0:00:02 > 0:00:05Bring the baby to you. OK.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08Parenthood - the great leveller.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15But if there's a way to make one of life's most basic rituals
0:00:15 > 0:00:17a little bit easier,
0:00:17 > 0:00:20there will always be someone willing to pay for it.
0:00:24 > 0:00:26The Portland in Central London
0:00:26 > 0:00:29is Britain's only private maternity hospital.
0:00:29 > 0:00:35The Portland can provide speedy access to the best care possible.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36That comes at a price.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41To follow in the footsteps of mothers like the Duchess of York
0:00:41 > 0:00:46and Victoria Beckham starts at around £10,000.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Whenever I've heard friends of mine say,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53"Our baby was born in The Portland," I've always been like, "Ooh!"
0:00:53 > 0:00:59With so many luxury services on offer, from 24-hour fine dining
0:00:59 > 0:01:04to silver handcrafted baby mementos, it's easy to spend much more.
0:01:04 > 0:01:09In my time at The Portland, I've seen somebody spend over £500,000.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Looking after every need of the wealthy clientele
0:01:12 > 0:01:16is a small army of consultants,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19chefs, midwives and cleaners.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22They're very demanding, I must say.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26You know, sometimes you think, "My God, what planet do they come from?"
0:01:26 > 0:01:31But can they make one of life's most intimate and painful moments
0:01:31 > 0:01:34feel like a stay in a five-star hotel?
0:01:34 > 0:01:37What do you think it would be like having a baby
0:01:37 > 0:01:38if you didn't have money?
0:01:38 > 0:01:41Oh, my God. Are you kidding me?
0:01:44 > 0:01:46I would have died straight away.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01Four times a year, The Portland Hospital opens its doors to
0:02:01 > 0:02:04prospective parents, hoping to entice them
0:02:04 > 0:02:08into buying the ultimate luxury childbirth experience.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10If you come and take a seat in the waiting room,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13the midwife will be with you shortly. Thank you very much.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17Inside this building are 36 private rooms,
0:02:17 > 0:02:21where parents pay for cutting-edge medical care in lavish surroundings.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24So this is one of our suites.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28It's got a bedroom and a sitting room.
0:02:28 > 0:02:33On offer, everything a mother could desire - for a price.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35In this corridor we have our midwives
0:02:35 > 0:02:38and we have our lactation nurse.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42And then in this corridor along here we've got imaging, so we've got
0:02:42 > 0:02:47a sonographer, we have a dietician, and we've got a photography company.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50From your own personal newborn photographer
0:02:50 > 0:02:51to the ultimate baby souvenirs...
0:02:51 > 0:02:53What's the most popular? Is it silver?
0:02:53 > 0:02:57Silver is very popular, but some people prefer the classic bronze.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02..the hospital sells the dream of the perfect opulent birth.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06The Portland receives patients from all over the world
0:03:06 > 0:03:08and from all walks of life.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10You know, we have princesses from the Middle East
0:03:10 > 0:03:12who deliver here quite regularly.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15We have celebrities,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17individuals of very high net worth.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20So I'm just going to take you round to show you one of our...
0:03:20 > 0:03:23They are women that are used to getting what they want, but,
0:03:23 > 0:03:26you know, we're a hospital that's trying to deliver what they want.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29If they want to have 10 additional rooms, 20 additional rooms,
0:03:29 > 0:03:31we'll provide it.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33As long as that woman, or her husband, can pay
0:03:33 > 0:03:37for what they're requesting, then we'll do our best to deliver.
0:03:37 > 0:03:38I heard the food here is really good.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41Did they say anything about the midwives being absolutely fantastic?
0:03:41 > 0:03:43He said all of that was great,
0:03:43 > 0:03:45but he said everyone really comments on the food.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47I have to say, the food is very good.
0:03:52 > 0:03:57We have the luxury that we can pretty much get most things.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59We can get foie gras. We can get lobsters.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02We can get oysters, if people want them.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05We have a fantastic champagne selection here as well.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Not every hospital stocks Dom Perignon and things like that.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12We're really focused on our food quality, the look,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15the presentation, modelling it on the top hotels,
0:04:15 > 0:04:19The Dorchester and others, because we want to deliver that five-star
0:04:19 > 0:04:23service for patients that are used to receiving a five-star service.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27But we've got to fundamentally remember that we're a hospital.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31So we are a hotel, but primarily we're a hospital.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Essential to the Portland experience is pampering
0:04:39 > 0:04:41the mother at every stage of childbirth.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46At most hospitals, mothers have to look after their babies,
0:04:46 > 0:04:49even when recovering from labour.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53But here, newborns can be cared for by the staff.
0:04:55 > 0:04:56On the first floor is one of the
0:04:56 > 0:05:00biggest selling points of the hospital...
0:05:00 > 0:05:02the nursery.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04Good morning. Good morning, gentlemen.
0:05:04 > 0:05:09Not only is Janene the CEO, she's also a Portland mother.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11Hello, how are you?
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Two of her three children have been delivered here.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20What I can advocate about here is it is like having a holiday.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22You know, when you deliver at The Portland,
0:05:22 > 0:05:24you get to use the nursery.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27Your baby is only brought back for feeding time.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30So you absolutely, after two to three nights, leave here really fit
0:05:30 > 0:05:36and well and ready to face the challenges of being a new mum.
0:05:36 > 0:05:37That's how it should be.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43This is the privilege of being CEO, being able to come and see the
0:05:43 > 0:05:47little ones, and, you know, it can't help but make you smile for the day.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50It's a really nice feeling,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53although I'm not into crying babies any longer.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55- INTERVIEWER:- No broodiness, though?
0:05:55 > 0:05:58No broodiness, no, not after three. I'm over.
0:05:58 > 0:05:59I'm over having kids.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05When I had my now seven-year-old,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07he was a complete screamer,
0:06:07 > 0:06:11and I remember him screaming his head off, and in walked Pat.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Pat picked him up with her confident hands...
0:06:14 > 0:06:17I said, "You have to behave", and he just looked at me, "OK."
0:06:17 > 0:06:20- And he went quiet.- "OK, then, that's what I'll do. I'll behave."
0:06:20 > 0:06:22There's only one fault with this hospital.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25We don't allow Pat to go home with the new mums.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Thank you very much, ladies.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Some people have said to me - and I'm sure they don't mean it -
0:06:30 > 0:06:33"Do you know who I am?"
0:06:33 > 0:06:36And I've always had to say no, because I don't.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39I don't recognise many people.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41I don't get star-struck.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43I'm baby-struck.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Originally from a small town near Glasgow,
0:06:46 > 0:06:51Pat has looked after nearly 8,000 babies over the past 20 years.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54Each new mother gives instructions detailing
0:06:54 > 0:06:57how they wish their offspring to be cared for.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01This one here says, "One formula and then back to Mum."
0:07:01 > 0:07:04So we change the baby's nappy, wind the baby,
0:07:04 > 0:07:07try and settle the baby until the next feed.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09- INTERVIEWER:- Did you have anything like that
0:07:09 > 0:07:10- when you had your children?- No.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13I wanted my children with me all the time, but we're going back 40-odd
0:07:13 > 0:07:17years, you know, when I had my first child, and that's the way it was.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21I'll just go underneath to check her nappy before she goes back.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23All right, baby.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24No, she's fine.
0:07:27 > 0:07:32In the NHS, most new mothers leave within 24 hours of giving birth.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Here, they can stay for much longer.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39The cheapest room still costs £1,200 per night.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43During their stay,
0:07:43 > 0:07:47babies are tagged to ensure they're returned to the right parent.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Baby Skyler belongs to new mum Anna.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56She was born on Tuesday, so two days ago,
0:07:56 > 0:08:01and I was very, very, very nervous, but all the staff were amazing.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06They just reassured me, held my hand, and it was almost like being
0:08:06 > 0:08:10with family, people that I'd known, so it all went really, really well.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Come on, sweetheart.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15There we go.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18She's my first, so it's even more special.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21I wanted a little girl, so I got everything.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23She's my dream come true.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Anna lives with her husband, Julian,
0:08:28 > 0:08:32a millionaire property developer in the home counties.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34- INTERVIEWER:- When did you guys meet?
