only for two days, second ds needed iv antibiotics for a week due to infection so was a lot longer. It does isolate you a bit but after being wheeled onto postnatal 14 hours after c section and having ds2 taken immediately for a lumbar puncture and being on a ward where partners were allowed to stay, I didn't fancy sitting semi-naked trying to breastfeed opposite the husband and brother of the lady opposite me.

I think on reflection for ds1 I could easily have done without it but for ds2 I really would have emotionally crumbled if there had been none free. A week there without sleep and privacy is a bigger deal than a couple of days.

ShadowFire · 16/06/2015 08:18

If it's any consolation, the private rooms I was in had really thin walls, so if a baby in the room / ward had been crying non-stop all night, I'd have heard it pretty well.

Hope you managed to get some rest later in the night.

Original poster
DancingHat · 16/06/2015 08:39

Thanks. I got a few hours 5-7.30. I feel for his mum though. It's relentless Sad

When I went to the loo in the early hours there was a baby wailing in one of the private rooms so yes not necessarily respite there!

OP posts:
AbbeyRoadCrossing · 16/06/2015 08:51

When I read these threads I realise I must've been one of the mums annoying everyone else as DS screamed for most of the week+ we were in. He was premature and not very well though and had an emcs and was connected to blood and a drip so struggled to get him out of the cot. Although I don't feel too bad as we couldn't help it but the male partners watching TV on iPads really loudly and arguing could help it. Ah....it's all to look forward to with DC2!
Hoping you get discharged soon OP

jazzandh · 16/06/2015 09:04

Just ask as soon as you book in. They will let you have one if available.

I had one twice after c-sections, yes you get forgotten a bit, but that didn't bother me.

I tucked DS2 in the bed with me, and just BF him as soon as he made a noise, so I didn't need any more assistance than neccessary.

AmberLav · 16/06/2015 10:36

Congratulations on your daughter!

That is the problem with a shared ward, one day is fine, then the next day can be horrendous - I really don't mind the babies, chances are at some point your baby will be wailing; it was the adults and the staff who wound me up!

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 16/06/2015 13:11

Huge congrats OP ! Glad it all went well and a private room is just a longed for luxury rather than a necessity.

My ward was like watching Jeremy Kyle on occasion Shock
A random woman wandered in during visiting hours and pretended to use the phone in an empty bay. When a nurse turned up and asked to her leave another completely random visitor to the bed next door weighed in and gave the nurse a total bollocking. "We pay your salary, you can't tell us what to do" etc etc. Nice ! The nurse didn't know where to look, the random woman ran off and the visitor sat down again and made loud comments about little Hitlers for the next hour. It was bizarre. The nurse turned up when she was gone and apologised for the scene saying that there had been stuff stolen by "pretend visitors" so they'd been told to ask people to go if they weren't with anyone. We felt so sorry for her - we'd all been so taken aback at the vitriol from the female visitor that none of us had told her to do one and STFU.

The lack of sleep is a killer. I could have cheerfully murdered the cleaning staff who would turn up and loudly empty bins about an hour before nursing staff turned up with meds.