Private vs NHS birth

[littlepeanuthopes]

Hello,
Does anyone have any experience of giving birth privately in London. (St Mary's private wing for example). I'm not convinced it's necessarily a better option (assuming one can afford) so I'm keen to see if anyone has had any experience and whether it's worth considering. I hear NHS is pretty great at these things anyway so just wondering. Thank you x

Yes. At the Kensington Wing at C&W. As far as I’m aware there are no downsides (except the cost!) because as long as you go for the private bit of an NHS hospital then you still have all the emergency stuff like the NICU on site should it be needed.

I had all my appointments with my own chosen consultant in his private practice office, at times to suit, was never kept waiting and had an ultrasound at every appointment. Full choice of how to give birth with no resistance- I chose an ELCS at 39 weeks and I was automatically top of the list so in theatre by 7am. Post natal it was a private room with own bathroom and bed for partner, all toiletries for me and baby including nappies and pads provided, loads of midwives that had time to spend with you and would take baby overnight so I could sleep, there was restaurant style menu including wine list so DH and I could have whatever we wanted, there were visits from the womens health physio, paediatrician to check baby, prescription for the reallu good pain relief written just in case without me asking.

I’ve never had an NHS birth to compare it to but my experience was great and I honestly couldn’t have asked for more.

I can confirm that an NHS birth is absolutely nothing like that wonderful description of a private birth above.

In my experience, I felt like I had to fight for what myself and my baby needed throughout the whole process, both times. If you have the means to go private I would absolutely recommend.

@FlounderingFruitcake @AnxieTeapot thank you both so much! I have to say the description was very enticing and I will definitely look into it a bit more now! I didn't realise there was such a difference

Just gave birth for second time

• first time was labour and emergency c section - was nothing like the above but I did get a private room which made the world of difference
• this time - needed an elective c section. Well everything up to and including the section was brilliant - efficient like a well oiled machine. But the maternity ward afterwards was horrendous - we had our own room but it was far too hot due to a broken radiator and they couldn’t move us. Then we were moved to another ward with bays due to staffing issues. I hated every second - thank god I had an elective so had some sleep the night before. The three other couples were so loud - talking continuously on their phones or to each other until 2am. The midwives were great though and did check in on us regularly. But I couldn’t rest one bit so we only stayed one night as I was desperate to go home

if you can afford private , go for private. The lack of staffing in NHS wards is dangerous and crowded understaffed postnatal wards are hell on earth.

In my experience, I felt like I had to fight for what myself and my baby needed throughout the whole process, both times. If you have the means to go private I would absolutely recommend.

me too, both times, during Labour and postnatally. If I was having a third, and could afford to go private, I 100% would.

I would highly recommend going private if you can afford it. It is unfortunate but NHS is heavily understaffed currently.

We switched to private at 32w after staffing issues at NHS meant that they closed down a birth center and I felt the drop in service levels. Also felt like we had to fight to get a doctor appointment everytime (which I eventually got at 35w even though I've been asking for it since 9w).

Our experience at St Thomas Westminster Suite was amazing. All the midwives were wonderful and someone came to us within 2min of buzzing. I had to stay in for 5 days because my baby came early. I had 1-2-1 breastfeeding support from the midwives throughout my stay which I think is invaluable.

The downside is it's expensive and can become even more expensive very quickly if you end up staying longer or if the baby needs high dependency stay (which thankfully we did not).

@FlounderingFruitcake out of interest do you then cash your prescriptions privately too? Or use the NHS free service for 12 months? Do you then pay private for the visits and care after birth too? Just wondering how it works

Genuinely no idea if I was charged for the codydramol and ibuprofen I was given to take home by the hospital but it wouldn’t have registered given the overall cost of it all.

You then get transferred back to the NHS for community midwives and health visitor upon discharge. If I wanted to see the NHS GP it would work as normal as far as I’m aware but I usually use a private GP anyway and other than the post natal painkillers, the last prescription I had was penicillin when I was 4! So I’m not really the right person to ask. If you’re considering a private birth then I’m sure the hospital would be used to answering those sorts of questions though.