0:08:34 > 0:08:38We met from Facebook through somebody
0:08:38 > 0:08:41who basically introduced us to each other,
0:08:41 > 0:08:43and we went out on a blind date and that was it.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45That was three years ago.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48This one here was when me and Anna went to Dubai.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Very loved up.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Basically, I'd been married before and I was desperate to meet
0:08:54 > 0:08:56somebody, and I met Anna and it was amazing.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58So it was love at first sight.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01I had three children and she was amazing with children.
0:09:01 > 0:09:02That's what I wanted.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04So this is my office.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08There's a picture of my three children.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10And this is the kitchen.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14The dogs, I think, are out at the moment at the groomers.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16This is Jamie's room.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19As you can see, she absolutely loves teddy bears.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23And then we've got mine and Anna's bedroom.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26These are pictures of my lovely wife.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28Ex having the baby, but she's no different now.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32- INTERVIEWER:- How's recovery going?
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Yeah, recovery is going OK.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37I think, for every woman, they like to look their best,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39the majority of women.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41If you feel good, then you act out well.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44But then my first priority would be being a mother,
0:09:44 > 0:09:46so I wouldn't necessarily be like, "Oh, you know,
0:09:46 > 0:09:49"I have to look good over being a mother".
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Julian's first child was born on the NHS,
0:09:54 > 0:09:58but since then, only the Portland experience would do.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01He's paid for Anna to stay another two nights before going home
0:10:01 > 0:10:04to face the onslaught of motherhood.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06Hi, gorgeous.
0:10:06 > 0:10:07Hi, Daddy.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Hi, gorgeous.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12Come on, you need to eat.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- Was she good last night?- Yeah.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18She was in the nursery from 10:00 or 11:00
0:10:18 > 0:10:22until I went to see her at 6:00 and give her a cuddle, and then
0:10:22 > 0:10:26I came back for an hour's lie-down and they brought her to me at 7:00.
0:10:26 > 0:10:28There we go.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30She's amazing. She had a baby two days ago.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33She's amazing. She looks like she hasn't had a baby.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35She's amazing.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44The fees at The Portland don't include a dedicated doctor.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53Patients who opt for the basic £8,000 consultant-led package
0:10:53 > 0:10:56choose their own doctor, which can double the cost.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01The consultant will guarantee to be available before,
0:11:01 > 0:11:04during and after the birth.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Dr Penny's credentials have made her
0:11:07 > 0:11:11particularly popular amongst the clientele.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13- INTERVIEWER:- Are you a countess?
0:11:13 > 0:11:15I am a countess. Oh, God.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19I don't often use that at work.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Yes, I'm married to the Earl of Bradford.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24At the Royal College of Obstetricians,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27I have been described as too posh to pull.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- INTERVIEWER LAUGHS - Very funny.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32- Which is so not true, but anyway. - INTERVIEWER:- Too posh to pull!
0:11:32 > 0:11:34"You know her. She's too posh to pull."
0:11:34 > 0:11:36I hope that's not too cold.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Lovely little head down here.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Dr Penny carries out all of her patients' check-ups personally.
0:11:43 > 0:11:44Oh, she's moving now.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48The mother can spend as much time with her consultant as she wants.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51One of the reasons that I like working at The Portland is because
0:11:51 > 0:11:55it allows me to practise the medicine that I was trained to do.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57That's her little knee there.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59'I don't have time constraints,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02'I don't have financial constraints, and it allows me to see'
0:12:02 > 0:12:05the same patient for the whole journey,
0:12:05 > 0:12:07which I can't do in the NHS.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09She may still move,
0:12:09 > 0:12:15but I don't mind if she is bottom first until 36 weeks.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19That continuity of care is not only beneficial for the patient,
0:12:19 > 0:12:22but it's actually really satisfying for the doctor.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24To be honest, it's what we thought we would be doing
0:12:24 > 0:12:26when we trained as doctors.
0:12:28 > 0:12:33Nearly 1,600 women a year pay for the Portland experience.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37It's one of the top private maternity hospitals in Europe.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Hui was a high-society it girl in China
0:12:44 > 0:12:47before she moved to London five years ago.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52She's a regular on the London fashion scene,
0:12:52 > 0:12:55and has just started her own clothing label.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59She's married to a business tycoon
0:12:59 > 0:13:02who runs his shipping empire out of Hong Kong.
0:13:02 > 0:13:04With her husband working abroad,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Hui has taken up residence in West London.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11She's been left to decide where to have their first baby.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14- INTERVIEWER:- Tell me, why did you want to have a baby at The Portland?
0:13:22 > 0:13:26- INTERVIEWER:- Do you know of anyone else that's had babies there?
0:13:26 > 0:13:28Yes. Victoria Beckham.
0:13:30 > 0:13:31She's my icon.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35And is it expensive for you?
0:13:41 > 0:13:46But after I've done so many blood tests, the scan, everything,
0:13:46 > 0:13:48it's just like another 10K.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50So it's, like, in total it's 30.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52But if you have the...
0:13:52 > 0:13:54Should I say that? If you have some money...?
0:13:54 > 0:13:57No, no, no, I cannot say that.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59- INTERVIEWER:- Which one is your favourite?
0:14:04 > 0:14:05That's why I choose here.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11One of the attractions of the hospital is that a mother
0:14:11 > 0:14:15doesn't have to deliver her baby naturally if she doesn't want to.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27Like Victoria Beckham, Hui is having her baby by Caesarean section.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31If you choose to come to the Portland,
0:14:31 > 0:14:33you really can choose your mode of delivery, and I think the nice
0:14:33 > 0:14:36thing about the Portland is that we don't question that judgment.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39We give the women the information that they need,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42and then we allow a woman to make that choice.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46And once she's made that choice, we support her all the way through.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50For the past two months, Hui has been having weekly appointments
0:14:50 > 0:14:54with Dr Shazia, the consultant she's hired to deliver her baby.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Her Caesarean is taking place tomorrow.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01So I'm really excited, because, you know,
0:15:01 > 0:15:03tomorrow I'm going to meet your little one as well.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- Yes.- It's a very big day, isn't it?
0:15:06 > 0:15:10'Sometimes I will get people purely because the midwives told them,'
0:15:10 > 0:15:13"Miss Malik does a very nice scar."
0:15:13 > 0:15:15- TINY HEARTBEAT - It's a nice normal rate.
0:15:15 > 0:15:21But I think the main reason is that they want to know that,
0:15:21 > 0:15:25if something goes wrong, they're going to be delivered
0:15:25 > 0:15:28by somebody actually who knows all about them.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31We just need to go through what the operation involves and the risks.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34- Yeah.- That's important. OK? - Yeah, yeah.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37It is classified as major abdominal surgery,
0:15:37 > 0:15:39which means there are risks associated with it.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43- OK? So the most important risks are infections.- Yeah.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46The other risks are excessive bleeding, or haemorrhage.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48- Oh.- OK?
0:15:48 > 0:15:52Damage to the womb, the bladder, the bowel, OK,
0:15:52 > 0:15:54and other pelvic organs.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59Luckily, they're not big risks, they're mostly less than 1%,
0:15:59 > 0:16:02but they are there, so you need be aware.
0:16:02 > 0:16:04- Last thing, I know you have the instructions.- Yes.
0:16:04 > 0:16:06Nothing to eat from midnight.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10- But I would recommend that you try and get some sleep.- Yes.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- Because from tomorrow your life is going to be different.- I'm sure.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16- My kids are five and seven and I still don't sleep.- Yeah.
