Those are some good boots if they last 15 years, Bibbity!

Didn't mean it as a derogatory comment, just implying it was expensive. Realised I had no idea what I was talking about though and got curious about what people actually paid and found this old thread from another site: http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/ ... es-it-cost

Apologies if linking to another forum is not allowed but it is interesting/relevant.

I've had two private births, one at the Portland and one at the Lindo wing. I am not a well-heeled Nappy Valley mum either - currently wearing my 15 year old boots here.

I wanted to add something on the emergency facilities at the Portland. If you do need Adult ICU, they use the facilities if the London Clinic, which is literally around the corner. My obstetrician told me that help would come faster in an emergency than it would at his NHS post (a major London research and teaching hospital).

If you can afford it, or like me, your insurance covers it, then it's an option for you to consider. You need to think about what is important to you and what you would want for your baby. I would make a list and then work out whether that would be met (or as close as could be) on the NHS or privately.

Just FYI hardly anyone goes private here (very different from US). It's more for Rock Stars, Royalty and the odd very well-heeled Nappy Valley mum. The NHS might not always deliver on creature comforts (although they are improving) but you are generally properly looked after where it counts. It is tough for people coming from the US to adjust to our system (I have known a few) as it can feel more basic but statistically we are actually better at looking after people here so you will be in good hands whatever you choose.

if its your first one over here then Id try the nhs. you can look up c&w, Thomas's & georges reviews and you'll find the same number of horror stories and fantastic comments on both. visit them all, whether you intend to go there or not, it'll open your eyes on the tour they give and you'll get a feel for them.

I did look into private at st georges but it was a small block next to the large main hospital & I knew from the outside I didn't want to go there. Turned out a good plan in my case as st georges nhs has *all the expensive machines* and was a new maternity wing when I was there 6 years ago - I ended up using everything but they do set you up with the midwives to see how you progress first. The consultant you see will all depend on how long you take as they obviously change shifts, as I expect they do in any hospital.

Good luck and pray for a Monday-Friday as that's better anywhere in the uk I hear Any questions on nhs do msg me, my dad was a consultant gynaecologist so I know more than most. (private & nhs)

Just clearing up a couple of the myths that always appear on these threads

The Portland is the only private maternity option in London not based within an NHS hospital, and it does indeed have a neonatal baby unit, a baby intensive care ward and an Adult High dependency unit (one step down from intensive care)
In the event of you needing to go to intensive care, they transfer you to UCL which is about a mile away, but as of this time last year (when I asked them about it), that hadn't happened for 4 years. I always raise an eyebrow that 'lack of close proximity to ICU' isn't listed as a reason to avoid birth centres/home births/midwife units...


Petal also said if you go to a private ward, you have to 'go running to the NHS for an emergency c-Section' - also not true. The lindo, Kensington Wing, Westminster suite and Portland all do elective and emergency c-sections.
In some hospitals, the private patients get their own operating theatre, in some they share the NHS theatres, but if you start off privately, they don't turn you over to the NHS mid-labour to have a section!

Of course that means that even if you are planning a natural delivery, you should set aside some money to cover the possibility of needing an EMCS, as they will charge extra for that...

If you want to start off in the NHS system for scans and blood tests, with a view to transferring privately for delivery, it is entirely possible, but be aware that a lot of the consultants get booked up far in advance for their private patients. You should be ok if you contact them at 20 weeks, but you probably won't get your first choice if you contact Mr Duncan or Mr Wales at 32 weeks.

And if you are going to do this, keep it quiet from the NHS, as they will grumble at you about it (but I don't think they can refuse to see you, even if they know you are about to jump ship)

I had both my children at the Kensington Wing at C&W.

It was amazing, and I received excellent care. If we have a third, we will save the money and do it again, BUT it is very, very expensive.

