'Going private' for second birth

[WobblyPig]

Was not infused with confidence by first experience at St George's hospital London. DH was even more shaken up than me and now finds it very hard to trust anything they do or say. DH is visibly very concerned about plans to have our second baby there. I am less bothered but I need him to be confident .
In-laws have offered to pay for private birth but not sure that this is right for me alhtough I think would make DH feel better which would in turn relax me.

What are people's experience of private births ? What would you describe as the main advantages? Were there any disadvantages other than the money?

call Yes you are right. I think it varies from hospital to hospital, and there is an element of luck, but I have never heard of someone who wanted one and didn't get one.

Agree with Aranea that John&Lizzies is the bees knees. I had a water birth there, and my friend had an emergency Caesarian there and we both had very happy birth experiences, albeit very different ones. You can't just go for the birth though, and they don't do 'high risk' or twins. They're fab though, I wouldn't have managed to breastfeed if it hadn't been for the support I got from amazing midwives there.

Sorry Aranea wasn't aware they did anything other than natural births since most people I know go there for the mw led birth facilities.

Good to hear about J and Es ; have dealt with them on a professional level fr other things. Particularly good to hear about the breastfeeding thing too. I rather felt that the NHS went in hard about BF but wasn't around when I needed help with it.

I work in the NHS but could not really believe the extent to which I was ignored before. I don't want to call all the shots but I want the staff to help me plan the best delivery for me and the baby and not just find they have to revert to plan B because they didn't put any thought into the process.

Hi Wobbly, I have similar concerns but for different reasons. I will be classified as high risk throughout this pregnancy and so no stand alone private unit would dream of accepting me. For reasons I won't go into here I'm well aware that the care I might need is only available in the NHS.

I too have considered the doula option, but a very lovely friend who is a community mw has agreed to be my birth supporter if she can. However, thinking about all this has made me realise that there is a lot about my daughters' birth that I hadn't debriefed and that unravelling it all has led in some directions I hadn't expected.

Have you talked to your current midwife about your concerns, as you are quite entitled to do so? When I raised some of my worries at my booking appointment, the mw there arranged for me to see a really excellent consultant midwife which helped my thinking a lot.

Alternatively, what are your other options (educated guess here but St Thomas' or Mayday?) Another suggestion made to me (but not acted on so far) was to speak with one of the locally based NCT antenatal teachers - ie someone who is informed and has a professional outlook.

Finally, I am still in the process of finding out the right questions to ask about VBAC (if you are planning to go down that route). But that's probably another thread in itself.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Isn't the birthing centre (private) attached to St George's meant to be the best (outcome-wise) for private in the country?

Hi
Just wanted to post my private hospital experience thus far. I am under the care of an obstetrician at St Thomas' Hospital, at the Lansdell Suite, which is the private wing of an NHS hospital. I have nothing but great experience so far, and was inspired with confidence as soon as I toured the facilities. I see the consultant as often as I like and is very encouraging, not pushy in any sort of way, never rushes me and fully answers all my questions. He is extremely gentle and I don't feel like I will be bullied into anything at the birth. They have two permanent water birth rooms (my preferred option).

Some positives I have found so far:

• You don't pay the consultant til AFTER the birth (other private hospitals don't work this way). I don't feel they are in the business of money making
• Very little price difference between normal and c section births, so there is no financial gain to be made in going straight to em cs (not true at the Portland)
• Extremely clean and relaxing environment (recently refurbed). Check out the garden room! Also lovely big en-suite private rooms with amazing views. Is a good distraction I hear
• You have the backup of a great NICU, one of the best in London
• You can choose the HFH birth centre or the medical birth unit so you can have as much or little pain relief as you like
• Have never waited more than 5 minutes when arriving to an appointment
• There is a brilliant midwife who will look after you postnatally and is especially good at bf support
• Partner stays overnight with you

Some negatives

• You will still be delivered by the NHS midwives if all goes smoothly(whomever is on shift) and it is still possible they will be understaffed or very busy on the day you arrive, however you have the backup of a consultant (mine has been there for 20 yrs and practically lives there)
• The cost (min 6k) but this is cheaper than most. You also pay for every extra night after 24 hrs
• Car parking is apparently a bit tight but I have never had a problem

I should add that I toured the Lindo Wing at St Mary's and was told uncategorically I would need to give birth on my back, no birthing balls etc, and the room was very small - it put me off immediately and I didn't feel comfortable there so just go with what your gut tells you! BTW for Lindo and Portland you are unlikely to come in under 10k for the final bill - if cost has any bearing that is. Didn't tour Portland but the cost put me off.