0:16:16 > 0:16:19- So get some rest tonight.- Yeah. - OK?- Thank you.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28For Portland mums and dads, the fear of parenthood can be eased
0:16:28 > 0:16:32by free parenting tutorials from Pat.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37I like to get all the dads involved in changing nappies.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40We had a prince in and I said to him,
0:16:40 > 0:16:42you know, "You're a dad. You're changing the nappy,"
0:16:42 > 0:16:45and he said, "No, we don't do that."
0:16:45 > 0:16:49And I said, "No, you do, because you're in my domain now,"
0:16:49 > 0:16:53and he did, and he loved it.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57She delivers old-fashioned care.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Health care has become very much about giving women choices,
0:17:00 > 0:17:03and sometimes as a mum we want to be told how to do things.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06So we're going to give Skyler a nice top and tail.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09That's face and bottom.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12This afternoon, Pat is helping Anna and Julian
0:17:12 > 0:17:15prepare to take baby Skyler home.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17So where did you get a name like Skyler? That is pretty!
0:17:17 > 0:17:20- He chose it.- Did you see it in a book or just...?
0:17:20 > 0:17:22I think I just saw it on Breaking Bad. It was a programme.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25- Oh, Breaking Bad. - Breaking Bad. It's a series.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27There's not a man I know that doesn't watch Breaking Bad.
0:17:27 > 0:17:29Yeah, exactly.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Well, there's a good thing for a girl.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35She likes clothes on.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Oh, she's sick a little bit.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40That's all right. She's trying to lose weight, aren't you?
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Not yet. Doesn't matter about your weight at the moment, Skyler.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46I tell you what she has got, which is wonderful -
0:17:46 > 0:17:48- lovely flat ears.- Yeah.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51She can wear really good earrings when she's older.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54- I know.- She's so tiny.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56Don't they make you emotional? They're so beautiful.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58Can you see how nice that is?
0:17:58 > 0:18:02- Now you can see, so you're not... - Yeah, yeah.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06She's just so tiny. I just want her to gain weight.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09Listen, she wants to be little. Girls like being small.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Look how thin you are.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14Is your milk coming in?
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Well, I took a pill this morning for it to stop.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18Oh.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19I just think because she's so tiny
0:18:19 > 0:18:21I just want her to be well, that's all.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23- You know, it's hormones.- Yeah.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26- You feel fluey and cry... - Yeah, I do.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29- You see how she goes to sleep? - She's fast asleep.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32They just love this.
0:18:32 > 0:18:33- She's fast asleep.- Yeah.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35I need to take you home with me, Pat.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38Well, I'll come with you with my husband and kids.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40We'd all have to come.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43- Thank you very much. - Have you ordered your dinner?
0:18:43 > 0:18:45I'm going to do it now. Thank you so much.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55The Portland was started over 30 years ago
0:18:55 > 0:18:58by the Queen's gynaecologist.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02Today it's owned by the world's largest private health care company,
0:19:02 > 0:19:08HCA, which has an annual turnover of £25 billion.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11The staff is under constant pressure
0:19:11 > 0:19:14to deliver the ultimate luxury hotel experience.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19Roselyn, you've got delivery two to clean, four is a light clean,
0:19:19 > 0:19:22and you've got three up here, so just start in these two rooms,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25please, and obviously the on-call. Here you are.
0:19:26 > 0:19:3126 years ago, Roselyn moved to London from Barbados.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33She's one of 21 full-time cleaners.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35PHONE RINGS
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Hello. Good morning. Roselyn speaking.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40It's in progress.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44The babies aren't the only ones whose movements are monitored.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48Roselyn's boss tracks her progress while she cleans.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52They know everything what I'm doing, how long I'm staying here.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54- INTERVIEWER:- What happens if you stay too long?
0:19:54 > 0:19:56- You get tell off. - SHE LAUGHS
0:19:59 > 0:20:04It's 7:00am. This morning, Hui will become a Portland mother.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Hi, good morning, ma'am. Welcome to The Portland.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10- OK. What's the name, please? Can I just confirm?- Hui, H-U-I.- OK.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13If you'd like to take a seat a second, I'll just confirm the room,
0:20:13 > 0:20:15and then we'll come and collect to you to take you upstairs shortly.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17OK.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21Even got a special way to do the toilet paper.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24So, we just fold it to make it look a bit decent.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27I was going to say it's special!
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Like this. You see that I won't put that there
0:20:32 > 0:20:34because it's dirty.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38The patient come and see that, they won't like it.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41It seems like there's not very much to complain about.
0:20:41 > 0:20:42I know.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Very excited.
0:20:49 > 0:20:51Very, very.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53Oh.
0:20:53 > 0:20:54- Here we go.- Oh.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57- This is standard room, right? - It is, yeah.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00- And that is extra bed? - Mm-hm.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04Hui's mother will also be staying in the room to help.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Hui's husband has jetted in from China for the birth.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09Hey!
0:21:09 > 0:21:11- I'm Annabelle.- Nice to see you.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13I'm your midwife looking after you today.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15- Oh, thank you so much. - OK. Nice to meet you.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18Who is coming down with you to theatre?
0:21:18 > 0:21:20My mum and also my husband.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22It's only one person.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24OK, I have to think about.
0:21:24 > 0:21:25Only one person.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29Oh, my God. Which one? My mummy or my husband?
0:21:29 > 0:21:31I think maybe my husband...
0:21:31 > 0:21:34because he's my love.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44When I was younger, I wanted to be a singer...
0:21:46 > 0:21:48..cos I love singing.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52So, what are your dreams now?
0:21:52 > 0:21:54Hmm.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58I'd like to win the lottery.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00That would be a nice dream.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04I wouldn't, at the same time, because if I win the lottery,
0:22:04 > 0:22:08I just come off work, cos in that home, you're sitting down,
0:22:08 > 0:22:09you get bored, eh?
0:22:11 > 0:22:14If I do five days, I do two days to get out the house.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18That would be some exercise as well for the bones.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26Half of all births that take place at the hospital are Caesareans.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31Most are conducted in the three operating theatres in the basement.
0:22:33 > 0:22:38Hui's Caesarean will be carried out by her consultant Dr Shazia.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40- Good morning.- How are you?
0:22:40 > 0:22:44- Hi. This is my mummy. - Oh, OK. Hello.
0:22:44 > 0:22:45Nice to meet you, I'm Shazia.
0:22:45 > 0:22:46That's my...
0:22:46 > 0:22:48SHE SPEAKS OWN LANGUAGE
0:22:48 > 0:22:50Yes, I'm the doctor. Yes. Come and have a seat.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52Have a seat.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54It's a big day for the whole family.
0:22:54 > 0:22:55Yeah.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57She said you are very pretty.
0:22:57 > 0:22:58SHE LAUGHS
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Thank you. Yes, but I hope I'm a good surgeon.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04That's far more important than my looks.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06OK, all right. I will see you in the theatre.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08- Yeah.- All right. - Thank you so much.
0:23:08 > 0:23:09Take care, see you later. Bye-bye.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11- Love you!- And you.
0:23:11 > 0:23:12DR SHAZIA LAUGHS
0:23:16 > 0:23:17Oh, I'm nervous.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24Hui has chosen her husband to join her for the birth.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27We're doing an elective Caesarean section. Any particular concerns?
0:23:27 > 0:23:32In terms of surgical considerations, I've got no major concerns, yeah.
0:23:32 > 0:23:34In that case, we'll prep and start.
0:23:34 > 0:23:37Dr Shazia has been a consultant at The Portland
0:23:37 > 0:23:40for the past three years, but half of her practice
0:23:40 > 0:23:42is still through the NHS.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46So, Hui, this noise that I'm making is nothing for you
0:23:46 > 0:23:48to worry about, OK?