I had emergency c-sections with both mine, which meant the postnatal stay (and therefore cost) was higher than a 'natural' delivery. In particular, with my second, I had a pretty awful time birth wise, and had to stay 4 nights-by day 4 my husband was pretty much begging them to let me come home! I'm half joking, but the costs can really rack up... We had saved some money for the purpose of this.

I started off under the NHS with my 1st child, and I am genuinely a huge fan of the NHS, but they were over stretched, I was high risk anyway, and we just decided we'd spend the money. I have friends who have had AMAZING NHS care, some who have had awful care.

I ABSOLUTELY would not go privately in a hospital like The Portland or similar, because if things go wrong, you want to be in a big hospital-Chelsea's NICU is next door to the Kensington Wing.

Good luck.

I had my second child at St George's recently

I had the same midwife for all antenatal check ups, at Balham Health Centre - I believe this is something they recently introduced. Blood tests, scans etc were done at St George's by different people. Delivery midwives are different - this makes sense to me as it's a different skill set from antenatal care.

I had great midwife care during the birth (which was over in under an hour, so in my case a private fee would have felt a bit wasted!) Yes all labour happens in private rooms (not all ensuite though)

I have no complaints at all about the postnatal stay. We stayed in hospital for 2 days (baby needed sugars monitoring) but we were luckily able to get a private room at £120/night. There are limited private rooms available on "first come first served" basis (and obviously those with medical/emotional need take priority) so you can't guarantee it, you have to be lucky. However I believe some othr hospitals have private rooms you can book.

Husbands are now allowed to stay with you 24/7 at St Georges whether you are on the ward or in a private room, which I think makes a big difference especially if you had a C section.

I agree with previous poster who suggested mix of NHS birth and private postnatal room if you can. Also agree the money would be FAR better spent on help at home for the early weeks!

I gave birth to both of my children at C&W and attended pre-natal checkups at my local clinic which was very convenient. The care was fantastic, and you have your own private room on labour ward (and access to the birthing pool suite if its available which is fantastic) when you're ready for labour. I had complications so post-delivery I was on a post-natal ward for a couple of days as they wanted to keep a close eye on me. Because you're on a ward with up to 5 other mothers/babies you don't tend to get much sleep, but the midwives looking after you are all lovely and very helpful.
However, many of my friends had very straightforward births and were allowed home the same day to recuperate at home.
So you need to decide what sort of experience you're looking for - I personally would spend the money, if you have it, on a maternity nurse or check yourself into a 5* hotel for a few days!!!!
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy

I couldn't praise NHS enough!i had two babies born in ST THOMAS'S and with my third I will go there again!the care we had was faultless!and the views of the Parliament and Big Ben fro the room!i felt like in a hotel not hospital! Why are you anxious?we are in a civilised country,Imagine some poor countries where women give birth and they're still fine.
Enjoy your pregnancy,I hope it all goes well for you!

As far as I know - all NHS labour wards are now single room, ensuites. Certainly St George's is..... And the antenatal care is pretty amazing - at st george's, you can turn up anytime from 9 to 5 (from what I remember) if you have any concerns and they'll check baby's heartbeat and quite often scan you. You can turn up without being referred by GP.

In terms of post natal care - I think this is the biggest difference between NHS and private. Mine was pretty poor with my first child. I know others who had an equally poor experience. My second child went straight to neonatal, but I had my own single room on the postnatal ward as they thought it was unfair to put me in a ward with mum's with babies. She joined me after a week, but I kept the single room for two week.

If it hadn't been for complications, I'd have gone with C&W second time around and paid for a private room for after the birth.

At St George's, there are four to a postnatal ward and you don't get much sleep as you can imagine.

As far as I know - all NHS labour wards are now single room, ensuites. Certainly St George's is..... And the antenatal care is pretty amazing - at st george's, you can turn up anytime from 9 to 5 (from what I remember) if you have any concerns and they'll check baby's heartbeat and quite often scan you. You can turn up without being referred by GP.

