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

Second this. I paid £1300 for two nights and it was definitely worth it. And I'd do it again

Absolutely. Every. Fucking. Penny. Also plenty of medical attention, if you needed it, due to dedicated midwives, no being forgotten. I got brought painkillers every 6 hours for my afterpains.

My time on an NHS ward with DS1 was a sleepless ordeal that I feel contributed to my subsequent PND. My time on the postnatal ward at QCCH was a peaceful little babymoon, just me, DH, and the baby.

Yep. Paid private for a room after each c section.

Definitely worth it .

I had a private room in a midwife-led birth centre attached to an NHS hospital. It was fantastic - even had a double bed so DH could stay with me, and we didn’t pay a thing. I wouldn’t have used a midwife-led unit if it hadn’t been a lift ride away from the normal labour ward, but in the circumstances it was absolutely brilliant. Might be worth looking into whether any hospitals near you have a similar set-up.

I think private rooms mean different things in different hospitals. I had my babies at Queen Charlottes where, as an NHS patient, you can request a private room with ensuite (on a separate private ward) on the day of delivery. Private patients get first priority for these rooms. They are super expensive though - cost an eye watering 650ish a night. Had my last baby by c-section in lockdown and decided to take a private room as I knew I would need help during the night (partners could only stay 7am -7pm on both NHS and private wards back then). I can honestly say it was amazing. Had a midwife and HCA on hand the whole night, from picking up baby to hand to me (hard to twist post section), to changing nappies and support with breastfeeding. They were willing to look after baby in their nursery if I wanted, and also helped me give baby it's first bath. I didn't have to wait for pain relief for over an hour like I did on the NHS ward and they actually helped me get up and walk post c-section (versus DIY and nearly fainting as per previous experience). There is a (limited) menu from which you and partner can choose meals too which was helpful. My recovery from this c-section was much faster than previous one (on post-natal NHS ward) because I actually got to rest so I would definitely recommend it despite the high price.

I think it'll depend on the covid situation. I've just given birth and the hospital has reserved all the private rooms for covid-positive patients and women having an induction (so their partners can stay with them before they get allocated a labour room). Even women with babies in NICU or those having phototherapy had to go on the ward.

To be honest, a bay was actually more tolerable this time, compared to my first birth. Very limited visiting means it's much quieter and it was nice to talk to the other women, to pass the time. Also, post c-section, the lady in the next bay helped to pass me things a few times before I was mobile, which was invaluable with no birth partners allowed and very overstretched midwives.

Nope and I would have paid good money for it but it wasn't an option pre covid too

I had a not great birth experience on the NHS at St Thomas's.

Paid for a very tiny private room at £950 a night (literally just for the room). Outrageous cost but I needed it by then for my mental health. Husband had a camp bed. Stayed 1 night and then discharged myself. I was mostly ignored which suited me!

Yes, I did. I requested one and was there for two nights but as it happens, I lost a lot of blood and almost had a transfusion. Not sure if that was the reason why and didn’t question it at the time.

We didn’t have to pay but went in prepared to. I was well worth the peace and quiet. Still couldn’t have DH outside of visiting hours though.

We had one for free when we had our first child (2019), I think because we had him in the midwife led birth centre. Oddly the labour ward was full but we were the only couple on the birth centre, but our son was born around 4 pm and we were given a private room with a midwife checking in on is and helping with feeding overnight. Hoping we get the same treatment for number 2 in October!

Yes I did after the birth of my twins. My husband paid for it.

I asked but it was taken. I had a planned section and left hospital just after 24 hours. I couldn't stand the post natal ward.

I got my own room after DD1 - emergency section and then she had to stay in NICU so I think they felt bad I was on the ward with the other mums and babies. It was faaaar superior to being on the ward like I was with DD2. Own bathroom, more peaceful (although staff still come and wake you up every 3 seconds to take obs or offer you tea) and yes they were a bit more relaxed re visiting hours I found. Also you don’t have to listen to other babies crying, other mothers sobbing, husbands’ inane conversations. If I had the option (and was going to have another one) I would definitely, definitely go for a private room.

I had one, but had a traumatic birth, was sedated in ICU for a while after and was very poorly, so think that's why. I never even saw the actual ward.

I've heard you can pay for one but again I think that'd be dependent on the trust and whether they're using private rooms to isolate covid positive mothers.

I had a private room. It’s v basic. You get woken up by the nurses coming in every couple of hours. DH could stay during certain hours but no bed for him to stay overnight. Far better than staying on a ward though. Definitely book it!

I was in at Kingston and didn’t book/ pay for one but had a private room for 2 nights. It was divine.

