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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

How to have a private birth on the cheap?

11 replies

Sunnydale · 07/07/2008 16:54

Hello, any advice gratefully received. Am 6 weeks pregnant, which means am still in with a chance of signing up with one of London's many super-popular private clinics. Unfortunately, am not very well off, and they all seem to cost circa £12,000. Does anyone know what sort of "medical reasons" might lead to my private health insurance paying out? I'm hypothyroid,and my first birth was an emergency C after a 36 hour labour - big baby, small pelvis. Does cephalo-pelvic disproportion (excuse sp) count as a medical reason?
Wouldn't ask but am desperate to avoid hideous NHS scenario that occurred with my first birth. I'm quite new to Mumsnet so not expecting many replies but would be oh so grateful for any advice. Thanks v much

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laidbackinengland · 07/07/2008 16:56

My understanding is that many private facilities are less equipped to deal with complex birth scenarios...Is there another NHS unit you could use ?

poorbuthappy · 07/07/2008 16:57

I would say your first port of call would be your medical insurance terms and conditions!
They should have given you a list saying what they cover and what they don't.

It may say that nothing to do with pregnancy / childbirth is covered in which case you have your answer.

If it is a bit more ambigious then you may be in with a chance.

Sorry can't be of more help!

lulumama · 07/07/2008 16:58

true cephalo pelvic disproportion is rare , but if you do have a very small pelvis, then yes it is a medical condition, did you have any scans etc after the birth to determine this?

you need to talk to your healthcare providers.

you might want to also look into why your first birth went the way it did, and if it was something perhaps to do with the position of the baby rather than size that contributed towards needing a c.s

orangina · 07/07/2008 17:01

Don't think private health insurance will pay ouot unless you have to have an emergency caesarian (by which time it's all nearly over, you are in the middle of an emergency, etc, etc, etc...). I understood that anything to do w pregnancy was excluded, and they do their very bet to make sure they never have to cough up.

You could go down the private midwife route, which is considerably cheaper than the consultant thing... might that help put your mind at rest?

orangina · 07/07/2008 17:03

Also, if you go to a private wing of an nhs hospital, you should get change from £10k (not exactly cheap, but cheaper than The Portland etc...)

Bink · 07/07/2008 17:08

Worth identifying consultants you'd like to be with and discussing your medical details, and the detail of your insurance policy (crucial - different policies have different coverage), with them.

BUPA did pay for my private birth with no.2, exactly in order to avoid what had been a problem with no.1 (severe failure to progress followed by emergency c-section) - BUT that was only because no.2 also went very late & prognosis was the same (so no.2 was a preventative c-section). If she'd not gone late, and I'd gone into labour naturally, and not had to have a c-section etc., I'd have had to stump up myself for all the facilities I'd booked & contracted for.

So, unless you have the kind of medical needs which mean you will need the special treatment for certain, you would be taking a punt - which is sort of reasonable - if the medical difficulties don't in the event occur, then the special treatment wasn't needed ...

star6 · 07/07/2008 17:10

oh I've been through every hoop possible to try and get my private health insurance to pay for pregnancy/birth... but no good whatsoever. Of course, I don't have those medical conditions that you spoke of.
Let me know if you find a way!!!

Original poster

Sunnydale · 07/07/2008 18:06

Thanks so much to everyone who replied - am really grateful. My insurance is typically oblique in what it says it covers - won't bore you with the jargon but looks like it's the good old NHS for me! Had plumped for the Lindo thinking it was cheaper than Portland etc (and also attached to NHS hospital, which appealed) but was quite floored by the £12k thing - thought it would be cheaper. Thanks again for all your advice, though.

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squeaver · 07/07/2008 18:09

I went private using dh's PPP because dd was breech and I had a c-section. We used the Royal Free btw and they were excellent. Why don't you try them? Most NHS hospitals have a private ward which you can use.

eandz · 07/07/2008 18:09

if you speak to a consultant and have genuine medical issues and yours sound pretty genuine, then he/she can write a letter stating that private care would be best/and what type of delivery would be the safest. usually insurance will cover it. ours is.

slinkiemalinki · 07/07/2008 21:46

It depends on the small print of your health insurance - like Bink/poorbuthappy say - but definitely sounds like you would want a private wing of NHS (although it is not cheaper). Have you discussed this with them and asked? Only they will know.
My insurers would pay if I went to EMCS (including stay etc) but as it didn't we had to stump up anyway (I went private at C&W). But had I been advised for medical reasons beforehand to have a CS, pretty sure they would have covered it too.

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