'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?

I haven't read any of the replies because I know this is a controversial subject and I don't want to get into a discussion. I had my DS at St John and Elizabeths hospital in St Johns Wood. I can honestly say it was the most incredible experience of my life.

Main advantages;
The time the midwives spent with you. I have never felt so cared for and looked after. From the moment we booked in until now 9 months later, they are still a part of my life and I am still in touch with them all.

I had a midwife with me from the moment I went in in labour and was never left on my own. I had tremendous support after the birth to help establish breastfeeing (including with a BF counsellor who worked one on one with me).

John and Lizzies places an emphasis on natural births and pioneered water birth in the UK. It is a wonderful, wonderful place.

There are other, more superficial advantages, like your own room, with ensuite and the fact that your partner is not just allowed but expected to stay with you after the baby is born. But for me the care is what makes all the difference.

Disadvantages; well the cost is all I can think of. No wait a minute, there isn't a SCBU at John and Lizzies but my thought process was that I would either give birth there, at a midwife led unit on the NHS or at home and none of these scenarios provided a SCBU.

If you don't want to go private, I'd encourage you to look at the new birth unit at St Marys which is also wonderful and very similar to John and Lizzies.

Best of luck and happy to answer any further questions.

Hi Wobbly

My experience so far re VBAC discussions, plus that of friends who have had a section is that you will automatically be referred to have a discussion about it - call me cynical but it's a way of trusts showing willing that they are "trying" to reduce section rates. Anyone who has wanted to have a second cs has not had a problem in arranging for this electively - although I know one person who ended up having a natural birth as they postponed her elective for 24 hours and she went into labour. So from where I am right now, it feels that far from being pushed towards VBAC it's kind of the opposite, particularly in discussions with obstetricians, who being docs tend to point out all the reasons why I might have another section.

Hence my reason for suggesting you get a midwife or antenatal teacher's view as well as this will be much more woman (ie you) centred. A woman I know who had a very positive VBAC experience told me that for her having an experienced midwife looking after her in labour made all the difference.

Thanks Bubbaluv - £12k sounds about right. In an ideal world I'd swerve a caesarean as I had a dire time the first time around and really want to try for a VBAC. HOwever, because of the dire time I had I'm keen to have the option of a skilled consultant should I need to have a caesarean so it would be a bit up in the air as to how much it would cost. But worse-case scenario of £12k is a good benchmark.

My initial theory was to hire an independent midwife AND go for a private (hopefully VBAC) at C&W. This would be hideously expensive but I'd be guaranteed one-on-one care; I'd be worried about pitching up at C&W and finding they were busy and for all the money I'd thrown at it I still wouldn't have one-on-one midwife care. Did you find you did?

God, all hypothetical as I've got to get pregnant first. Any tips on THAT would be great too.....

K

Kitstwins,
They literally don't leave your side (in my experience).If labour goes on and on then they might change shifts, but you have constant midwife care unless you ask them to leave you alone for a bit.
Have a chat with them about how it works though. From what I saw they don't do "too busy". They have seperate midwives from the NHS side of things and there were more than enough to go around. Have a chat with them though as your case has more history to it than mine and I'm sure they will advise you of the best option to suit you.

We looked into going to st John and Elizabeth for my dd2 but although it sounded lovely,I was concerned(as I was trying for a vbac) that if anything really went wrong I would be shipped to another (nhs)hospital.Seemed better to be somewhere with a birth centre plus good emergency care so I had her at UCH.I did have a doula though and she was wonderful.

We looked into going to st John and Elizabeth for my dd2 but although it sounded lovely,I was concerned(as I was trying for a vbac) that if anything really went wrong I would be shipped to another (nhs)hospital.Seemed better to be somewhere with a birth centre plus good emergency care so I had her at UCH.I did have a doula though and she was wonderful.