0:23:48 > 0:23:51'The difference is that in the NHS, you will always have somebody'
0:23:51 > 0:23:55who is competent to do your procedure, but they may not
0:23:55 > 0:23:58be a consultant, or they may not be somebody that you know.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Just to be clear, do you have any pain?
0:24:03 > 0:24:05I don't want to talk.
0:24:05 > 0:24:06You don't want to talk? That's OK.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09'But a Caesarean section is the same procedure,'
0:24:09 > 0:24:11wherever you have it.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15So, what we'll do in a minute or two, when your baby gently comes
0:24:15 > 0:24:18into the world, we'll just lower the screen so you can see the baby.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22'It's the same level of staffing, the same level of skill,
0:24:22 > 0:24:24'in terms of the surgeon,'
0:24:24 > 0:24:27so there's absolutely no difference at all.
0:24:27 > 0:24:28Screen down.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32Very, very gently coming into the world.
0:24:32 > 0:24:33BABY CRIES
0:24:33 > 0:24:34He's climbing out.
0:24:37 > 0:24:38Congratulations.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42Congratulations. Very, very well done.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45BABY CRIES
0:24:46 > 0:24:50Dr Shazia has delivered Hui a boy weighing nearly 8lbs.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Hui's requested for baby Lucas to be cleaned off
0:24:57 > 0:25:00and wearing a nappy before he's brought to her.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11TRANSLATION:
0:25:11 > 0:25:12Really good.
0:25:16 > 0:25:21'It's such a profound moment, isn't it, the start of a new life?'
0:25:21 > 0:25:25And for someone to trust you, and to feel happy that
0:25:25 > 0:25:30you are part of that process, is really something very special.
0:25:32 > 0:25:33All comfy, then?
0:25:33 > 0:25:35Got Lucas? Well done.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37- And Daddy is a natural!- Yes.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38Isn't he?
0:25:42 > 0:25:44I love it when the daddies are cooing over the baby.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47LAUGHTER
0:25:47 > 0:25:50It's wonderful, because as a mummy you're going to coo anyway,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53aren't you? Yeah.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56Hui and her mother have paid to stay in their private room
0:25:56 > 0:25:57for the next few nights.
0:25:57 > 0:26:02Her husband is soon to return to his business empire in Hong Kong.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09It's the morning after the birth.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13Hui is on the first floor, recovering,
0:26:13 > 0:26:16as are 12 other mothers and their newborn offspring.
0:26:17 > 0:26:22Meeting their needs takes a team of 434 employees.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26In the NHS, breakfast can cost as little as 90 pence,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29but here there's a team of 13 preparing any dish
0:26:29 > 0:26:31the mothers desire.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Breakfast.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35One of the busiest times of the day.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Sonia was headhunted from The Dorchester Hotel to ensure
0:26:39 > 0:26:43the guests' breakfast needs are met, promptly.
0:26:43 > 0:26:45- There's no... - PHONE RINGS
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Sorry.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Good morning, dining, Sonia speaking, how may I assist you?
0:26:51 > 0:26:52You certainly can.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55What would you like to have this morning?
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Grapefruit juice and a whole banana.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01Fantastic. That should reach you in the next ten, 15 minutes.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03Thank you. Bye-bye.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07We don't keep them waiting.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11I mean, if you think about it, you become impatient,
0:27:11 > 0:27:16especially if you have a baby crying on the other side of the bed.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20It's not a hospital, especially for the patients, for myself as well.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22I treat it like it was a hotel.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Hello, good morning, madam. How are you feeling today?
0:27:28 > 0:27:30Here's your breakfast.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32Hotel services?
0:27:32 > 0:27:34The expectations are higher from us,
0:27:34 > 0:27:39because a patient doesn't really understand much what a doctor does.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41They just follow the instructions.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45Whereas for us, they stay in the best hotels in the world.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Of course they have high expectations from us.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54Originally from Uruguay, Geraldine is a banker married to
0:27:54 > 0:27:57a partner in an accounting firm.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59She gave birth to baby Sofia three days ago.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Friends of ours had babies here and had highly recommended it,
0:28:03 > 0:28:07and so far very good. Very, very good.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Everything is low-fat, everything is low-fat.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12Low-calorie everything.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15I suppose you need to start losing the pounds right after.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18Especially, you know, there's people coming to visit you,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21and you want to showcase, you know, yourself as well.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23There's lots of pictures taken.
0:28:23 > 0:28:27You want to remember, you know, you came out of the labour ward
0:28:27 > 0:28:29and you're looking like a film star.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34But, yeah, I think I'd probably be the same myself.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36I had all the cake already, so it's now time to go back
0:28:36 > 0:28:38to normal, healthy food.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42And as a first-time mother, how are you feeling?
0:28:42 > 0:28:44Happy and nervous.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46What makes you nervous?
0:28:47 > 0:28:50Leaving the hospital, being on my own with her.
0:28:50 > 0:28:52But I'm sure we'll manage.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59After paying for four days' recovery,
0:28:59 > 0:29:02Anna is preparing to go home with baby Skyler.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05But no Portland mother leaves hospital without receiving
0:29:05 > 0:29:07a goodie bag.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10Sometimes a mum will give a gift in return.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13- Thank you so much. - Oh, that's so kind of you.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16Thank you so much. Just a little something for you, don't be silly.
0:29:16 > 0:29:17It was lovely seeing you both.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19- Thank you so much.- Thank you, Pat.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22Thanks so much, and look after your grandchildren, and God bless.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24- I will do. Bye. - Thanks a lot.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29I'm going to go and sort out the accounts.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33- I'll meet you downstairs. Is that all right?- Yes.- Thanks.
0:29:35 > 0:29:37It's like being in a hotel.
0:29:37 > 0:29:38- Five-star hotel.- Yeah.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41Expensive, but amazing.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45- Ours was about £13,000, wasn't it? - Yeah.- For the four days.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47Thank you so much.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49- Thank you very much. - Take care.- Thanks.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51Right. Last bits.
0:29:51 > 0:29:53It's like a club, really, isn't it?
0:29:53 > 0:29:56Yeah, it is a club. And also, I think it sounds quite special.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58Whenever I've heard friends of mine say,
0:29:58 > 0:30:00"Our baby was born in The Portland",
0:30:00 > 0:30:02I've always been like, "Ooh!"
0:30:02 > 0:30:05So, it's nice now that I can say, when Skyler is older,
0:30:05 > 0:30:07"Oh, where was she born?" "She was born in The Portland".
0:30:07 > 0:30:09- It's like a club.- Yeah.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11- Call us if you need anything. - We will.
0:30:11 > 0:30:12Yeah? Bye-bye.
0:30:12 > 0:30:14Gorgeous baby.
0:30:14 > 0:30:15Would I pay again? Yeah, I would.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18I wouldn't have another child, but I'd pay it again.
0:30:18 > 0:30:20Thank you.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22Yeah, no, I wouldn't say it was value,
0:30:22 > 0:30:25- but it was a lovely way to have a child.- Yeah.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33Upstairs, another customer is hoping to become part of The Portland club.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38Kimberly and her management consultant husband Ibrahim
0:30:38 > 0:30:41have hired Dr Penny to deliver their first child.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44Kimberly wants to give birth naturally.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47For Dr Penny, this means dropping everything to treat her.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51So, lunch plans and fireworks this evening,
0:30:51 > 0:30:53but everybody knows it's always fluid with me.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55In fact, nobody will come to my house in Shropshire
0:30:55 > 0:30:58for Easter any more, because I've left them
0:30:58 > 0:31:01to make their own lunch on two occasions, 12 of them.
0:31:03 > 0:31:09So, nobody responds to that invitation from me any more.
0:31:09 > 0:31:10It's fine, it's fine.
0:31:10 > 0:31:14If you come here, you are paying for my time.
0:31:14 > 0:31:16So, you're paying to have one person from the beginning
0:31:16 > 0:31:19of your pregnancy until you've delivered the baby,
0:31:19 > 0:31:21so that's what happens.
