Choosing private maternity care or unit to give birth to your newborn baby ?

Worried about which hospital to give birth at ? Shortage of midwives? putting childbirth at risk? we discuss the UK Private Maternity Care and unit options!

Choosing  private maternity care or unit to give birth to your newborn baby ?
With a shortage of midwives and care sometimes compromised in maternity units more and more mums can opt for a private maternity unit to have both antenatal checkups, build relationships with the midwives who will be on duty when your baby is due.Giving you more self choice and putting your mind at ease that the same staff will be there for you until the birth. you have the same continunity of care and in the comfort and privacy of your own private room too if needed.

We look at some of the top uk maternity care and hospitals we recommend you to book in privately with should you and your husband decide it is the best option forward.
First here are some important questions you may want to discuss with your husband or partner before deciding which hospital to contact in the first instance.You may want to copy paste and print out the information too..

1. What are you hoping to get out of a private hospital to give birth to your baby.
2.Locality of the hospital if you want to stay over is it near home or if your partner may be away do you have a friend that can go with you when they are not available.
3.What facilities do they have in place for emergncy baby care or problem pregnancies.
4.Would a Doula not be more suitable to meet your maternity needs.
5.Are any family memebers allowed to visit you at the time of birth .some hospitals are very strict when it comes to visitors, some NHS maternity hositials only offer immediate family visiting  ie your children to visit not your sisters kids or your cousins kids.They do send other family away beware.

THE BIRTH COMPANY
 services offered...modern and spacious clinic in Harley Street, London.
Pregnancy Care
Ultrasound Baby Scans
Gynaecology Care
Cervical Suture
packages are designed to provide complete care to the highest standard, in professional yet comfortable and relaxed surroundings.
The birth Company offer two main options of care: the Consultant package and the Integrated package. You can start your pregnancy care  at any stage of your pregnancy. Please note that they also offer antenatal care for women who plan to have their baby delivered in other hospitals, including hospitals abroad.Current tel number is London W1G 6BF
Phone: 020 7725 0528
THE PORTLAND HOSPITAL LONDON
NEW EXTENSIVE SERVICES OFFERED HIGHLY RECOMENDED.5**** BY CHEEKY CHUMS

Treatment and Care
Our staff are often commended on their professional yet friendly approach. All staff  do everything they can to make your visit as comfortable as possible.they ensure a high ratio of nursing staff per patient with an average of three to four patients to one nurse/midwife. This ratio is increased to one to one care in critical areas such as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Labour Ward.
Patient Safety and Emergency Care.
Patient safety is priority. The Portland Hospital has specialists and facilities on hand should an emergency arise. In these circumstances you or your child will be cared for by senior doctors such as Consultant Obstetricians, Gynaecologists or Paediatricians, Resident Consultant Anaesthetists, Resident Medical Officers (RMO's) and experienced nursing staff in the facility appropriate to the care required.
These facilities include a dedicated emergency obstetric theatre, NICU, a Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and an adult High Dependency Unit (HDU).
All staff have training in emergency procedures. All clinical staff have been trained in basic life support skills. Many also have skills in intermediate and advanced life support, paediatric advanced life support and newborn life support.
The Portland Hospital's Maternity Unit incorporates 5 delivery suites on the dedicated labour ward and 30 en-suite bedrooms across the two postnatal floors including 21 single bedrooms, 3 double bedded rooms, 2 deluxe rooms and 4 suites. In addition, two nurseries are available to provide assistance and advice in caring for your baby. Unmatched by other private units, our maternity service is complemented by the full resource of our children's hospital including a special care baby unit and neonatal intensive care for babies born over 32 weeks gestation.
Both Consultant led and Midwife led care is available dependent on your individual birthing requirements. Once your baby is born we offer evidence based advice on feeding and caring for your newborn, postnatal exercises and paediatric services such as newborn hearing tests, in addition to daily visits from a paediatrician.
Midwife Led Delivery Service is a dynamic service provided by a small team of friendly and committed midwives offering a welcoming and relaxed environment for women with uncomplicated pregnancies.
The team provides care with support from leading Consultant Obstetricians, Sonographers and Physiotherapists. It offers the opportunity to get to know the Midwives caring for you in your pregnancy and labour, and for them to get to know you. The package of care is inclusive of routine ultrasound scans, antenatal care and delivery by team members who also visit during the postnatal hospital period. The package is based on use of a standard room, midwifery care and a 48 hour hospital stay from the time of admission.
Midwifery Support Clinic
The Midwifery Support Clinic is available for consultations during the antenatal period and for new mothers up to 28 days post delivery.
The clinic offers one-to-one midwifery advice and support for all areas of concern including lifestyle changes, breast feeding and baby's health checks. Appointments can be booked by contacting the midwives on 020 7390 6318 and are charged at £80 per half hour consultation.current  tel 020 7580 4400
THE KNUTSFORD SUITE
Private postnatal care at the Knutsford Suite covering Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and North
London.
The birth of your baby will take place in the Delivery Suite in Watford General Hospital which delivers more than 5,500 babies a year and aims to provide you with  the very highest standards of care by a highly experienced midwife and obstetric team.

You will be admitted either to the Delivery Suite on the 3rd floor of the Maternity Unit at Watford General or directly to the Knutsford Suite to await transfer. Fully private patients will be cared for by their own consultant and anaesthetist.

For those individuals covered  by their own private medical insurance, or who are self paying, care will be provided by our highly skilled team of NHS midwives, obstetricians and anaesthetists.

After you have recovered from the birth, we will transfer you and your baby to the Knutsford Suite.
NHS Clients are welcome to use the Knutsford Suite for postnatal care on a 'room only' basis while continuing to use NHS medical and midwifery care.
Postnatal Care
Congratulations!
On arrival to the Knutsford Suite, you will be cared for by our team of experienced and committed NHS midwives, maternity care assistants and nursery midwives.

Your postnatal care will vary depending on the type of birth you have had, as well as you and your baby's individual needs. If you have had a caesarean section, your recovery may take a little longer.

The midwives and maternity assistants will support you with the care of your baby, making sure you are well, and helping you with feeding your baby.

Breastfeeding is encouraged, and your choice of feeding your baby is supported. We aim to involve you fully in every aspect of caring for your baby.

National guidance recommends that well babies are not separated from their mothers at any time, and unless medically indicated, your baby will remain with you in your room at all times.

Everyone who visits the Knutsford Suite is treated with kindness, respect and dignity.

Your Baby
All babies will receive a hearing screening test in the room shortly after delivery.

All babies will receive a full examination in the first few days following delivery. This will be undertaken by a paediatrician or an appropriately trained midwife. During this examination, you will have the opportunity to discuss your baby's health and future development.

Alternatively, staff  can arrange for a consultant paediatrician to examine your baby for which there would be an additional private fee paid directly to the consultant.

Going Home
Staff will make arrangements for your community midwife to visit you when you get home from hospital. The midwife should visit you on the day after you are discharged home and will plan how often she visits you after this time. If the community midwife does not visit, or if you are concerned about your baby's health in any way, please contact the unit immediately.

While you are in hospital, Staff give you information to enable you to look after yourself and more importantly how to recognise and respond to problems.

You will also be offered information and advice to enable you to:

Assess your baby's general condition
Identify signs and symptoms of common health problems
Contact a healthcare professional or emergency service.for up to date articles and premature baby clothes for neonatal units and home visit  Cheeky Chums its choices galore at the premature baby clothes superstore.at http://cheekychumsonline.co.uk