We paid for a private room, the ward looked dreadful and I wasn’t that keen on being around lots of people during COVID! My husband was allowed to stay as long as he wanted contrary to what other posters have said - the rooms have special armchairs that convert to single beds. It was £5 an hour.

I had one with both births, with either my mum or husband with me 24/7 as I was a known flight risk, due to having seizures and then in confused states escaping previous wards in the hospital to be found wandering the corridors. They couldn’t guarantee 1 2 1 midwife care, so it was deemed a necessary evil... although some midwives were shirty, probably as they thought my husband was pulling a fast one. Rarely saw the midwives, and didn’t meet any mums on the wards. Was in 3 night each due to antibiotics both times.

Yes the hospital I gave birth to my children are all private rooms

I did because I wanted the peace to sleep. It was just an en-suite side room. They never charged me for it.

I did after being v unwell after birth of my first. I didnt pay but I did not find it beneficial at all, if anything I felt forgotten about and ignored. If I had of been on the ward I may have had a better chance of flagging down several people for help with medication, however in a side room someone would appear, say they would get pain relief but yet never return. I refused a side room during covid with my second for this reason, I wanted to be seen incase I needed help

This has changed a great deal since I had my two now grown up children. From what I am reading on this thread not for the better.
Both of mine born by emergency c section in 1969 and 1972.Yes I am that old.In the hospital I was in, all mothers having c sections were given single rooms when possible, it was very rare not to get one.Then though c sections were not as many as today so you were treat as ''special''
on the ward I was in there were six single rooms al reserved for sections and difficult vaginal births or mothers who were ill or had had still births.
I was very ill after my first baby so was he and he was in special care baby ward.I was a bit better after the second one but he was also in special care as , like his brother had breathing problems at birth.
We were in for 10-12 days and as I had GA for both so very sleepy for first tw days and barely remember anything but got excellent care.
After a few days we were feeling loads better and once I got back on my feet I must say I was missing the company of other mothers so would often wander into the day room in-between feeds. At other times I was glad of the peace of my own room as could hear the constant crying of many babies.Saying this my DS2 could scream for England so I did not feel guilty that other mothers were not getting much sleep at night because of my son's vocal chords.Also caesarean mothers had their babies kept in the ward nursery the first week, only brought to you for breast feeding, I bottle fed DS2 so he was in the night nursery every night until the final two nights to prepare for going home.
All this was on the NHS no payment required .They took paying patients who got a single room as there was one private patient in the room next to me the first time.
What has happened to the once perfect NHS?.I think it is disgusting you have to pay to get peace and quiet now after having a baby.

3 times! Just ask and be prepared to pay, although I was never billed x

I had a private room with my second csection but didn't pay. One toilet for all four women and my son and i got an awful case of the shits 😂 it was really hard to get to the bathroom. It was really nice having my own room, the wards are pretty hellish. Me and DH still laugh about a couple next to us changing their newborns nappy and saying 'i can smell it but I can't see it!' Then DH said in a Roy walker voice 'if you see it, say it' catchphrase style. I thought my stitches were going to burst i was laughing so much.

I had one and it wasn't very nice, it was very overlooked from other hospital ward windows, it had massive windows, but opening into a central area of other windows. It didn't feel private. The blinds didn't work probably. It was a purely a long narrow room, off the ward. It didn't have its on toilet or shower. Although it was next to the ward toilet and they said I had to have the door open. That was the major thing for me. I had stayed longer in the labour ward, due to a complication from birth which meant I loss use of my leg due to the epidural, so I was actually only in my room for 8 hours.

Having your own shower, toilet is so lovely, thats would be ideal.

This was just pre Covid, early 2020, so I don't know how it's changed, but I did have my two parents, my DH and my older child visit so that was the only nice bit. They did say it was only 2 visitors at once like the ward. I found the ward hard with my first, but the private room didn't feel any better. I felt very on my own and isolated, despite the door being open I was never checked on apart from the people that did the order and brought the food.

Some of my issues are more as my DH isn't good at the support bit around my births incredibly selfish and has anxiety so very tiring for him and DS needed him at home, my parents were meant to be looking after him, but it wasn't ideal. Also a midwife upset me when I left my room to find someone carrying my DD, as pressing my buzzer go not response. I think it's a general thing in maternity wards that they don't like you carrying your baby, but I couldn't stop crying after she was so rude to me. I insisted I was going to stay the night in the room, despite having had the leg issues, which slowly resolved. I had given birth late at night, so had stayed in the labour ward all night and until about lunchtime due to the leg issue.

Oh I didn't pay, I don't know whether they just say you have to pay, but I asked before leaving where to pay and they said don't worry.