0:31:23 > 0:31:24How are you doing?
0:31:24 > 0:31:26The edge has gone.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28We could maybe let you have a little snooze,
0:31:28 > 0:31:30if you want to, before two-ish.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34Because I expect you to be about 10cm by then,
0:31:34 > 0:31:37and then, depending on how low her head is,
0:31:37 > 0:31:40we can wait for another hour, or we can start pushing.
0:31:41 > 0:31:42OK.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46I'll just go with the flow.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49Very good. That's why you've done so well, cos you've gone with the flow.
0:31:49 > 0:31:50See you later.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55She is a yoga teacher, so her husband said she's not
0:31:55 > 0:31:58spoken for four hours, but she's been focusing on the contractions.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01So, she's doing beautifully. Beautifully.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05And actually, at the moment, very smoothly for a first baby.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12While births can run smoothly, when complications do occur,
0:32:12 > 0:32:15it's the promise of the hospital's cutting-edge medical care
0:32:15 > 0:32:18that attracts some patients to come here.
0:32:18 > 0:32:22A quarter of their clientele even travel from abroad.
0:32:22 > 0:32:24Richard is the head of risk management
0:32:24 > 0:32:26at an international firm in Saudi Arabia.
0:32:27 > 0:32:31He met his Brazilian wife Leodiceia online.
0:32:32 > 0:32:36After a whirlwind romance, they were married eight years ago.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40Leodiceia had a complicated pregnancy with her first baby,
0:32:40 > 0:32:44Lara, so they've temporarily uprooted their luxury lifestyle
0:32:44 > 0:32:46to give birth at The Portland.
0:32:46 > 0:32:47If you look at the overall cost,
0:32:47 > 0:32:50I mean, you probably end up paying about £4,000 a month
0:32:50 > 0:32:53for a temporary apartment, so that's for at least three months.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55Paying for a school term, that's another £5,000.
0:32:55 > 0:32:59And even if you look at The Portland Hospital, I mean,
0:32:59 > 0:33:04the cost there is probably about £8,000 for a consultant delivery,
0:33:04 > 0:33:05and that covers one night.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09So, if you stay a couple of extra nights, that's over £10,000,
0:33:09 > 0:33:11and then you've got the cost of the doctors as well.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13So, frankly, it mounts up very quickly.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15But equally, if you look at it, what's the cost of a child?
0:33:15 > 0:33:18You're going to pay hundreds of thousands over the lifetime
0:33:18 > 0:33:21of a child, so it just means you're starting spending at the start.
0:33:21 > 0:33:24But that's fine. We need the right support for the family.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29Five years ago, Leodiceia had Lara by Caesarean section,
0:33:29 > 0:33:31but she's also had a miscarriage.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35I lost the baby five months pregnant.
0:33:35 > 0:33:40When I got to the hospital, I was in brutal pain,
0:33:40 > 0:33:43and I thought I would die there,
0:33:43 > 0:33:47and from what I've been researching, Caesarean has higher risk
0:33:47 > 0:33:51than natural birth, but you have the myth that
0:33:51 > 0:33:53it will have less pain.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55That's also not true.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59I had a Caesarean before and was very painful, the recovery.
0:33:59 > 0:34:04I think there's more benefits in the natural birth,
0:34:04 > 0:34:09and I'd like to have this chance of trying, you know?
0:34:11 > 0:34:14Leodiceia has developed gestational diabetes,
0:34:14 > 0:34:17making it dangerous for the baby to go full term.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24The baby needs to be born tomorrow, so a Caesarean has been scheduled.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27But Leodiceia desperately wants the midwives
0:34:27 > 0:34:29to help her to give birth naturally.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31You've got your plan.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34If you go into labour, baby's going to come,
0:34:34 > 0:34:37we're going to have a good old shot at having a vaginal birth,
0:34:37 > 0:34:41- and if not we're going to have a C-section.- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:34:41 > 0:34:42And do you know what?
0:34:43 > 0:34:46Tomorrow, one way or the other,
0:34:46 > 0:34:49you're going to have the baby in your arms.
0:34:49 > 0:34:50Oh, darling.
0:34:50 > 0:34:51OK.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55- Sorry.- Don't apologise.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58You've having a baby tomorrow. That's a good thing.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04Kimberly is also hoping to deliver her baby naturally.
0:35:04 > 0:35:06She's still moving beautifully?
0:35:06 > 0:35:08- I think so.- OK, OK.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10If everything is ready, then we'll get on
0:35:10 > 0:35:12- with the second stage of pushing. - OK.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17Dr Penny has been trying to make it happen for over ten hours.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22There is a small possibility that things could change
0:35:22 > 0:35:25and we might be looking at delivering an alternative route,
0:35:25 > 0:35:27but I don't think so at the moment.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32We probably should crack on a bit, do you think?
0:35:32 > 0:35:34- Mmm.- Yeah, yeah.- Yeah.- OK.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40OK, one more breath in, and push down to your bottom.
0:35:40 > 0:35:45Brilliant. Harder, harder, harder, harder, harder, harder.
0:35:45 > 0:35:48And stop.
0:35:48 > 0:35:52Kim's been fully dilated and pushing for about an hour and ten minutes,
0:35:52 > 0:35:57and whilst the baby's head is coming down slowly,
0:35:57 > 0:36:00it is not as much progress as we would like.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04So, what we're going to do is go round to the theatre and
0:36:04 > 0:36:07see if, with the help of a ventouse suction cup,
0:36:07 > 0:36:08we can deliver the baby.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11If not, we may have to do a Caesarean,
0:36:11 > 0:36:12but we're going to try our best.
0:36:12 > 0:36:13Are you concerned?
0:36:13 > 0:36:15No, not at the moment, no.
0:36:18 > 0:36:22I think the myth of "too posh to push" is really overegged.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25There are, in fact, very few women who are too posh to push.
0:36:25 > 0:36:30Most women want to have a normal vaginal delivery and go home.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33However, for some people, that's never going to be.
0:36:33 > 0:36:34Thank you.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36- Hello, there.- Hello.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39I think we probably are going to have to do a Caesarean,
0:36:39 > 0:36:42but I'm just going to do a trial with the ventouse.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47A well mum comes into hospital expecting to have a well baby
0:36:47 > 0:36:49and a healthy baby.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51That's the perfect outcome.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54But, unfortunately, that's not always the outcome.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59Medical advances now mean it's four times less likely
0:36:59 > 0:37:03for a baby to die during childbirth than it was 40 years ago.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08A fact Pat knows only too well.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15Well, when I was growing up, I always wanted to be a mum.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17That's all I ever wanted to be.
0:37:19 > 0:37:20She was very much wanted.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24My husband and I really wanted her, but I was very ill.
0:37:24 > 0:37:29I started having fits, so I had an emergency Caesarean, and she was
0:37:29 > 0:37:35only two and a half pounds, and we're talking a long time ago,
0:37:35 > 0:37:37and she never survived.
0:37:40 > 0:37:46And then, I desperately, desperately wanted to have a baby
0:37:46 > 0:37:49and within a year, I'd had my first son.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54But my husband and I, we never forget her.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56We talk about her often.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00It's just sad because, today...
0:38:02 > 0:38:04..she could have survived it that way.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09After a final attempt at a natural delivery,
0:38:09 > 0:38:13Kimberly's baby isn't any closer to being born.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19Dr Penny is going to have to perform an emergency operation.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24When a baby is in danger during birth,
0:38:24 > 0:38:26there is little difference between the medical care
0:38:26 > 0:38:28in a private hospital and the NHS.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34You know, in the last couple of years, you know,
0:38:34 > 0:38:37we have had a death of a child.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40You know, I'm a mum, and a large number of my staff are parents,
0:38:40 > 0:38:43and, you know, we all feel it,
0:38:43 > 0:38:47and I can't even describe how devastating it is
0:38:47 > 0:38:51when you know that something's happened upstairs.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53But I guess, you know, you put yourself on a pedestal,
0:38:53 > 0:38:56like we do at The Portland, and, you know...