Hope that helps! As I said, confidence is important so do whatever your instinct says!

lentil, interesting to hear your perspective on St T's as I am an NHS patient there. One point though re the home from home birth centre which is relevant(if I've read op's post correctly)is that the home from home birth centre at St T's will not accept you if you have previously had a section.

I'm going private for my first baby, due this July. I'm going to the Lindo Wing at St Mary's, where I'm having a c-section. My reasons for going private were:

1. History of extreme medical anxiety, relating to previous (non-pregnancy) experiences. I didn't think the NHS would (or should!) have time to give me the amount of one-to-one care I'd need.

1. I wanted to have a c-section (for psychological reasons) and although I know I could probably have 'fought' for this on the NHS and got it, I didn't feel emotionally equipped to 'fight'.

So far, I do feel that going private has been the right option for me. It's not cheap, and we're not super-rich, so I spent a while fretting over the cost. But then I thought: it's still less than a good many people spend on their weddings, and DH and I got married just the two of us and the whole thing cost us about £200! So that's how I justify it. Just like a wedding, having a baby is one of the most important days of your life, in fact more so!

As to your questions 'what are the advantages', for me it's been mainly the time and attention, the ability to see my consultant whenever I need to and not feeling rushed, and also the feeling of genuinely 'informed choice'. I don't feel the consultant is just giving me a c-section 'because I am paying' - we have discussed all disadvantages/risks and benefits, but in the end he understands and respects my choice. My worry with the NHS was never about quality of care in an emergency, but things like understaffing, being left alone, not being listened to, and so on.

I think if you can genuinely afford it, it's worth considering. And as others here have said, if you want a less 'medicalised' experience than mine, there are other hospitals where you can get this. St Mary's is nearest to where we are, and I liked the idea of being in an NHS hospital, should an emergency arise.

algorithm for the birth

Littlelentil - I had my two boys at the Lansdell Suite too under a wonderful obstetrician. Can honestly say that I believe neither of them would be here now without him as I too was high risk.
Cannot recommend it highly enough - it was brilliant.

I was going to suggest St Thomas's and I see someone already has (must be near if you are going to St George's) Their NHS home from home all have private rooms and friends have had excellent experiences there both privately and on the NHS. They are specifically very good at VBACs if that is what you want.

The new unit (private) at Chelsea and Westminister is amazing, very good private midwives and consultants and backup of NHS neo natal unit in an emergency. i would not give birth in a hossie without SCBU so that would rule out john and lizzies for me (and not sure they 'do' vbacs)

Best of luck, I would defintiely go private if you can.

Mum1369 who was your consultant? I am interested as had a homebirth last time and too much of a wuss to do it again. I have some complications (blood clotting disorder) that makes birth a bit tricky for me and for any boys I would have (had a lovely dd last time) and I am looking to go private this time.

All these previous experiences and opinions are really interesting.

Snowlight that's interesting that my experience of no private rooms on NHS is not typical. Going to a different hospital, private or not, for my second time is the main priority anyway after various horrendous problems at my local hospital last time, but good to hear that private rooms may not be such an issue at another NHS hospital.

Sorry OP am hijacking a bit!

Hi Susie100. It was Con Kelleher. He has rooms in Devonshire Place and (I think) delivers at the Portland as well as St Thomas'.
I know he gets booked up very quickly so I would call asap if you want to go down this route. I cannot recommend him highly enough. I would not trust anyone else with my children.

I had DS1 in the Kensington Wing at C&W.
Benefits were that I had constant care from OB all the way through preg. (Friend had widwife lead birth there and also said it was brilliant).
You are never left on your own during labour (unless you want to be).
Fabulous private room with bath and tones of room for DH to stay with you if you want.
You decide visiting hours.
Good healthy food. Not restaurant quality, but business class plane quality.
NICU is next door in case of problems and obvoulsy full NHS intensive car for you if required.

