Private Health Insurance and Pregnancy

..... joined PPP and paid privately to have her baby. It went as smooth as clockwork.

Rosy, what's a PPP?  Is that a Private Patient's Plan  Don't mean to sound stupid but we're in the process of looking into private healthcare and I'm just learning the lingo.  We have BUPA which totally **sucks** does not cover one penny of pregnancy.

We found a private obstetrician whom we love and the cost of having a child here in a totally private setting (barring no complications) is about £10K.  Which is what we expected, a small price to pay for the welfare of your newborn's future.  Anyway, we would like to see if we can get some type of additional healthcare.  Even if they only cover half (has to be worth it).  Can you recommend a PPP company? Or perhaps your GF?  Because I'm in the "high-risk category" for pregnancy I would be getting more scans than ususal and testing which I'm sure is going to up the ££.  Doesn't matter to us but if we can manage some of the cost through a private healthcare company, why not!!

P.S. Sarah don't get flipped out by this.  Like many have said it depends on where you live, the hospitals there, etc.  Use your soon-to-be motherly instincts sweetie (which I'm sure have sharply developed the past couple of weeks).  If you feel you're getting the best care possible and you and David are happy with it - then that's all that matters!!  Don't go blowing this out of proportion!!  You love your midwife and have no doubts about her or the hospital where you will have baby brio then go with that.  Don't go back on how you feel and question it...

I am not too sure what PPP stands for, but I will certainly try to find out for you.

I want to stress again, I live in London, which as far as pressure on NHS goes - it is HIGH. I am SURE that there are many hospitals that are great and that your care will be wonderful.  

I came from USA where you can literally eat off the hospital floors and the equipment is state of the art, which I am sure is one of the reasons I find the conditions here so aweful, but hey it isnt third world standards by any means and considering what the NHS is up against they do a fine job.

I am so sorry, it was very insensitive of me to not chose my statements more carefully   (although I swear everything I said was true). I KNOW how scary this must seem and I want to assure you that despite my NHS experiences, both my babies were born healthy and treated with the best care my hospital could provide.

Try not to worry doll, everything will be fine I am sure and if you are really concerned you can always ask to be refered to a Consultant (this is what they call a specialist in UK). They also call them Mr/Mrs rather than Dr. - dont ask me why
As soon as I find out from my girlfriend I will post the answer. Again, try not to worry I am sure everything will be just fine.

Well, after reading all that, I wouldn't be at all surprised if you really were shedding a little tear Marlespo! You poor thing!  :-/

Just to add my two cents, and I hope the topic doesn't upset you, but I just wanted to assure you that sometimes it's ok despite the "non-American-ness" of it all.

I previously mentioned in my introduction post that hubby and I were thrilled to find out we were pregnant upon returning from our honeymoon this May, but unfortunately suffered a pretty awful miscarriage a few months later.

My experience with my ante-natal care from the NHS however, was nothing but positive. Even though I had to choose a hospital slightly out of my way (the closest one was too antiquated for my taste), my nurses at St. Thomas' in London were caring and attentive.

I had started spotting slightly about a week before the miscarriage and was of course completely panicked. When I called the Early Pregnancy Unit, they had me come in right away and were very understanding about my state. I ended up calling them many times over that week, at different times of day, and of course with my American accent, they always knew who it was! But each time I was told to come in just to be sure (I was never placated or made to feel my that worry was to be minimized in any way) and each time I was thoroughly checked.

At my last visit that week, the nurses were very familiar with me. When I just started to bawl becuase I had a feeling this just wasn't normal, I was treated very empathetically and yet this time she did tell me to prepare just in case it did turn out to be an oncoming miscarriage. (It wasn't until a couple days later that I suddenly hemorrhaged very badly...prior to that all tests were positive and my cervix was still closed.) I appreciated her honesty and felt she handled it with great care to my feelings.

Even though the paramedics did not take me there since I had to go to Royal London which was closer, I additionally received nothing but positive care there as well. I was there for about a day and a half and yes, the ward was something out of a post WWII movie with 20 beds of women. But I cannot complain about the care and follow up in any way.

I wasn't thrilled when I first began reading about midwife care and I remember telling my mom that I really wish I could have had my baby in the US, but when it came down to it, I was quick to give them praise. I can truly say that everyone from both hospitals, whether it was in the EPU or the A&E, doctors or nurses, were nothing but top notch.

Again, please forgive me for bringing up the topic (I know I didn't necessarily want to hear about such things when I was pregnant), but I just wanted to put your mind at ease about the level of care in general.

Congrats to you and hubby by the way and I hope to be there myself again soon!  

Brooke

It's such a personal choice for each women.  And unfortunately depends upon where you live and what type of care you will receive, your medical history, etc.  So each case of course is different.  It's just what you were raised on and what you're use to. Speaking for myself and coming from NY there were no such thing as have a midwife deliver your baby.  It was a more common practice for people who live in the West and Mid-western states.  We have doulas    It's basically a birthing coach who is there every step of the way with you but just doesn't deliver the baby.  Just now birthing centers are popping up in the NYC/metro area but it's still not a common practice.  I have four friends who are currently pregnant and all of them have a private obstetrician.  The more earthy females are the one's who are more apt to have a midwife (if you're from NYC) for a more surreal experience, I suppose.