In terms of post natal care - I think this is the biggest difference between NHS and private. Mine was pretty poor with my first child. I know others who had an equally poor experience. My second child went straight to neonatal, but I had my own single room on the postnatal ward as they thought it was unfair to put me in a ward with mum's with babies. She joined me after a week, but I kept the single room for two week.

If it hadn't been for complications, I'd have gone with C&W second time around and paid for a private room for after the birth.

At St George's, there are four to a postnatal ward and you don't get much sleep as you can imagine.

Hi- Here are the answers (just according to my experience)!

- How many ultrasounds and check-up appointments are done typically? Can you request for more if you wanted?
You'll have a scan at 12 weeks and then an anomaly scan at 20 weeks. If they're concerned about anything they'll send you for more scans straight away. For example I was measuring a small later on last pregnancy, and I had an 'extra' scan the next day. If you're higher risk or a multiple birth it's totally different (lots more scans!) Appointment wise if you're a first time mum it's a booking in appt at 8 weeks/bloods, scan at 12, then appt at 16, scan at 20, appts at 24, 28, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and if you've not given birth 41 weeks.

- Can you request a private room? I am a bit scared of being in a labor ward with other strangers around.
I went for a midwife led unit for my birth at St Georges. (So the midwifes look after you. If you need 'medical' intervention you're moved downstairs and I don't know what the set up is there!) This meant a private room with a birthing pool, bed etc and en suite bathroom in the Carmen Suite- it was really fantastic. After the birth you transfer to a shared ward, (although I was able to stay in the private room for 10 hours post birth). You may be able to request a private room if you need after the birth to stay the night- but it depends on availability.

- Do you get to meet your obstetrician or only your midwife? I thought you have the same midwife to delivery.
I never saw an obstetrician as it was all really straight forward. I don't think you'd get the same midwife at the birth, which is a disadvantage! But if you do have one at the birth you don't get on with, it's fine to ask for a replacement. Someone helpfully told me that if you're not enjoying them helping you at the birth, they'd probably rather not be either, so you'd both be glad of the request to change! I'd usually not be keen on complaining, but in the midst of labour I wouldn't be at all worried about being demanding!!

My private insurance doesn't even cover any maternity related issues- so not even just needing physio for back pain!

Go with whatever option you think will make you feel most relaxed, the less worried you are the easier it'll all be!

Hi, I had my first baby at chelsea and westminster in march and they were absolutely fantastic. Didn't go to plan at all, but staff were amazing! Would definitely recommend and would go nhs again! Good luck x

Thanks Goldhawk!
My insurance doesn't seem to cover- which is a bit bizarre to me.

Goldhawk wrote:It depends if you have expat insurance that covers maternity/birth

The Portland list their prices http://www.theportlandhospital.com/maternity/prices/

It used to be around £8K for a natural birth w midwife and around £15K for a c section - it may be more now

Thanks mumplusone
I had a few questions on the NHS route.
- How many ultrasounds and check-up appointments are done typically? Can you request for more if you wanted?
- Can you request a private room? I am a bit scared of being in a labor ward with other strangers around.
- Do you get to meet your obstetrician or only your midwife? I thought you have the same midwife to delivery.

Thanks a lot for answering my questions!

mumplusone wrote:Hi,

Congratulations! I hope you're well.

The private/NHS choice is really personal. I'm on my second 'NHS' pregnancy, and in my experience it's been fantastic. Having said that, I'm not an anxious type, and don't need all the nice extras that you might get in private care! My only real criticism is that you don't get the same midwife from the antenatal care to the delivery room. This time round however I've had the same midwife for all my antenatal appointments, and last time I was so wrapped up in the labour I wasn't as bothered as I thought I'd be by having a 'different' midwife in the birthing room (who was fantastic!).

The level of care you get in the NHS is great, and to be honest, if things go 'really' wrong, you'd end up in the NHS specialist care unit anyway, as that's were the best facilities/consultants are. The private route is probably best if you want more time and reassurance, and/or you have a really demanding schedule and so always need appointment times that suit you.

Good luck with it all!