how do you book an obstetrician?

[lizzymcfizzy]

First timer here :)

I've got no idea what I'm supposed to do once pregnant, I know I want to go public and have a hospital picked out.

Could someone please explain how midwives and obstetricians work? Do I need to book one for the birth? Do I see my doctor up until the birth or a midwife?

Any info would be great!

thankyoU!
Liz

[jakobsmum]

Your first step would be to go and see your doctor. They will be able to help you from there.

I went private and got a referal for my OB and went from there.

I am pretty sure your care will be from both midwives and your doctor.

Take care and enjoy your pregnancy :D

[willsmum]

I guess it's the same in every state. In Acdelaide, if you go completely public you don't get to choose an ob. Generally you see midwives at the hospital unless you complications. You will see an ob for the delivery if needed.

If private, you get yourself booked into a hospital asap and get a referral from your GP to an ob. They usually go only to one or two hospitals.

[redbaby]

Hi there,..... I went private and with an obbie,.. but I don't think that they will attend a birth if you are going public,.. You go to your Dr and get a referral to someone you know of etc,... be aware of the $$ though,.... mine ended up costing me $4000,.and that was his gap fee! I wouldn't have done it without him though,..he made me feel very safe and secure throughout the entire pregnancy and was brilliant at the birth, and after,. We are already talking to him about number 2!

[sarahs]

Hi

My understanding is that if you are wanting to go public you don't get to pick your obstetrician. As a public patient you will have whatever OB is on call when you give birth. I think there are a couple of antenatal options (depending on the hospital) either:
shared care - where you see your GP for your antenatal appointments (I think you will need to see one to confirm your pregnancy and be referred to a hospital anyway); and
clinic care - where your antenatal care is by the hospital, usually by midwives (I think, wouldn't swear to it, I went private so this info is second hand from friends who went public).


Hope that helps.

[Jimmyjones]

I went public as my private health insurance didn't kick in. I saw my GP as I did shared care, I went to the local hospital for a few visits though and saw the midwifes (different ones). So the bulk of my appointments were with my GP. When it came to deliver my baby the midwife that was on duty delivered her and the doctor on call came in later. I hadn't met either of them before my birth.
My girlfriend went private though and paid big dollars and then had a emergency c-section and her obbie that she had been seeing all along was on holidays so another obbie delivered her baby.
I didn't mind the public system as this was my first and I didn't know what the difference was either.

Cheers
KT

[lizzymcfizzy]

thanks everyone. Especially you JimmyJones... I am in Newcastle to! Well I work in newy but I live in the hunter valley.

[Miaow]

I went to a local GP for confirmation I was pregnant - he did a referral and booked me into my obstetrician for when I was 12 weeks. At my 1st obs appointment he told me to ring the hospital where he said I should have the baby and make a booking appointment with them for the birth - that appointments in July as it takes a while to get an appointment (as i found).

[Maxs_MumMy]

Hi there,

After seeing my GP and getting my referal to an ob was the easiest part when i was in search of an ob...its getting into one that i found the hardest.

I ended up with DR.Spilbury as an ob though had an associate of her's at the delivery as she couldn't be present at the birth....which was a bit of a let down in that regard though im still thankful i had another brillant ob at my birth.

In the Newcastle/hunter valley area there are a few the ones listed are the ones ive heard nothing but excellent reports about, im sure theres many more out there though.
And depends on what hospital you wish to attend.....
Dr.Nesbitt
Dr.Lowe
Dr.Hicks
Dr.Spilbury

goodluck with everything
cheers