What's right for one person is not exactly right for the next.  Like I said I have no doubt about the midwives here but for me I would never have one deliver our baby because being I am in a "high-risk category" and will definitely need an obstetrician..  That's what happens when you're an old lady and TTC at 35 for the first time!!    As for Sara she's a puppy and I'm sure will have no complications.  I'm sure she is in good hands, David would have it no other way!!

As for private health insurance can anyone recommend a company or two?  (And not Bupa they are totally useless, it's not what they cover, it what THEY DON'T COVER which is not a whole helluvalot!!)  We're already covered from them because of Glen's job. That's when I miss the my medical coverage from back home

For the record -

Just thought I'd throw in my experience for the hell of it.

I'm 35, and preggers for the first time.  My husband and I moved here in June, about 2 weeks after I realized I was pregnant.  

I initially tried to see what I could get with my husband's Cigna International private insurance, but it was just too much of a pain, as it is in the US.  Being on hold, having to wait for their arbitrary processing measures - very frustrating.  Finally I just said, bugger it, I'm going to check on NHS.

I was about through with my first trimester, as I reckoned it, by the time I could arrange it all - not due to any failings by NHS, but because we hadn't found a flat yet.  In July, we knew we were moving to Muswell Hill in North London, so I called some surgeries to get things moving.  (I didn't spell that right, hmmmm).  I got an appointment within a few days at a place within a ten minute walk of our flat. (These two facts still amaze me, give that I was used to waiting 6 weeks and driving 30 minutes across town for appts in the US!)

The GP pushed on my abs, said, yup, you're pregnant, and I filled out maybe three short forms. I needed to choose a hospital to get my antenatal care started, so I was in a bit of a rush to figure out which to pick.   I canvassed a few mums with new babes on the street   and after getting some recommendations, went with the closest one, Whittington.  My husband and I took a tour first, and though I can honestly say I wasn't bowled over by the facilities, the staff were so pleasant, and the patients seemed pleased, so we signed on.

A midwife gave me a dating scan a few weeks later, and she noted what might have been a slight abnormality.  She immediately had us talk with a consultant (i.e. OB) and he talked us through a few things.  They scheduled us for a more complete scan in a few weeks time, and another OB did that scan.  She became my consultant - though thankfully the abnormality cleared up and she told us everything looked great.  She did note that my placenta was a bit low, so scheduled me for a 30 week scan to check on things.  

I've seen members from my team of midwives since for routine checkups and everything has been fine.  

Now, I'll admit, I'm lucky that my pregnancy has gone extremely well, so I don't anticipate any complications.    If I were in the US, I probably wouldn't go with midwives, but only because it's not something that I'm familiar with and seems more 'alternative'.  But this is all a new experience for me, I've nothing to compare it to, and I'm keeping an open mind.  And so far, I have absolutely no qualms about entrusting my care to these people.

I know this post is deadly long, but two more points.  

Curse my big fat sausage fingers on this laptop!

Anyways, my two last points:

First, they are trying to improve facilities, it just takes time and money.  The reason I'm here in London is because my husband is working on hospitals here with his architecture firm.  

Secondly, I love the fact that I have never seen one bill, never had to be on hold with a stupid insurance company, never had to switch providers because my work changed insurance policies. Etc.  The NHS, with all its failing, is a gift to the citizens of this country.

Clunk.
(Me falling off my soapbox now.)

Just thought I would throw my two pence in!

I am the proud mother of 2 little boys and have almost decided to try for a third.  I used to live in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio.  So I was used to very good hospitals.  I haven't had any experience with the hospitals here but have had excellent care with our local surgery for me and the boys.  I won't go into detail but my birth experiences in the states with both kids were not good ones.  The last one my doctor literally got there in time to put one glove on and say push and then barely got her gown on to deliver my son.  All because of the hospital and how the staff were.  My first I had an epidural...another bad story and my second...NOTHING!  Again not because I denied it but because the hospital didn't have it's act together.  I thought I wouldn't ever be able to make a "natural" birth but it really wasn't as bad as I thought and would probably go that route again.

I digress...basically I think it just depends on the area and what you expect.  Though labor and delivery may be horrible it seems that most everyone including myself..survived to fight another day and with great kids!

Take care,

Kathy

I'll be giving birth at Addenbrookes in Cambridge, at their Rosie Maternity Unit. So far I've heard nothing but good things about them. We'll be taking a tour in a few weeks so I can be a bit more prepared emotionally for the event (or maybe just pretending to be more prepared.) So far the medical people have been nice to me. Hope it continues.

I'll be giving birth at Addenbrookes in Cambridge, at their Rosie Maternity Unit. So far I've heard nothing but good things about them.

The Rosie was also offered to patients down here in Hertfordshire.  I, too, have heard nothing but good things about The Rosie, however, I didn't choose them because it was too far away.

