Aaron McKay wrote:
> I wish your wife a successful delivery and good luck to your family. I
> wonder if you can share more about your family's process. very interested
> in that.

I wish your wife a successful delivery and good luck to your family. I wonder if you can share more about your family's process. very interested in that.

So without the package you need to wait until the baby is born to request to move to a private room or the Kensington wing. It’s on a first come first serve basis but we had no issue booking it in. The private rooms go quickly and when I was there a couple of years ago it was £300 per day. However, we ended up in the Kensington wing as these are more readily available. These go for approx. £1200 a night.

I had my daughter in March at C&W on NHS via c section. We like other posters were unable to get a private room in the Kensington Wing. None of my friends or antenatal group have ever managed.
The postnatal ward was the only negative of my experience. I would really recommend a maternity nurse or private midwife to help your wife in those early days with things like feeding. Otherwise the NHS was brilliant- excellent community midwives and doctors etc performing the c section.
Another thing to note: partners are able to stay on the postnatal ward overnight. My husband stayed the first night but would’ve been allowed the whole time. You can have two different people swapping in. Plus there is then the visiting hours for other guests.

Had a baby there in January. Despite them telling me it was a “quiet period” rooms were not available. You have to turn up at 9:00 everyday to ask for availability. We didn’t manage to get one. The non-private recovery area isn’t too bad. But they are busy and I often has to wait ages for anything. That’s my only negative feedback. Otherwise the experience was great even though I didn’t manage to get the private room. 

I had my last baby at C&W NSH, we wanted to book the private room after birth but they were at capacity, so there is no guarantee a room will be available, there is a waitlist but we opted not to go on it as there were a number already in the queue. Which was a shame as the post recovery ward is not a great place to recover, I couldn't wait to leave.

Have you thought about getting a postnatal doula? I should have organised this as a couple of Mum's in my baby group it and was of a great help. They can come in for a few hours each day or whatever you need

A lovely idea for your wife - good luck to her and to you.

Some answers might be found here

Also, rather cheekily, does anyone know if they accept Amex?

Hi all,

My wife is in her third trimester and is due to give birth within a month. She is delivering via elective c-section at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. This is our first baby.

We've gone via the NHS throughout this pregnancy, which to date, has been a great experience. However, if everything is well, I'd like to move her and the baby into the Kensington Wing for a night or two (however long she and the baby needs).

I wondered whether anyone had undertaken something similar to the above?

How did you find it and did you feel it was worth it (my wife is trying to convince me to not pay for it, but I think its important for her aftercare and I can easily afford it)?

I can see the cost per night is currently £1,350.00. Do you know what time this runs until (e.g. midnight)?

Do you know what time partners/guests can stay until? I know that the NHS unit has a time of up to 8pm.

Did this also include all basic care or do you need to pay extra for this?

Given we're not paying for a full private c-section package, presumably if she or the baby had any issues, she could be transferred back to the NHS unit. If you had to do this, was this a smooth and quick process for you?

Sorry for all of the questions and many thanks in advance!