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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Private birth in London - worth it?

51 replies

babybugmum · 18/02/2021 22:44

Would love to hear your experience if you've given birth at a private hospital in London - how did you find it? Would especially love to hear if you've also had a birth at an NHS hospital and how it compared?

For context, I'm currently expecting DC2 and gave birth to DC1 just over a year ago at an NHS hospital. It was quite a traumatic birth but the NHS were amazing... that is, until immediately after the birth. I was really distressed by my experience in the recovery room and postnatal ward, and the thought of that part scares me more than the birth.

DC1 will be 20 months when DC2 is due - we will have no family in the country and noone who knows DC1 well enough to look after him for long periods (goes to nursery but has never been looked after by anyone else other than DH and me).

I'm fully prepared that I might have DH with me only for the labour (we could get an emergency nanny) but then DH will need to go home to be with DC1 when I'm in postnatal. Can't have home birth due to previous PPH.

The thought of being alone in postnatal is really worrying me - last time, it was really chaotic and stressful, I wasn't mobile enough after labour to manage by myself and I felt I wasn't able to get help or support from nurses/MWs. The ward was packed like sardines and sweltering in winter. It was so unbearable that I fought to get discharged after the first night.

For that reason, I'm exploring the option of going private this time - funds aren't endless but we could afford it... although wondering whether it's worth it? Is the recovery/postnatal care any better than NHS, so I could get some support if DH is not there? Are there any other real benefits of going private (our NHS antenatal care has been great)?

Alternatively, any idea if I can hire someone to stay with me in the postnatal ward to help out, assuming our hospital's Covid rules allow? We don't have any friends who could leave their own kids, not sure if there are doulas/maternity nurses who offer this sort of service?

OP posts:

Sweetwindinmyhead · 18/02/2021 22:49

I did and I’ll pm you.

mynameiscalypso · 18/02/2021 22:50

I don't have direct experience but my concerns about being on a postnatal ward did make me consider going private with DS. In the end, I decided that the £20,000 I would have spent on it would be better spent on other things and spoke to my midwife instead. Because of the reasons for my anxiety, I was given a private room. It wasn't a matter of 'if there's one free, we'll give it you you' but they would have made one available under any circumstances (they didn't have to go to those lengths thankfully!). It still wasn't a great experience but I don't think it would have been any better in a private hospital to be honest. DH was there for some but not all of the time and I was very well looked after by the midwives.

Original poster

babybugmum · 18/02/2021 22:52

Thank you!!

OP posts:

everydaysablessing · 18/02/2021 22:52

Following

Verashat · 18/02/2021 22:53

I have had an nhs birth and private-it was the postnatal care that really made it worthwhile for me. I had the same consultant for ante natal care and he was just much more attentive the second time around.

What I liked was having my own room, scans when I wanted and a nursery nurse for the stay. I was in a week for my second baby, not sure if it’s worth it for a six hour stay. Tv, fridge, phone, my own bathroom.

Verashat · 18/02/2021 22:53

I was in a private wing of an nhs hospital.

merrymim · 18/02/2021 22:59

Some NHS hospitals let you book and pay for amenity rooms (single rooms) or go to a private ward for postnatal only. You might want to check that option out.

I think Queen Charlotte's is one of them.

JaneNorman · 18/02/2021 23:04

I’ve not given birth under the nhs but have absolutely no regrets about having paid for private maternity care.

I went to a private wing in a nhs hospital so no worries about access to all the specialist care that may have been required.

I felt well looked after at every stage. DC1 ended in a EMCS after a fairly traumatic labour. Having seen the same consultant at every pre natal appointment made a massive difference. DC2 was a ELCS so very different experience but the level of care was still hugely appreciated.

A big plus for me was not feeling rushed to leave, particularly the first time round as a new Mum who was absolutely clueless. My doctor gave me the option to stay in a second night which I gladly took. With DC2 I really wanted to get home ASAP, to be with DC1 and again they were able to help ensure that happened (obviously wouldn’t have met me if they had any concerns).

theconstantinoplegardener · 18/02/2021 23:04

If you decide to go private, OP, try to find a private wing of an NHS hospital. That way, you'll have the equipment and trained staff on site, if there is an emergency situation. In a stand-alone private hospital, if anything goes wrong they will call an ambulance and send you to the nearest NHS A&E, as they are not usually equipped to deal with such situations, and the delay whilst waiting for the ambulance can have serious consequences.

MarshaBradyo · 18/02/2021 23:04

You can pay for a private room in some. At King's you can.

JaneNorman · 18/02/2021 23:08

@MarshaBradyo

You can pay for a private room in some. At King's you can.

You are not guaranteed one though, only if one is available on the day.

Wishitsnows · 18/02/2021 23:10

I went private. Meant I was actually listened to I was in a private wing and did walk through the post natal wards. Buzzers going off being ignored and midvives constantly gathered in one area chatting and ignoring patients. So for post natal I would definitely recommend private.

Verashat · 18/02/2021 23:12

In non covid times the best bit is not having someone else’s hulking great husband hovering around near you. That was worth all the money to me, the privacy.

nocoolnamesleft · 18/02/2021 23:13

@theconstantinoplegardener

Almost word for word what I was going to post. The private hospitals really don't have the same back up for emergencies.