Down sides...just the cost really.

Thanks mum1369, I will call him, only 7 weeks so hopefully that should be ok!

Bubbaluv - I have heard nothing but good things about Kensington. Did you rate your consultant? There is a lady who is meant to be very good I believe?

Sorry for the hijack!

Oh, another benefit was unlimited bf support afterwards. No waiting for midwives to appear after hours of struggling on your own.

Yep, forgot to add that in my research I discovered that a lot of these Portland consultants also work at another london Hospital, so you decide what is important to you - the consultant or the Hospital. They all tend to have specialist interest areas (mine specialises in pelvic floor aftercare). This way you will be able to see who will suit you best for your particular needs.

Forgot also to add, that I chose to go private because I live across the road from a notoriously busy and understaffed Surrey hospital and knew there was little chance of my own room and no chance of getting referred to another NHS hospital, given where I live. I kept getting stressed about it. Now I feel absolutely fine, and no doubt this will help in the birth process.

Susie, I had an excellent consultant last time who was brilliant when everything went scarily wrong. He was a rather gruff, aloof type, but not in a bad way, very calm, reassuring and unflappable. I am current;y seeing a different OB for 2nd birth as original guy was not available. He's equally good but totally different. Nice guy, but I think I personally prefered the first one.
There are a couple of female OBs there. You are probably thinkin of Zoe Penn. If you call the KW they will email you a list of all the OBs and you can call around and ask about availability. You can then make appointments to meet a few and decide who you like best.
There are a few threads on MN re OBs at CW if you do a search.

Hello wobblypig. I had the same birth for my ds as you did, so this time around i'm a bit nervous about the birth. We have moved to a new area and after asking around i found a lot of local women didn't have alot of confidence in the local hospital. I spoke to my gp who told me i was within my rights to choses a different hospital. So i did a bit of reserch and went back to gp and asked his views on a hospital just outside the county. He was very honest and agreed that it was a better choice so refered me there. The bonus is that i can have all my anti & post natel care here in my town. The only down side is that i will have 1 hour journey to hospital but my mw said because of last difficult birth to go staight to hospital at 1st sign of labour rather than wait for contactions close together. You could simply choose a different hospital, there are websites that show you the stats on hospital perfomances.

Thanks Bubbaluv, I will do that, it feels very strange having to book all of this so early on when you are superstitious!!

Bubbaluv sorry to butt in but I wondered if you could give an idea of cost (rude question, but the 'rumours' seem to vary). I'm not pregnant yet (although trying very hard) but am looking at options of private care for my second delivery. Last time I went private with QCH but for various reasons I don't want to go back, not least because it's a schlep to get to. C&W is on my doorstep and it's really between that and the Portland. I'd guessed at around £10k (for a worse-case scenario c-section delivery) but had seen £14k bandied around as a potential figure on another thread. Could you tell me which was closer to the mark.

Thanks in advance.
K

Highjack/butt in all you like; the more info the better. It is all very interesting.

I would dearly love a VBAC but only want to try really if the odds are remotely in my favour and don't want to be pushed downthe route because of lack of interest from the professionals. Similarly don't want to leap for C-S unnecessarily hence the need for assistance with decision making and the feeling htat soemone is really taking repsonsiblity of weighing up the options with me.
Some good recommendations.

Hi Kitwins,
I am booked in for a cs. Most of the OBs charge about £5-6k and on top of that you have the hospital charges which are £3,000 for vaginal delivery and £4,100 for CS (both figures include first night's postnatal stay). If you want to stay extra nights it is £850per night for vaginal and £950 per night for CS.

For midwife lead care the only charge is the hospital charge and they are £5,100 for vaginal and £6,200 for CS.
On top of these charges you have anaesthetics, any private scans and blood tests.

So there you go - straight of the official charges documents they gave me.

Al up I will be looking at about £12k I should think. Some of this will be covered by BUPA as my CS is medically neccessary.

Hope that helps?