Private Hospitals for Birth in London Verse USA

How would you compare London private hospitals for birth to those in the USA? I found the interiors of private UK hospitals to be outdated and not as nice as to those in The USA. I am note sure about anything else in regards to private hospitals in London. After viewing two private hospitals in London (Portland and Ludo Wing at St. Mary's) I am not so impressed. Thoughts?

I've never had a baby, but my sister in law is a famous actress, and very 'too posh to push' so she had a c-section in a private hospital in London, and holy moly was it nice in there... We were all given wine and cheese while we waited in the very plush, private lounge. It felt more like we were in a brightly lit, trendy mini-lounge nightclub, than a hospital. We had a waitress, and a menu with snacks on it.
 
And she had a beautiful private room. She even had feather pillows.

When the baby was born, we were all given champagne, and told it was a boy, and told his name. And when she was ready, we were taken in to see her and the baby.

In her room, there was another menu, with cosmetic procedures and random other things that were available. Manicures, massage, hair and make-up artists, a professional photographer to capture the moment, all sorts of things...

I'm assuming they paid an insane amount of money for the birth of their baby.

All in all, it was an odd experience for me, as I had only been in England for like 6 months! 

Not a private hospital in London but the best birth experience I ever had was in a dated 1980s decor NHS hospital staffed by fabulous midwives.  So I would say the midwives are more crucial than the wallpaper.

Hi Lara,

Which hospital did your sister give birth in? I have viewed the so called best private "Portland Hospital" and I was not impressed! It was like an airport and the rooms were very basic, not plush at all. The hospital was so busy that I was unable to view the delivery rooms. For £8000 you expect some peacefulness, right? The Ludo wing at St. Mary's was more civilised and patient friendly but the decor of the hotel seemed like an old outdated hospital even though it was recently renovated. I may just be too picky! Maybe American hospitals just pay more attention to its interiors than the British.

I'm about to sound crazy, but I remember her saying she had her first kid at John and Lizzie's, whatever that means, it is some sort of birthing centre. And she loved it there. I have no idea why she did not go back to that one.
And the recent one was at something called the Linda, or the Londo, or the Lido?
OK, maybe not the Lido. That is a pool. Something like that.

I'm sorry. I can't call her. She is in Africa. And my hubby cannot remember exactly where it was - he thinks maybe Chelsea.

I can ask her over Christmas...

My hubby just told me that his other sister told him that they spent 20k, but I don't think that can possibly be right, can it?

She had a specialist cosmetic doctor do her stitches, so maybe that was extra?

OP: Have you sought out opinions/recommendations on Mumsnet or a site like it? I know there are Expats on Mumsnet.

Check out Chelsea and Westminster hospital. Note that st John and Elizabeth's hospital closed its birthing unit.

I'll bite.  I had my kid at Portland.  We had US insurance still, so it was mostly covered -- the way a US hospital would be covered.  We would have looked at the Lindo Wing at St Mary's but it was undergoing renovations at the time.  

Portland was nice enough, but nothing like the reports of it being super crazy plush to just walk in the door.  But it was nice, clean, and I liked my doc and that's where she delivers.  I wanted a private room with a private toilet.  I was happy enough, but I have nothing to compare it to -- my kid is an only.

Ugly wasn't part of the equation.  I'm a pretty low maintenance girl, so I didn't much care about all of the extras they will provide for a price.  I'm pretty sure that's where the extra plush stuff comes in -- extras.

And ditto to Sara Smile, John & Lizzie's is St John and St Elizabeth's in St John's Wood -- in back of Wellington Hospital, and their birth unit has been closed for a few years.  

Yeah, the US hospitals, especially the new private ones, are plush because they get loads of insurance dollars, so it's competitive business.  I don't think the care is really all that different.  I'm not personally prepared to spend nearly 10K for pretty pillows and curtains, so I won't be a lot of help in knowing about the private hospitals here. 

