Private pregnancy care is something that more expectant mothers are considering doing. It's a choice that costs nothing, there's no paperwork to fill out and you can choose the best doctor in the area. All the best!
But why would you ever opt for private pregnancy care? The main reason to do so is if your pregnancy is unplanned and unexpected. Yes, naturally you will have some personal bias towards private care, at least until you know how much the labour was and how your body reacts to it. But if you end up going through the traditional public medical system to get your baby then the final trade-off is that you don't get to decide who provides your healthcare and you also give up your rights to choose your doctor.
Let's look first at the advantages. When you go through an NHS birthing centre you are forced to go under the watchful eye of an obstetrician. Unless you are prepared to take your care into your own hands then you really don't know what is going on inside that womb. This can lead to a very stressful and difficult labour. With private pregnancy care however, you will usually only see the consultant of the maternity hospital, who will take over from the obstetrician. The consultant will often be a woman who has done this sort of work before and therefore will know the labour and delivery process far better than your general practitioner.
This can hugely reduce the stress and anxiety that you may experience during the period immediately following birth. Another major advantage is that you will have someone who knows how to deliver a baby safely. When a woman gives birth to her baby she is often not fully prepared mentally and physically to do it alone. Many women struggle for weeks or months following birth and need comforting, reassurance and help with the transition to being parents. A specialist will understand exactly what you are going through and will provide it.
One of antenatal information the key features of a private pregnancy care package is the high standard of ultrasound imaging that is provided. Your consultant will bring you into the room and, with the aid of equipment, show you how the scan is performed. There is no need to worry about being presented with several forms of X-rays, as your consultant will explain each one and why it is important to have it done. These scans will demonstrate the development of your baby, as well as any problems that are evident in the area of the womb. It will also demonstrate whether you are carrying a healthy baby or if there are any abnormality in the positioning of your organs or in the positioning of your legs.
The vast majority of women who give birth in a private hospital do so without a caesarean section. However, for some, it is necessary to give birth to the child as planned, regardless of the circumstances. In this case they will be presented with an options package. In it, they can choose a caesarean section or a vaginal birth. Your obstetrician will help you to understand what these procedures involve and why they are desirable, both physically and financially.