Childbirth - NHS or Private?

[DimPrawn]

When you say "go private" what exactly do you mean?

Very few of the standard private hospitals do childbirth, you have to use an NHS hospital, although you can opt and pay for a private room for about £100 at many of them.

If you mean a dedicated private delivery team in a state of the art private hospital with the best equipment, then there are a few, mostly in London and the SE obviously.

If anything goes wrong, they will rush you to an NHS hospital, they don't deal with it there, so that makes it more risky.

It works out costly, depending on what happens. I was told to put aside about £10K to cover worst case costs.

My advice, stick with the NHS on this one and keep your fingers crossed.

[MarillionFan]

Mrs PRC had a private room in an NHS hospital. So the birth part was all NHS but she didn't have to recover in a ward full of the great unwashed.

WHS. NHS, private room to keep away from the council estate proles.

Anyway, can you actually do private childbirth?

[Jog On]

Think very carefully about using private for childbirth

If it all goes belly up (sic) and there are complications - the private hospital will transfer you to the nearest NHS for advanced treatment / consultants which takes time... and time during childbirth can mean the difference between a healthy child or a problem you will have to live with for the rest of your lives

So to me it makes sense to be in the NHS to start with

Trouble is you have to share the facilities with the local chav/immigrant population both of which are breeding at prodigious rates

HTH

Good point... I wonder if there is such a thing as NHS - topped up..

[Benny]

oh.. and no matter what the woman’s point of view about "natural" childbirth get the anaesthetist to put a spinal shunt in asap that way if she finds out the hard way that childbirth really really hurts they can get anaesthetic in straight away rather than have to call out the duty anaesthetist who may take some time to arrive

Also consider the majority of female Consultant Obstetricians opt for an elective caesarean rather than natural… some call this “too posh to push” approach but it actually removes any possibility of Birth trauma .. and is something that should be considered (but with obvious aftercare overheads, but with the bonus that it leaves the fanny nice and tight for next time rumpy dumpy)

And crucially remember you have a voice and don’t be afraid to use it

[sasguru]

SG junior was born at the Portland. Well worth paying the approx £9K it cost for spotless facilities, excellent staff and keeping the great unwashed out.

[doodab]

You will be in your own room during the actual birth anyway. It's only during the pre-natal care and recovery afterwards where you will mix with the rest of society.

[russell]

SG junior was born at the Portland. Well worth paying the approx £9K it cost for spotless facilities, excellent staff and keeping the great unwashed out.

Mug, so you payed 9K more for the same outcome you would have got at an NHS with £100 for a private room. I think this saying is appropriate

"A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted"

[Jog On]

WHS. NHS, private room to keep away from the council estate proles.

Anyway, can you actually do private childbirth?

This looks like the way forward

[sasguru]

Mug, so you payed 9K more for the same outcome you would have got at an NHS with £100 for a private room. I think this saying is appropriate

"A Fool And His Money Are Easily Parted"

Same outcome? Possibly who knows? As It was a breech birth there were complications that made me glad we had one of the pre-eminent specialists in his field.
And a private room more like a 5 star.

And BTW £9K is chump change to me, poor boy.

[DimPrawn]

Or elect to have the baby delivered at home in a birthing pool. That way, you are effectively private anyway.

Of course, you can go to the Portland like sasguru did, but then you'll have to spend time with z list celebs and toffy nosed morons.