I was a little surprised at the feel of hospital interiors when I first arrived, but later realised it was the care that was important.  My best ever birth experience was in a little local hospital from Victorian times that got torn down 8 months after our daughter was born.  It wasn't at all pretty, but they took fantastic care of us in a very personal way.  I'd second the getting on to mumsnet and asking people for experiences with delivering in different hospitals.

I am in the same boat deciding where to deliver my 2nd child but my 1st delivery in the UK. 

I had a terrific experience in a private room in New York City and I'm a bit terrified going into the ward system after delivery with a bathroom down the hall and many other women and new babies rooming in - not to mention walking to the cafeteria to have meals.  The NHS hospital I'm scheduled to deliver in has really limited visiting hours and it was so helpful to have my husband staying overnight with our son.  I'm not as worried about posh comfort as privacy, comfort and access for my family.   

We're visiting the Portland in early January.  I've had someone recommend the Kensington Wing of the Chelsea and Westminster and I think that's the place for the 5 Star service and price tag!

I am in the same boat deciding where to deliver my 2nd child but my 1st delivery in the UK.  

I had a terrific experience in a private room in New York City and I'm a bit terrified going into the ward system after delivery with a bathroom down the hall and many other women and new babies rooming in - not to mention walking to the cafeteria to have meals.  The NHS hospital I'm scheduled to deliver in has really limited visiting hours and it was so helpful to have my husband staying overnight with our son.  I'm not as worried about posh comfort as privacy, comfort and access for my family.    

That was pretty much how I felt, too.  I just wanted a private room and bathroom and wanted my husband to be able to be there at any time.  I was having a csection and knew I would need some help.  I can't imagine we'd have spent the money if we didn't have our US insurance coverage still, but we pay for it, so may as well use it.

We didn't even look at Chelsea & Westminster.  Portland was super convenient for us.

That makes sense.  Keep in mind that every hospital differs with those policies.  There are lots of discussions on here talking about the differences between hospitals.  My last delivery was completely private from start to finish.  I could have my husband stay there with me overnight even if I wanted to.  I was also fed in my room.  The midwives were absolutely lovely.

Part of the main difference was I went to a midwife-led unit.  It was nice and personal with plenty of private space.  My first delivery was half and half.  I started consultant led, but then didn't have time for an epidural and had a normal delivery with a full ward, so they transferred me to the midwife led unit at the same hospital after delivery.  If you are at all considering a delivery that doesn't have medical elements--like no epidural or c-sections, than you can have a very different experience.  It is my one bugabear with the UK system that if I want an epidural, it completely dictates the environment I'll be in.

So anyway, check with different hospitals and their policies.  Even with my big NHS hospital that my first delivery was in my husband stayed with me all day in the ward and didn't go home until around 8pm, after which I actually found it nice to be able to visit with some other women.  We also had all our meals there in our beds.  We didn't have to go to any cafeteria, although we could if we wanted something different than what they were serving for the patients.  I think you'll have to rely on others to tell you about London hospitals specifically though as I didn't deliver there.

While I didn't have my son in the UK -- we wound up going back to the US a few months before he was born -- the NHS hospital we live near offers en-suite private rooms. The midwife-led unit is actually very nice and I feel I would have been happy giving birth there. I'm sure I paid WAY too much giving birth in the US (even if the accommodation was excellent!)

I had my first two in great US hospitals and 3rd at the Portland. Portland was wonderful and I never felt pressured to have a c-section. Never had the impression it was a too posh to push kind of hospital at all. I certain pushed and unmedicated (bad idea in retrospect!). I felt very confident about the medical competancy and hygiene practicies among the physicians and staff, which I can't say about the many NHS hospitals we toured. I adore our pediatrician who was the ped assigned to us at the Portland. As wonderful as it was, it would be considered an average-level for the US in terms of amenities, space, decor, and service. Hope that's helpful info.

I personally have gone out of my way to make sure my second and last baby will be born in the UK in an NHS hospital. Say what you want about the NHS, but midwifery care and childbirth is one thing I personally think they do far better than the US.