Atrixie · 18/02/2021 23:22

I have. It’s night and day, like a different world. I chose my consultant and I had the same guaranteed midwife, with a known back up throughout labour and had met her before. I was induced by having my waters broken and was given an epidural before they did it. I had a completely pain free labour with no wait for epidural top ups. The consultant stitched me up and repaired the damage done during labour by a previous doctor.

Having a private room and bathroom was a total pleasure, the food was excellent but most importantly the midwife staffing levels were excellent. They gave me excellent feeding support and came into me at least every 2 hours day and night to help me. No coincidence that this baby was the only one of my 3 EBF.

It was private on an NHS hospital. If you go down the Portland route they do have special care - it’s a level 1 unit, same as many NHS hospitals. They won’t let you deliver there if you are earlier than a certain date and if you need transfer to a higher level unit it’s all set up nicely to get you moved literally up the road.

Bells3032 · 19/02/2021 08:15

I've been erming and ahhing the same thing. The only thing putting me off is there's an NHS hospital less than 10 minutes from me whereas the private hospitals are probably about good 40 minute drive not in rush hour.

AdventureIsWaiting · 19/02/2021 08:30

Is there an option to give birth under NHS care, and then get transferred to a private ward for recovery? The reason I ask is that (per pp) private hospitals are just not as well-equipped as the NHS. I've also read This is going to hurt by Adam Kay (do not read this whilst pregnant!) and he talks about how he took some work on a private ward in London to make extra money whilst working as a junior doctor. His conclusion was that if you and baby are healthy, then it's fine, but if something goes wrong you want to be in a NHS wing to start with, as most of the staff available outside hours / around the main consultants are tired NHS junior doctors (or doctors that wouldn't necessarily get employment in the NHS) picking up extra shifts.

organised5 · 19/02/2021 08:30

I'm also wondering the same thing. My local hospital where I had DS1 has a private wing which I didn't know about last time. Your antenatal care is private then you give birth in the NHS maternity unit but with your own midwife and consultant, and then your postnatal care is on the private ward. It looks to be about £5000.

My only hesitation is that there is only one consultant obstetrician so you wouldn't have a choice, and I can't see much about him online.

Atrixie · 19/02/2021 09:01

Is there an option to give birth under NHS care, and then get transferred to a private ward for recovery?

That’s exactly why I didn’t have an NHS delivery. Nothing to do with the capabilities for the NHS staff. More wanting a guarantee that I wasn’t sharing them with other labouring mothers. I think if the unit is quiet and the staffing levels are good then no point having a private delivery. If you want a guarantee that you have one to one care then that’s where it comes into it’s own.

Bells3032 · 19/02/2021 13:00

@AdventureIsWaiting some hospitals allow you to pay for a private room but only if they are available and the private patients get priority. you also will only get the NHS level care rather than someone checking on you constantly.

Bar the Portland most private maternity are in the same hospital as the top neonatal units in the country - St Thomas, Queen Charlotte and the Lindo wing. If there's a problem your baby will be treated in these centres the same as if they were born NHS.

FormulaMartini · 19/02/2021 14:19

They have the backup, but the backup is the NHS!

From a peace-of-mind perspective, Id want to be close to NHS facilities; but oh, the food in private!

ScarfaceCwaw · 19/02/2021 14:24

You can have an NHS birth and then pay for a private postnatal ward stay. I did at Queen Charlotte's and it cost me the princely sum of £600. Worth every fucking penny, the post birth period was like a little babymoon instead of the ordeal that the NHS postnatal was with my first. A big double bed, a door that closed, our own bathroom, nice food, and the midwives took the baby overnight between feeds.

ScottishDiblet · 19/02/2021 14:35

I would DEFINITELY have a private birth (in an NHS hospital) if I was to ever give birth again. Last time I was able to spend a night in the private wing in St Thomas’s Hospital post-natally and it was a life saver. I was lucky they had space. It was worth every penny.

Twizbe · 19/02/2021 14:41

I looked into private. What put me off was the distance from home (I live in London) I have quick labours. With my second in particular, if I'd gone private I'd have given birth in the car.

Most NHS hospitals have private rooms for post natal. Depending on your birth you might get put in these anyway.

You could look into a doula. I'm not sure about currently with covid rules, but a doula can be with you after baby as much or as little as you need.

Your second birth could be totally different to your first as well. My second was super quick, lovely water birth and I was able to go home 4 hours after birth.

Original poster

babybugmum · 19/02/2021 19:08

Thanks everyone for the really helpful insights, lots to think about although definitely feeling very swayed towards private though I must also have a look around for other NHS hospitals with private rooms that are within reasonable distance of us...

Bells we are in the same boat too, our NHS hospital is a handy 10 mins away whereas the nearest private ones (Portland or Lindo) are 30-40 mins drive. Wouldn't have made a difference DC1 who took aaaages, but like Twizbe said our MW did mention second births can be totally different and often shoot out much quicker! I hope so anyway

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