If I could afford to go private I absolutely would. I am currently 36 weeks and I am nervous about giving birth this time because my hospital seem to be so understaffed. Also, anyone who does go private takes some strain off the NHS so you’re doing others a favour really 😊

Oh god if going private was an option in my area I'd be there with bells on. My last birth was an induction (failed) and a shit show. The ward was so overrun they were removing pessaries and stopping inductions after starting them because of a lack of midwives. If you can afford it I would.

Interesting. I gave birth at Chelsea & Westminster but on the NHS. I also had an elective c-section, had really good painkillers whenever I needed them and also to take home. I saw paediatricians & women's health physio on the ward. Oh, and the midwives took the baby overnight so I could sleep. Admittedly I supplied my own toiletries and there was no wine but the food certainly wasn't bad. Maybe C&W is just a good maternity unit

I imagine that is just a really good hospital! The staff work on both sides and were all fab.

You can also give birth on the NHS and pay per night for the Kensington rooms if they happen to have any spare (but no guarantees). I think mostly what you are pay for when you go private is having your choice of consultant and that they are then responsible for all your care- you even have their mobile number and can text them with questions. That and the guarantee of a private room so you won’t end up on the ward.

If I were you I’d spend the money on an independent midwife. I did this for my second and third births and it was fabulous, all ante natal visits at home when it suited me, the same two midwives throughout ( for the third birth too so I already knew them) . I wanted a home birth but they can come with you to the hospital as well if you’d prefer that. Much cheaper than private hospital and you have someone whose only focus is you and your baby and birth.

If the nhs cared about woman we would have our own private room after birth. Not expected to labour for days then spend the afternoon we should be sleeping surrounded by the family and friends of the woman in the next bed. Or be in a ward with new mums when we are having the worst experience possible. If you have the money go private. Do!!!

I went private after terrible NHS 'care'. I don't regret paying a single penny. Consultant gave me his mobile number that I could call any time. I met with him every 2 weeks, private room with ensuite, bottles, nappies etc included, private midwife support and decent food. Our life savings spent well!!

I had NHS antenatal care then private from delivery onwards at Queen Charlotte's. Insurance paid on both occasions as I had a medical condition requiring a section.

I also looked round the Lindo wing at St Mary's but it felt a bit old and tatty (yes, I know it was good enough for the future king so I'm being picky).

What was good: private room and en-suite and nursery, food and ability to have visitors. Also having a consultant to perform the surgery.

What wasn't quite as good: they'd said on the tour that my husband could stay over (which would have been helpful post surgery) but they strongly discouraged it in reality. My sons went to the nursery overnight but they brought them back so often that I didn't really get any sleep (I know that sound really heartless but I had a spinal leak post the first one and could have used an uninterrupted hour or two).

All in all, I'd say it was worth it but then again, I wasn't paying and the NHS part of the hospital seemed decent from what I saw.

This! Explore the option of independent midwives if you would be under nhs midwife led care. A company called private midwives operate in London.

If anything goes wrong during private birth, you'll get shipped over to an NHS hospital anyway. It'll just take longer and be riskier.

You can have a private birth in some NHS hospitals. Where I gave birth it was all on the same floor so no distance at all.

Very interesting to read all this. Thanks guys. Im going to look into St Mary's private wing as it's my hospital and hopefully they'll let me have a peak and ask a couple of questions when I go for my scan. I better start saving even more though because it looks like it's even dearer than I thought especially if any unexpected extras pop up. The private midwife option sounds very good, I'll look into that too! Thanks a million

Budget wise you’re talking around £20k (hospital + consultant). Midwife lead but still private is less but you have to meet the low risk criteria.
Good luck with it all!

I had all mine private at the Portland. One was in SCBU for a few nights at £4k a night. It was all covered by insurance or we would have been wiped out.

I had to have C sections so the insurer paid for it all.

One of mine was in SCBU too but only for about an hour to monitor breathing (mucusy c section baby) but there was no charge for it as they were treated as an NHS patient. Then back to Kensington with me after it was thankfully concluded that all was well.