to go private or public

[pippa]

Hi,

my partner and i have just started to try and conceive and i am in two minds whether to go public or private, or private in a public hospital. Has any one got any views on this ?

Pippa :)

[draught]

I am sure that other people have great advice about private vs public when it comes to midwives and shared care vs obstetricians etc, but my big thing is that private hospital care gives you 4 - 7 days in hospital, depending on how things are going for you, to get everything sorted out before you go home. By everything I mainly mean feeding, whether you are planning to breastfeed or not. I had both my girls in private hospitals (in two different states) and while the actual private delivery suites seem to differ from the public only in the provision of cable TV (pretty unimportant in the scheme of things), compared to my friends who had public stays and had to go home within 48 hours of delivering, I really appreciated the 24 hour on-call assistance to make sure that the babies were attaching properly, and feeding properly, and to help with settling them in those first few days when you are exisiting mainly on adrenaline. Not having to worry about housework, washing, cooking, shopping etc, and being cocooned in our own little world of our private room, where you could hang up a do not disturb sign that everyone respected, was a wonderful thing to allow me to bond with, and start to get to know my girls before the reality of the outside world came knocking on the door.

On the topic of private doctors versus midwives, GPs etc I don't have strong views. My first labour was 36 hours and I really liked the fact that my doctor, who knew me, was there checking on me all the time, and there to make the decision to "get her out" at the end (vacuum and forceps). My second labour was induced and was 2 hours long and my doctor had stepped out to check on someone else when Chloe arrived most unexpectedly and was delivered by the midwife and anaethetist (sp?) - and his absence made no difference to my experience at all.

Again I think this is one of those decisions that comes down to you working out what you want out of the experience, how much insurance you have and how much you are prepared to pay. Remember that at many hospitals, even if you go public, you have the same doctors looking after you as those who pay to go private - something to check out in your region when you are making the decision. You should also shop around on the "gap" fee that the private doctors charge - here in Brisbane I am aware of some who charge $1500 (not bad compared to Sydney's $4000 gaps) and one in particular who doesn't have a gap fee at all - but the service seems to be the same!

Anyway - hope I haven't rambled on too long and confused you too much! Good luck with conceiving and with the decision making process.

[pinkandblue]

Hi

I had my daughter in a public hospital and didnt have a problem.

I was a public patient and didnt have to pay for a thing. The whole thing was through Medicare unlike when you are for private, you have to pay for everything.

My friend went private in a private hospital and had to pay for her health fund, her obstetrician, ultrasounds, her stay in hospital, her food, absolutely everything and it ended up costing her over $5000.

I went through the midwives clinic and saw the same 2 midwives through my whole pregnancy, it was only when it was time to give birth I saw a different set of midwives.

With the stay in hospital, the nurses wanted me to stay for 4 days but I did not want to as I was sharing a room and could not sleep cause the other baby was crying the whole time. Going public you have to share a room which is the only thing I didnt like.

As I left after 48hrs after having my daughter, the hospital organised for the early discharge midwife to come home each day and make sure everything was going ok.

I am now 5 1/2 weeks pregnant with my 2nd and will go public again through the midwives clinic as I didnt have any problems with it last time.

I guess its up to you but if you go private just make sure you find out what you have to pay for cause it might end up costing thousands.

[meshan]

I had my son in a public hospital. I had 2 mid-wives and a Dr at my delivery, I was in hopsital for 5 days in my own room. I had fantastic care and regular visits from phisios, dieticans and breast feeding specialists. All this for the princely sum of $8.00, which was the cost of having the TV on which I never watched as I was to busy looking at my baby.

I think we are really lucky in the country to have access to such a greast system. Saying this however it really is best to get recommendations from people that have used the hospitals you are considering. Also most hospitals offer tours and information evenings for expectant parents so it is worth looking into these as well.

Good luck

[myf]

I had my first child in the public system and in those days(1995) there was a community mid-wife program up and running in conjunction with The Mater Mothers. The girls were fantastic, they visited you in your own home and you saw the same 2 MWs throughout.
My ob. worked in the private sector as well so with my next child I enjoyed the community MW program again although it wasn't as fantastic as it had been, only in that I seemed to see alot of different mid-wives. I had my baby in the public hospital but paid private fees for my same ob.
By the time I had my third we had joined a Health Fund and I went privately the whole way, still with my same ob.
So it all depends on your financial situation I guess. If you go private make sure your health fund covers you, read the fine print as it used to be that you had to be a member for 12 months b4 conceiving for the fund to cover you.
Otherwise you too might find an ammicable ob. like I did?
Going private ensures you have your own room and bathroom which I think is a worthwhile bonus. The medical care I found to be on par ( but I had the same ob. for all 3).
Good Luck with it all anyway!

[Kirsty Stewart]

I had my first bub at 23 and simialar to you a little unsure of the private and public.

My husband and I both felt that and OB is a pregancy specialits so we will go private.

Lucky for us we did, at our 18 week scan we found out the baby's heart was a little big and a littel to much fluid around it. Within in 8 hours i was sitting in the prince charles hospital with a specialist who came in to see me on Chirstmas Eve. We recieved the care we had paid for and in the end it was nothing just a little growth issue. Put he is 100% fine.

We chose to have our baby at the wesley at Auchenflower in Brisbane which was FANTASTIC and would pay the money in a second.

But just remember there are always stories about the private and public debate i love my OB she told me some amazing stories and her care was just a little different to my GP who is also amazing.

Do what you feel is right for you both and just enjoy it.

Oh for a little knowledge my gap fee was $3000 but there are a few OB's Brisbane that have none or only a little. So as soon as you find out book one.
Kirsty
Mum of Lachlan 16/5/04

[Manxie]

Hi

Its a hard one. Our hand has been forced a bit as we dont have private cover, so we are going public but I am lucky that I work at the hospital where I will deliver.

Re private rooms etc, it really depends on the hospital, my hospital has all private rooms and I dont think they are desparate to kick you out of the door after you've delivered.

Another advantage of this public hospital is that they have a very good neonatal unit which some of the private dont have. Think if I was going private (for anything) I would want it to be linked to or very close to a good public hospital so that you can access their facilities if needed (theatres, specialist units etc) for mum as well as baby.

I think one of the important things no matter where you are and what you are in hospital for is to ask Questions, Questions, and quiz a number of different people. If your not happy or worried about something ask to see someone more senior. God I hope none of my future patients are reading this :p !!

Good luck!