0:38:58 > 0:39:00..that means when something does go wrong,
0:39:00 > 0:39:02you've got a longer way to fall.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07Oh, my goodness, look at you.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Isn't she gorgeous?
0:39:10 > 0:39:11Hello.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14We ended up doing a Caesarean section,
0:39:14 > 0:39:17and she had her little hand pointing up,
0:39:17 > 0:39:19her little hand like that.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21She's 3.6 kilos.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24I'm just going to write the notes and then we'll come and see her.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26She's coming out in a second.
0:39:26 > 0:39:30Kimberly had a healthy baby girl called Isla.
0:39:30 > 0:39:31She will be staying for the next few days
0:39:31 > 0:39:34until she recovers from the operation.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38I don't think you ever operate on somebody without taking
0:39:38 > 0:39:40a deep breath, and you never know exactly
0:39:40 > 0:39:44what you're going to find when you start operating on somebody.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47So, yes, we all think that childbirth is very straightforward,
0:39:47 > 0:39:50and of course, you'll go home with a beautiful baby,
0:39:50 > 0:39:52and that's what we're all trying to do,
0:39:52 > 0:39:55but we're really trying to keep Mum safe and baby safe.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58So, it's not always straightforward.
0:40:01 > 0:40:05Hui has now been recuperating in hospital for the past four days.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11While the consultants are hired in by the patients,
0:40:11 > 0:40:15the hospital has a team of 50 full-time midwives.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17They all used to work in the NHS.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20Doreen has been here for 15 years.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24When I was growing up I always wanted to be a nurse,
0:40:24 > 0:40:26because at home, where I come from, Zimbabwe,
0:40:26 > 0:40:28nurses were regarded in high esteem.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32I think every little girl wanted just to be a nurse.
0:40:33 > 0:40:36When I first came here, I knew it was a private hospital.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40I knew it was for the wealthy, but I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43Midwives here must deal with patients
0:40:43 > 0:40:45used to being waited on hand and foot.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48The nursery are ready if you want to go down.
0:40:48 > 0:40:49OK. Yes, please.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Do you want me to bring him down,
0:40:52 > 0:40:55or do you want to go down as well and watch?
0:40:55 > 0:40:58Er, yeah, you can bring him down. I couldn't get up.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00- OK.- Yes.
0:41:00 > 0:41:03They are very demanding, I must say. They are very demanding,
0:41:03 > 0:41:05I think because of the kind of money they spend.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08So you're sure you don't want to try and walk down,
0:41:08 > 0:41:10or I'll just bring him?
0:41:10 > 0:41:11- Bring him, please. - OK.- Yeah.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14I think that's the way of life they have, getting what they can,
0:41:14 > 0:41:16having everything done for them.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18That's their lifestyle.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21I just couldn't sleep at all, like, during the nights,
0:41:21 > 0:41:23because my baby would wake up,
0:41:23 > 0:41:25but, you know, like, from the second day,
0:41:25 > 0:41:28I started, like, sending my baby to the nursery.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31They expect things to be done on the spot.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34If they want the baby changed, they want it there and then.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36I mean, I don't mind,
0:41:36 > 0:41:39because you don't have, like, 100 patients you have to look after.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43But sometimes you feel you are a servant,
0:41:43 > 0:41:45because they will ask you for things,
0:41:45 > 0:41:49which you know this lady can actually be able to do it herself.
0:41:49 > 0:41:51Like, a glass is next to her,
0:41:51 > 0:41:54and she'll ask you to come and pick it up and hand it to her.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56You know, things like that.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00But, you know, that's the lifestyle of the person, so we have to do it.
0:42:00 > 0:42:01We just have to do it.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04Come in.
0:42:04 > 0:42:06Here's Lucas back.
0:42:06 > 0:42:08My baby. Are you coming back?
0:42:08 > 0:42:10Baby!
0:42:10 > 0:42:13- We are going home.- Yes. - Thank you so much.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16Do you want me to hand him to you, or he's OK in the cot?
0:42:16 > 0:42:18Yeah, he's OK in the cot.
0:42:18 > 0:42:19Brilliant. OK.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23Well, this is the best experience ever.
0:42:23 > 0:42:26I start to realise, yeah, I'm a mum right now.
0:42:26 > 0:42:28Not a girl any more.
0:42:29 > 0:42:30I mean after...
0:42:30 > 0:42:32BABY CRIES
0:42:32 > 0:42:33Oh, honey, honey. Shh!
0:42:36 > 0:42:37You see? Oh.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39Oh, oh. Shhh!
0:42:39 > 0:42:41BABY WAILS
0:42:41 > 0:42:44Mummy, he needs a cuddle.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51Mama, you're so pretty. Oh!
0:42:51 > 0:42:53Yes, yes, yes, yes.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56With Hui's husband heading back to Hong Kong,
0:42:56 > 0:43:00she and her mother and her nanny are finally going home.
0:43:00 > 0:43:04After her four-night stay, and significant room service charges,
0:43:04 > 0:43:10Hui's final bill has risen to just under £40,000.
0:43:10 > 0:43:13What do you think it would be like having a baby
0:43:13 > 0:43:15if you didn't have any money?
0:43:15 > 0:43:17Oh, my God. Are you kidding me?
0:43:20 > 0:43:24I would have died straight away. No, I'm kidding. No.
0:43:24 > 0:43:26If you have no money,
0:43:26 > 0:43:30or, like, less money than I have right now, then...
0:43:31 > 0:43:35..I think you have, like, work really, really, really hard.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38Oh, yes, you're hungry!
0:43:38 > 0:43:40Oh, she loves her milk.
0:43:40 > 0:43:42Anna has been home for two weeks.
0:43:42 > 0:43:46Baby Skyler has settled into her new home.
0:43:46 > 0:43:48Are you hungry, baby?
0:43:48 > 0:43:50As has her maternity nurse.
0:43:50 > 0:43:52There we go. You're all done.
0:43:52 > 0:43:55Oh, that was delicious, Ma.
0:43:56 > 0:43:58This is my maternity nurse Amanda.
0:43:58 > 0:43:59Hi.
0:43:59 > 0:44:04And she's been with me since Skyler came home two weeks ago,
0:44:04 > 0:44:08and she has gotten Skyler into a routine,
0:44:08 > 0:44:11a feeding routine, a sleeping routine,
0:44:11 > 0:44:14and I've watched over everything that she's taught me.
0:44:14 > 0:44:16So it's been really, really, really good,
0:44:16 > 0:44:18and Amanda is with me for another two weeks.
0:44:18 > 0:44:20Another two weeks.
0:44:20 > 0:44:22So, have you looked after Portland mums before?
0:44:22 > 0:44:25I've looked after many, many Portland mummies
0:44:25 > 0:44:27and many Portland babies before,
0:44:27 > 0:44:31and obviously lots of celebs, which is lovely as well.
0:44:31 > 0:44:34But, to be honest, every mummy is just a mummy,
0:44:34 > 0:44:37and they come home from The Portland and I'll be at the door
0:44:37 > 0:44:40waiting for them when they come home, because that's what they want.
0:44:40 > 0:44:42BABY SNEEZES
0:44:42 > 0:44:45Oh, dear. Oh, dear. Oh, bless you!
0:44:45 > 0:44:47You're going to be smiling soon.
0:44:47 > 0:44:50I'm very lucky, because I actually get,
0:44:50 > 0:44:5599% of the time, I get baby's first smile, but I never ever tell mums.
0:44:55 > 0:44:58So if the baby smiles at me and Mum is in another room,
0:44:58 > 0:45:01the next day I'll say to Mum and Dad,
0:45:01 > 0:45:03"Baby is really on the cusp of smiling.