Sara...just a note on the whole pregnancy thing...make sure you get a step b test done....I am pretty sure that is what it is called in the states.  It is routine in the states but from what I have seen on the news it is not routine in the UK.  I was negative for my first child and positive for my second.  All it means if you are positive is that they will give you antibiotics during labor for the baby and possibly something for the baby once it is born.  

It has been in the news lately because if not tested for or treated it could have some serious outcomes.  At least ask your pregnancy person/midwife/whoever about it.

Kathy

Step B? I've never heard of that. I've already had my main blood tests done, I didn't ask for the whole list of what they tested me for but it was a long list I know, maybe it was already in there... anyone know more about this? Should I be worried? My next appt isn't for another 8 weeks, I've got an ultrasound in 3/4 but that doesn't count as it's not a checkup, should I ask  in 8 weeks or is this something bad and I need to call my midwife right away and see if she tested me for it??

It's actually Strep B:

"Group B Streptococcus, or GBS, is one of many different bacteria that normally live in our bodies. Approximately one third of adults 'carry' GBS in their intestines and a quarter of women have it in their vagina. Most don't know it's there, as the bacteria don't usually cause problems or symptoms. However, in rare cases, GBS can cause serious illness and even death in newborn babies.

Your baby is more likely to develop a GBS infection if:

• you go into labour prematurely (before 37 weeks of pregnancy)

• your waters break prematurely (before 37 weeks) with or without other signs of labour

• your waters break more than 18 to 24 hours before you have your baby

• you have a raised temperature (37.8C or higher) during labour

• you have been found to carry GBS during your current pregnancy

• GBS has been found in your urine during this pregnancy (this should be treated when diagnosed, but even if you have been treated, extra precautions should still be taken during labour."
-babycentre.co.uk

I looked through my blood tests, and it doesn't appear that I was tested for this.  I guess it would be a good idea to ask about it at our next appointments, but I don't see it as an emergency.  Anyone else know how this is usually handled in the UK?

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents as I am an RN, specialized as an obstetric nurse. I practiced for 5 years in Texas at a 500 bed hospital, averaged about 200 deliveries a year.

I have worked in the NHS system for the last 2 years in gynaecology and Womens Health.

As far as American hospitals being "cleaner"- that shiny coat of paint on the walls doesn't have anything to do with microscopic organisms all over EVERYTHING.  Ever heard of MRSA? Its that darn bacteria that keeps mutating and becoming more and more resistant to antibiotics- it is ubiquitous in every single one of those lovely clean hospitals!!!

I've researched and compared the US and UK health systems- as this has had a huge impact on my life since moving here-- and I found that life expectancy is longer(slightly) here in UK- and as far as general health concerns and morbidity- you are "on average" better off here!!!!  its true!!!!!!

BUT- specifically regarding pregnancy and birthing- their system is FAR superior to ours- they use the midwifery model of care- which basically assumes that mom and baby are healthy- and only brings in the docs when necessary.

This system makes sense because pregnancy is not after all, an illness!!

The key elements in the midwifery model are normality, facilitation of natural processes with the minimal amount of evidence-based interventions.

Todays obstetrical "care" in the US is dictated by the fear of malpractice litigation.  This is not some "earthy" womans bizarre claim, I am very sad to say, this is fact.  The most common medical interventions used today in obstetrics, ie episiotomy, forceps, vacuum extraction(ventouse) Oxytocin induction and cesarean section are most commonly used in ways that are not supported by research or evidence based practice- they are used by doctors in attemtps to prevent litigation.

So- Is Sarah safe having a baby here in England with all these granola munching midwives about?

YES!!!!!!!!

In current scientific literature, there is not one single study demonstrating poorer outcomes with midwives than with physicians for low-risk women. An advantage to midwifery care is that evidence shows primary care by midwives to be as safe or safer than care by physicians.

As far as hi risk pregnancies go- I would still go with the NHS over private care.  Behind the scenes of these hospitals there are teams of highly skilled nurses/midwives/doctors- sure some of the wards may need a coat of paint and new curtains- but as far as medical treatments/interventions- its surprisingly similiar to US.  Personally- I would prefer the safer route of midwifery led care with referrals to an OB as needed- rather than have my pregnancy medically managed from the outset.

As far as Bstrep goes, there are studies out there that are contradicting.  I would do some research and just make an informed decision- not blindly following an OB.  LisaM already posted good general info. on Bstrep.

In the meantime-- beware of those pesky "earthy women" and those crazy moon worshipping midwives!!!  

LisaM- just to say Bstrep is not routinely tested for here in UK- it would be a swab taken vaginally around 35-37 weeks pregnancy.
It is not routinely tested because it is not a common problem in normal healthy pregnancies.

In the meantime-- beware of those pesky "earthy women" and those crazy moon worshipping midwives!!!  

Now that you know my secret....  Can I just say, nursemeh....I LOVE YOU!  MARRY ME!  You've said everything I've been thinking and then some!  A-F***ING-MEN to all of it!