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By Daniella Gray
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A mom from London has gone viral after breaking down the cost of having her baby via a planned cesarean section at a private London hospital.
Rachelle May, 33, revealed in a TikTok video that the total costs for her son's birth came to £19,073.30 ($24,761) at The Portland Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare.
"I thought these figures could give a good insight to others on what medical bills might look like if we didn't have an NHS," May told Newsweek.
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In her clip, May explained that the most significant expense was the hospital's standard room fee: £7,800 for the delivery, with an additional £1,225 per night for four nights, totaling £4,900.
The epidural cost £995, while two steroid injections necessary for her son's health added £600. Her consultant's delivery fee came to £3,500, and six prenatal appointments, billed at £200 each, amounted to £1,200. Finally, the medication costs were £78.30.
May's bill is less than what women in America pay. In the United States, it can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 for natural births and $50,000 or more for a c-section, depending on insurance coverage and the hospital.
In contrast, the existence of the National Health Service (NHS) in the U.K. generally means that public hospital births come at no direct cost to mothers, though private healthcare is an option.
When asked why May opted to go to a private hospital for her son's birth, she told Newsweek that she had planned for a baby for a few years and always knew she wanted to go private if that was accessible to her.
"I wanted the opportunity to choose my own consultant and have more of that one-to-one care throughout my pregnancy [and after] which you cannot guarantee with the NHS," she said.
While she was monitoring the fees of the hospital and consultant for a couple of years prior to having a baby, May was surprised at how quickly things can mount up when paying privately.
"The medication was a lot more than I expected. The care itself I can't fault though, my consultant was fantastic," she said.
May's video clocked up almost 200,000 views and garnered over 500 comments. Many users were intrigued by her experience at a private hospital and others thanked May for her transparency.
On the other hand, one user dubbed May "too posh to push."
May acknowledged the mixed reaction online, noting how some people found it useful, while others seemed offended by her choice to give birth privately.
"It's also made me realize many people didn't even know this was an option or how to go about it," she added.
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