Has anyone had a private room in an NHS hospital after birth?

[cantthinkofaname2021]

Hello,

I have a c section provisionally booked for June but they might bring it forward slightly, I want to book a private room for until I can go home but can't book just yet until my date is confirmed
For anyone who has paid for a room, what was it like? Especially during covid, can you have people with you there longer than ina ward? After my last birth (vaginal) the experience on the ward after was horrible and I asked to leave early which luckily I could

Does any other Western country subject women to these horrible wards after they've had a baby?

I didn't realise private rooms weren't standard I had planned sections in 2018 and 2019 and both were private ensuite rooms with showers and chair for dad. This was just my local NHS hospital. Feel sorry for those that don't have that privacy after, must be awful.

I’ve requested one twice - think £200 a night is the cost at my hosp - but neither time was one available. It’s a testament to the horror of my hospital’s postnatal ward that I would have paid significantly higher than that! They’re very variable though. Some trusts I think all women have private rooms for birth recovery. Good luck!

@osbertthesyrianhamster agreed. I am still traumatised from my experience. Talking, crying babies the whole night, people on phones the whole time, tons of visitors. No chance to rest, breastfeed in peace or sleep!! Will definitely pay for a private room this time.

My friend in Italy shared a room with one lady, they had a lovely breakfast buffet. Everyone stays 4-5 nights anf she went home well rested.
I went home after 30 hours shattered.

I did. Could have paid for it but we chose not to - they did tell us the private rooms were usually occupied and if you were given one "it would be for a reason you would not want." We got one after a day on the postnatal ward because DD was in SCBU. I was struggling anyway but when the fucking Bounty woman breezed in and said "oh, where's your baby?" And I said she was in intensive care and she backed out like I was a leper, I began to sob and couldn't stop. Fortunately, although I had been very unwell after the birth, I recovered quickly (you can't be in a private room if you are very unwell) and I was swiftly moved to a private room. It was great, really, gave me a chance to sort myself out emotionally and we were in for a week so it helped a lot to have a bit of space. I did, sometimes, feel a bit abandoned, mind you.

Yes I paid for a private room first time round but probably would have been given one anyway as I was so ill. I was in it for ten days. When I was readmitted a few days later I went straight back to the same room - apparently readmissions always get a private room due to infection risk. I am very grateful. Wards are not for me.

I had a private room with all of mine because of c-section. I want allowed anyone to stay overnight though or for longer than visiting hours.

[quote AdriannaP]@osbertthesyrianhamster agreed. I am still traumatised from my experience. Talking, crying babies the whole night, people on phones the whole time, tons of visitors. No chance to rest, breastfeed in peace or sleep!! Will definitely pay for a private room this time.

My friend in Italy shared a room with one lady, they had a lovely breakfast buffet. Everyone stays 4-5 nights anf she went home well rested.
I went home after 30 hours shattered.[/quote]
And so many women put the baby on formula just to get out of those horrible wards.

For both my kids I had private consultant care and a private room. I have nothing to compare it to but it was excellent. Second birth was late October so covid was still raging. I was also a bit worried about rushing home to a hyper toddler so paid for four nights. Didn't want to leave. It was £470 per night or thereabouts

Oh no, now I'm getting more worried! Last time on the ward was horrible, people talking so loudly on their phones and the person next to me was making racist remarks about my inlaws and husband, hence I asked to leave. I was too scared to leave the baby to go for a wee, my first wee was 950ml I'd been holding it in that long 😂 My first shower after birth someone was banging on the door shouting "hurry the eff up", I was so shocked this is what happens after I'd had a traumatic birth and Labour for 50 hours 🥴 I think I slept for about 1 hour there, I'm really desperate for the privacy and I feel like I'd want it even more after c section I'd feel more vulnerable. I understand that you couldn't have visitors longer than the ward though
Yes I've heard how amazing it is in France after birth!