0:45:03 > 0:45:05"It won't be long until they smile",
0:45:05 > 0:45:08knowing that, you know, I've already had the first smile,
0:45:08 > 0:45:10but just so that they can have the first smile,
0:45:10 > 0:45:13because it's obviously a very special moment,
0:45:13 > 0:45:16and you wouldn't ever want to take that from a mummy and daddy.
0:45:16 > 0:45:19We wouldn't want to take that away, would we?
0:45:19 > 0:45:20No, we wouldn't.
0:45:27 > 0:45:30Leodiceia has moved her family halfway across the world
0:45:30 > 0:45:32to have her baby at The Portland.
0:45:32 > 0:45:37They've paid for the consultant-led package, and chosen Dr Karen,
0:45:37 > 0:45:40who's trying to give her the natural birth she desires.
0:45:40 > 0:45:41You OK?
0:45:41 > 0:45:43I'm a little nervous.
0:45:43 > 0:45:45Any questions or anything? You OK?
0:45:45 > 0:45:48When will be more painful, the beginning...?
0:45:48 > 0:45:51- We don't want you to have any pain. - Oh?
0:45:51 > 0:45:54That's why you're having the epidural first. See you in a bit.
0:45:54 > 0:45:57Emotionally, it's obviously not been so easy for her,
0:45:57 > 0:45:58because it's been this dilemma
0:45:58 > 0:46:00about whether to go for a Caesarean section,
0:46:00 > 0:46:02or to try a normal delivery.
0:46:02 > 0:46:04And then, because she has gestational diabetes,
0:46:04 > 0:46:08it's not easy just to sit and wait, with the risk of stillbirth.
0:46:08 > 0:46:10Even if she ends up having a Caesarean section,
0:46:10 > 0:46:12if she's tried to have a normal delivery,
0:46:12 > 0:46:15she'll feel that her birth journey has been more satisfying.
0:46:15 > 0:46:18Every choice they make adds a cost to the bill.
0:46:18 > 0:46:24Having an epidural to relieve any pain will add another £995.
0:46:24 > 0:46:27- I'm Chris Evan, the consultant anaesthetist on today.- OK.
0:46:27 > 0:46:30OK, so, the epidural.
0:46:30 > 0:46:34The idea is we site a needle between the bones of your back,
0:46:34 > 0:46:36and then we can inject some local anaesthetic
0:46:36 > 0:46:39and opiate mixture down there.
0:46:39 > 0:46:42Sometimes epidurals can be difficult to put in.
0:46:42 > 0:46:45Occasionally, we have to take them out and do them again,
0:46:45 > 0:46:47and that may be about one in 20 epidurals.
0:46:54 > 0:46:58Well, that wasn't the desired effect of the information that I gave you.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01Just remember, we have to tell you all the things that can happen.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03All of those numbers are very rare.
0:47:05 > 0:47:09Having the money doesn't make having a baby pain-free.
0:47:09 > 0:47:11I think you still have to go through some pain.
0:47:11 > 0:47:13Chin down on your chest.
0:47:13 > 0:47:17Somewhere, somehow, you have to feel some of that pain.
0:47:17 > 0:47:18Ah...
0:47:18 > 0:47:20You're doing well.
0:47:20 > 0:47:22- Oh!- Well done.
0:47:22 > 0:47:24I think most of them really get shocked.
0:47:24 > 0:47:28That's just the local anaesthetic in the skin now, OK?
0:47:28 > 0:47:30- Finished?- No, no.
0:47:30 > 0:47:32The local, the first bit, the stingy bit is done.
0:47:32 > 0:47:36And then they say, "But I wasn't expecting it to be like this".
0:47:36 > 0:47:38Oh, oh!
0:47:40 > 0:47:42Sometimes you wonder, you think,
0:47:42 > 0:47:45"My God, what planet did they come from?"
0:47:45 > 0:47:48You know, because it's painful, anyway, having a baby.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54Just relax against the pillow. All right?
0:47:56 > 0:47:59With Leodiceia wanting to try to give birth naturally,
0:47:59 > 0:48:02Dr Karen is going to break her waters to induce labour,
0:48:02 > 0:48:05so a Caesarean won't become necessary.
0:48:05 > 0:48:06You did really well.
0:48:08 > 0:48:10OK. Ready? You OK?
0:48:10 > 0:48:12I'm just going to push back.
0:48:12 > 0:48:14Sorry.
0:48:14 > 0:48:16OK, so that's gone there.
0:48:16 > 0:48:20Dr Karen is one of the hospital's newest consultants.
0:48:20 > 0:48:23She still spends most of her time in the NHS.
0:48:23 > 0:48:26In the NHS you have to oversee maybe 30 patients,
0:48:26 > 0:48:29and you normally will see the woman every three or four hours,
0:48:29 > 0:48:33if she's in labour, or maybe sooner if there's any sort of concerns.
0:48:33 > 0:48:35But it just means you're just quickly, you know,
0:48:35 > 0:48:37popping in and out from room to room.
0:48:37 > 0:48:39I'll give you an hour or so,
0:48:39 > 0:48:42then we'll think about gently starting a little bit of the drip.
0:48:42 > 0:48:44You're doing very well.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46But it's nice to be able to have one-to-one care.
0:48:46 > 0:48:48You can develop a relationship with the woman,
0:48:48 > 0:48:51so you can give her more emotional support.
0:48:51 > 0:48:53It's a luxury, in a sense, that I have,
0:48:53 > 0:48:55that I'm able just to concentrate on one.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59Pat is working the night shift.
0:48:59 > 0:49:02Come on, darling. You're OK.
0:49:04 > 0:49:06Pat, another little cherub for you.
0:49:06 > 0:49:09Tonight, she'll be looking after nine newborns,
0:49:09 > 0:49:13plus any more that might be born before her shift ends at 8:00am.
0:49:13 > 0:49:17She's here for the night. She's a bottle-feeder.
0:49:19 > 0:49:21Oh, God!
0:49:22 > 0:49:23You're a big chunk.
0:49:27 > 0:49:29Do you think it's strange that,
0:49:29 > 0:49:32you know, the mum gets one-on-one care,
0:49:32 > 0:49:35but quite often the babies have to share you amongst them?
0:49:35 > 0:49:38Oh, no, because as long as the baby is fed when it wants to be,
0:49:38 > 0:49:43and changed, and given a cuddle, the babies are fine.
0:49:43 > 0:49:46They don't care who looks after them, as long as someone does.
0:49:46 > 0:49:50While Pat takes care of feeding the newborns,
0:49:50 > 0:49:53for everyone else, the kitchen is always open
0:49:53 > 0:49:54for silver service dining.
0:49:56 > 0:49:58Did you want anything, Richard?
0:49:58 > 0:50:02Soup, a chicken biryani and a lemon cheesecake.
0:50:02 > 0:50:03Hello, sir.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07This is your dinner tonight.
0:50:07 > 0:50:11Do you think that having money can make having a baby easier?
0:50:11 > 0:50:12Yes.
0:50:14 > 0:50:18Because having a baby, if you've no money,
0:50:18 > 0:50:22is extremely stressful, to make sure that you've got everything you want,
0:50:22 > 0:50:24the heating you want, the roof over your head.
0:50:24 > 0:50:28These people here don't have any of them concerns.
0:50:28 > 0:50:30Do you think that's fair?
0:50:30 > 0:50:32This world is not a fair place.
0:50:33 > 0:50:35You have to deal with what you're given.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37Where I come from, in Scotland,
0:50:37 > 0:50:43babies slept in the bottom drawer of the dressing table.
0:50:43 > 0:50:44That was OK.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47It was clean and the bedding was clean and the baby was looked after
0:50:47 > 0:50:52and it was breast-fed and it was loved, and they turn out very well.
0:50:53 > 0:50:58Leodiceia has now been at the hospital for eight hours.
