Baby in UK or US? Plus some antenatal queries..

[eandz]

Hello everyone!

We're due with our first in September (hopefully find out if its ds or dd next week!) and are trying to figure out where to have the pregnancy.

After some bleeding a few weeks ago, we have been private (via AXA PPP) with Dr Economides (delivers at the Portland), who we have been very happy with following some unpleasantness at St Mary's (they get really angry when you suggest you're considering private and told us we'd miscarried before an ultrasound ).

For the actual birth, our Blue Cross, Blue Shield US insurance will cover us fully (although by reimbursement only for the UK, has anyone else used this?). The Portland also seemed a bit dark and dingy compared to the maternity wards in Texas, so financially and for environment we're considering delivering in the US.

Has anyone else flown abroad for delivery and if so, how did you find it? We're considering going at 30 weeks to get to know the obstetrician there.

Also, in the meantime, although we've switched our consultant over to private for scans etc, should we be receiving any service from the NHS for ante-natal queries/classes etc? We haven't heard anything since our gp referred us and feel kinda bad asking him questions at random times that end up being standard things.

Thank you all for your help!

ohh, I didn't realize this. Can it affect the infants mortality?

Last minute in this instance is when the cord stops pulsating after the baby is born (usually a few minutes) - as well as the whole "drugs in labour" thing, this is also where the discussion regarding when to clamp and cut the cord comes from.

(If they tell you you "can't" eat and you're hungry it would be worth asking why and seing whether you feel it's a reasonable answer. I woudn't consider hospital protocol in isolation a sufficiently good reason, but then I can be beligerent when I'm in the right mood!)

i didn't even plan on asking if there was a possibility they could say no. i find it's easier to say sorry than ask for permission.

Very wise .

The other way to look at it is that you're telling them what's going to happen, not asking them if it's OK. I don't know what kind of support you'd get in the Portland - I'd imagine in an NHS hospital you could eat what you like and they'd often be none the wiser, but if you'd actually have someone in the room with you it might be a bit more tricky to be discreet.

When I was in very early labour (induced) at Chelsea I popped over the road and had a plate of butter & sage ravioli at Carluccio's . I didn't quite get through it as the contractions were mildly painful - and once I was in pain I wasn't in the slightest peckish. Can't imagine it really. But they knew I was off for dinner and were fine about it! I ate said ravioli around 7pm and had my daughter at 11pm.

The Portland Hospital boasts about having 24 hour room service, but I'm not sure if I should take that seriously or not, because they also told me they had the top luxury and comfort when designing the rooms and trust me, the rooms they showed me looked neither luxurious, or comfortable...they didn't even look clean.

They looked like rooms fit for dead whales. The whole hospital was very different to what the website suggested. But I'm going back next week to see if maybe the act of childbirth biased my first impression. And I might ask to see the menu.

I want my last meal before motherhood begins to be amazing. I want to taste the freedom I'm giving up in every bite....I definitely know that my first meal after childbirth is going to be spicy tuna roll with a large cup of black coffee.