And very luckily breastfeeding went very smoothly for me, I can't imagine how hard it would have been if it hadn't :(

@GingerScallop

For both my kids I had private consultant care and a private room. I have nothing to compare it to but it was excellent. Second birth was late October so covid was still raging. I was also a bit worried about rushing home to a hyper toddler so paid for four nights. Didn't want to leave. It was £470 per night or thereabouts

Thank you, was that a private hospital? I was under private care but got switched back to NHS when I became pregnant, but am under NHS consultant care right now

I did, both times. With my most recent child, covid rules applied the same as the rest of the ward, so dh was not allowed to stay over, and older DC not allowed on the ward at all.

My local maternity doesn't have the option to pay for a room. If there's one you might get it, if you need one for a clinical reason then you might get one. My son was taken to neo natal after birth and I was put in a bay with other mums who had neo natal babies. When my son was back with me after 2 nights we were put in a bay with mums and babies

I had a private room as my baby was in intensive care for several days, so they moved me off the postnatal ward.

They said it was standard to move mums whose babies couldn’t be with them as it would be upsetting for them to be around other mums and babies.

You can’t have people with you longer just because you have a private room. I wasn’t even allowed any visitors and DH had to leave after the birth.

I think those wards lead to so much PND and poor breastfeeding rates and end up causing the NHS a fortune but hey, it's women so nothing will change. The 'new' hospital in Glasgow, the one unit that was still a ward (outside ICU and HDU) - postnatal, of course.

Yes but I didn’t pay. I found the whole experience very stressful and panic attack-inducing and I think they thought I’d take DD and leave if they didn’t let DH stay overnight. So they gave me a private room with en suite and he stayed, tbh I’d have paid if I’d had to, I was in a really awful state, mentally.

I did as my second went straight to NICU. They luckily let me stay in the room until we were both discharged a week later x

@KFleming

Yes but I didn’t pay. I found the whole experience very stressful and panic attack-inducing and I think they thought I’d take DD and leave if they didn’t let DH stay overnight. So they gave me a private room with en suite and he stayed, tbh I’d have paid if I’d had to, I was in a really awful state, mentally.

So yes, for me it did allow DH to stay longer. Partners couldn’t stay overnight in the ward but could in the private room, basically as long as they didn’t leave eg he wasn’t allowed to go to the breakfast room to pick up food for me because of the other women who’d be there (which is obviously totally fine and understandable).

I did for DD2. DH was able to stay with me 24 hours but went home to see DD1. After baby was born I was really poorly, so I was glad he was there to help me. Plus, it was a lot less noisy than the ward!

I would love to pay for a private room after my upcoming c section
As I believe the postnatal ward and the bits that happened after birth last time effected me more than I thought
Have struggled with my mental health this pregnancy near panic attacks and was adamant I wasn't giving birth at all at one point
I do wonder if it's trauma from the aftermath
I think the thought of getting turfed out in the middle of the night (rightly) for a more medical need would probably break me so
As soon as I can walk and baby is okay I'll be self discharging
I'm more stressed about after baby is born on the ward and being in hospital than I am about being cut open and a baby removed

Yes, £100 per night. They didn’t enforce the rules about visitor numbers or hours, likely because they’re there to stop you bothering others on the ward.
However, had my second baby last month and the rooms were reserved for those with covid issues (positive or waiting for test results).

@99redspottedducks

I would love to pay for a private room after my upcoming c section As I believe the postnatal ward and the bits that happened after birth last time effected me more than I thought Have struggled with my mental health this pregnancy near panic attacks and was adamant I wasn't giving birth at all at one point I do wonder if it's trauma from the aftermath I think the thought of getting turfed out in the middle of the night (rightly) for a more medical need would probably break me so As soon as I can walk and baby is okay I'll be self discharging I'm more stressed about after baby is born on the ward and being in hospital than I am about being cut open and a baby removed

Oh no, this is how I feel too :(

I had DS2 ( now aged 21) in Glasgow and was given my own room afterwards. Didn’t cost me anything, no special treatment or additional visitors etc but the privacy and ( relative) peace and quiet was marvellous. I had a bad experience with DD1 in a nightingale ward for 5 nights so I think they felt sorry for me.

The rules are the same and you can't guarantee the room as they will have to prioritize a infectious/ baby in NNU/ Baby died etc mum over you.
Also 1st night post c-sec you need to be visible on open ward for your safety.
But yes it is nice to have your own room I got one after mine as I'm staff.