0:50:58 > 0:51:01How are you feeling? And how are we doing with the contractions?
0:51:01 > 0:51:04Now they're more regular than they were before.
0:51:04 > 0:51:06It's nice to see you smiling.
0:51:06 > 0:51:08- The smiling is good. It's a good change.- Yeah.
0:51:11 > 0:51:14I've got three children, all delivered on the NHS.
0:51:14 > 0:51:17The first delivery I did was not a great experience.
0:51:17 > 0:51:21You're stretching beautifully, actually. Really good.
0:51:21 > 0:51:23It felt very much like a conveyor belt experience.
0:51:23 > 0:51:25I was supposed to go on the labour ward,
0:51:25 > 0:51:27but as I got to the labour ward they said,
0:51:27 > 0:51:31"Sorry, it's now shut," because they'd filled up the last bed,
0:51:31 > 0:51:34so I then went to the ward, laboured by myself with no support.
0:51:34 > 0:51:38It was quite a lonely, isolating experience, you know.
0:51:38 > 0:51:41I will always make sure that women don't have that same experience,
0:51:41 > 0:51:44regardless of where I work, in the NHS or the private sector.
0:51:47 > 0:51:49Leodiceia is now fully dilated,
0:51:49 > 0:51:52which basically means that now there's an opportunity
0:51:52 > 0:51:55for the baby to come naturally, which is what she wants.
0:51:55 > 0:51:59So, in a very short period of time, we'll have a baby in our hands.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01That's it. Quick breath when you need it.
0:52:01 > 0:52:03And another good push. That's it. Come on.
0:52:03 > 0:52:05Keep going, keep going. Don't stop.
0:52:05 > 0:52:07Don't let go of it. Don't let go.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10Keep going, keep going, keep going. Keep pushing.
0:52:10 > 0:52:11It's coming round the curve.
0:52:14 > 0:52:15And another cough.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17That's it. Another one like that.
0:52:17 > 0:52:19And that's it. Well done.
0:52:19 > 0:52:22And here comes your baby's head. He's out.
0:52:22 > 0:52:24- Really? He's out?- Yes!
0:52:24 > 0:52:28Give me a good push. Oh, lovely cord.
0:52:28 > 0:52:30So this baby is a strong baby.
0:52:30 > 0:52:33Considering it's had the cord around its neck,
0:52:33 > 0:52:35it's behaved so beautifully.
0:52:35 > 0:52:37OK. Now, look at your baby.
0:52:38 > 0:52:40Look at that!
0:52:40 > 0:52:42Hello!
0:52:45 > 0:52:46There we go!
0:52:46 > 0:52:51Finally, a healthy girl is brought into the world, weighing 7.5 pounds.
0:52:51 > 0:52:52There you go.
0:52:57 > 0:52:59Oh, it's so special. I'm so happy for her.
0:52:59 > 0:53:01It's been absolutely brilliant.
0:53:01 > 0:53:03She's weeing on you, is she?
0:53:04 > 0:53:07It's not been a straightforward birth journey for her.
0:53:07 > 0:53:10She very much wanted a normal delivery,
0:53:10 > 0:53:12and she's managed to achieve that.
0:53:15 > 0:53:16So, what are your plans?
0:53:16 > 0:53:17Well, it's early.
0:53:17 > 0:53:21It's about 1:30am in the morning, so I'll assess her again now,
0:53:21 > 0:53:23and then I'll go home and have a rest.
0:53:23 > 0:53:27Leodiceia has decided that she wants to spend the first night
0:53:27 > 0:53:29with baby Lindsey by her bedside.
0:53:31 > 0:53:32Nothing has happened to you.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35You've peed yourself. All right?
0:53:35 > 0:53:38Thank you. Honestly.
0:53:38 > 0:53:40All that nonsense.
0:53:40 > 0:53:43Which means Pat has one less baby to look after.
0:53:43 > 0:53:45I've got to go and see to him now,
0:53:45 > 0:53:47so you're going to have to be a good chap.
0:53:47 > 0:53:48OK?
0:53:48 > 0:53:49Good boy.
0:53:51 > 0:53:54SEVERAL BABIES CRY AT ONCE
0:53:54 > 0:53:56Just a minute!
0:54:04 > 0:54:07Hui's husband is away, working in Hong Kong,
0:54:07 > 0:54:11so her mum is staying on to help, along with the nanny.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17It's very good to have a nanny in your home, like, living in,
0:54:17 > 0:54:20because you don't need to worry about cleaning things.
0:54:20 > 0:54:22You don't need to do the dishes.
0:54:22 > 0:54:26You don't need to cook as well, which is a good thing,
0:54:26 > 0:54:30and the nanny will take care of me and also my baby.
0:54:32 > 0:54:34BABY CRIES
0:54:37 > 0:54:41Hui may be facing the challenges of motherhood,
0:54:41 > 0:54:44but that's not what's on her mind.
0:54:45 > 0:54:47Women always think a lot,
0:54:47 > 0:54:50especially I think it's because I just had a baby.
0:54:50 > 0:54:54So when he went back to Hong Kong to do some business,
0:54:54 > 0:54:57I'm worried that someone going to, like, you know,
0:54:57 > 0:55:00take my husband from me, take away from me.
0:55:00 > 0:55:03I think it's because I had a C-section,
0:55:03 > 0:55:06and then, you know, my belly is still very big.
0:55:06 > 0:55:08I'm not very confident at the moment.
0:55:08 > 0:55:12I've asked lots of boy.
0:55:12 > 0:55:16They want their wife to be back in normal, I mean, like as normal,
0:55:16 > 0:55:20you know, the same size and the same style, things like that.
0:55:20 > 0:55:22Not like very big, right?
0:55:22 > 0:55:26Can you imagine if your wife, like, you know,
0:55:26 > 0:55:31has very big stretch marks, or, like a belly, or fat?
0:55:31 > 0:55:34No. So I don't want to be like that.
0:55:34 > 0:55:36That's why I have to go back to work, and then...
0:55:36 > 0:55:38Oh, my God. Honey, sorry.
0:55:41 > 0:55:45Despite the availability of the nursery,
0:55:45 > 0:55:48Leodiceia has kept her baby with her all night.
0:55:50 > 0:55:53I'm feeling very satisfied,
0:55:53 > 0:55:57because she came the way I wanted.
0:56:01 > 0:56:05Her sister will visit her soon.
0:56:07 > 0:56:10I'm looking forward to see her face.
0:56:10 > 0:56:12Are you excited?
0:56:13 > 0:56:15- Come on, Daddy!- Come on. This way.
0:56:20 > 0:56:21Unfortunately, life...
0:56:21 > 0:56:25We all know we have five-star hotels and we have very basic hotels.
0:56:26 > 0:56:29There will always be people in society that can afford
0:56:29 > 0:56:31the type of care that we deliver,
0:56:31 > 0:56:33and they're very, very lucky to be able to afford
0:56:33 > 0:56:35the type of care we deliver.
0:56:35 > 0:56:37I see some really excessive money that's spent here.
0:56:37 > 0:56:41However, we've got to remember that that keeps the world going round.
0:56:43 > 0:56:45Where's our baby?
0:56:45 > 0:56:48SHE SQUEALS EXCITEDLY
0:56:54 > 0:56:58It's still a new baby, and, you know, that new baby,
0:56:58 > 0:57:02for that couple that's spent all of that money, will be the same...
0:57:02 > 0:57:04You know, they'll feel the same for that baby
0:57:04 > 0:57:08as another couple that don't spend that sort of money.
0:57:10 > 0:57:12- Here's your little sister.- Ohhh!
0:57:14 > 0:57:16Four weeks after giving birth,
0:57:16 > 0:57:21Leodiceia and family return to their life in Saudi Arabia.
0:57:21 > 0:57:25Hui quickly went back to work on her fashion label.
0:57:25 > 0:57:28Baby Lucas is now on his second nanny.