Perth - OPH or FBC as private patient

[loop]

Hi ladies!

I am only 6 weeks, but I am told to look into hospitals ect early, so I might need some info from you girls before going bananas over phone calls....
I am in Perth, NOR and was looking into either the family birth centre at KEMH or Osborne Park Hospital. I will have to go as private patient, as I am not yet a permanent resident and coming from Germany I dont have Medicare. I have private healthcover which will cover expenses though. I dont really want to go with an OB as I am quite comfortable with my GP for a while and also an OB would raise the costs we would have to pay upfront enormously, even if we get them back in the end.
So, has anyone been to OPH as private? I understand they have shared care. Does anyone know about costs there?
The FBC sounds wonderful, BUT my DP is very, well, lets say shy about the whole birth and baby thing. He is happy and wants the baby, but he is very uncomfortable with all things medical or bloody. He will not want to be involved in the whole process too much, and sad as it may be, he will not be able to stay with me right till the end of labour. He would simply faint, or throw up and then never touch me again. I am thinking about having a doula, maybe a student one for a second support person. Also with the FBC you have to go home after 24h, and I just dont know if I will be able to cope with me, baby and DP that early.
Well, too much :ecomcity: so, can anyone share their experiences of OPH or FBC/KEMH as private patient???

:) Thank ladies!
loop

[Gjolds]

i'm not too sure on the expenses as i was fully covered by private health care, but in regards to experince i strongly recomend Glengarry Private hospital in duncraig. It was fantastic, the nurses we're great, the facilities and care was above an beyond, i can not recomend it highly enough. I had my baby on christmas eve, so it was fairly quiet so i went straight into a double room (so my DH could stay too) we had a double bed, all his meals plus mine, included a bath in the room for DS and they made me feel so at ease. I stayed for 6 days apparenlty they like first time mums to stay for at lest 5 and they are in no rush to get you out - you leave when you feel ready. For my first baby i couldnt of ask for anything more.

[loop]

Its always good to hear of positive experiences, so I will look into Glengarry. Do you know whether it is possible to have a water birth there? Maybe even just having a bath and then refusing to come out - hehe ?

[kezzaskids]

I had my son at OPH in 2005 and will not go back there again. I was a public patient tho so I dont know if it makes a difference but this bub will be born at king edward in november sometime.

[justmum]

Correct me if I am wrong but I thought you could only go to the KEMH FBC as a public patient.

[loop]

I just had another peep on the website, it says public and private patients are welcome at the FBC

[Kazamataz]

Hey Loop,
I don't have much info on those hospitals for you. However I did want to say that your Hubby may not react the way he think he's going to.

Mine was dead set against being in the room for the birth, he was like there is no way I can handle seeing all that blood and yuck, etc.

Slowly he came round to the idea of being there as long as he stayed closer to my face and didn't have to look at all the yuck.

When my water broke he nearly threw up and was going to throw in the towel.

But then as time passed (6 hours between water breaking and bubs coming) he got more and more confident.

When Asher was coming out, Jesse was in awe.
He kept saying thats amazing and was having a good little sticky beak :laughing:

Afterward Jesse was just blown away at how amazing the female body is and how courageous I was the go through all that to bring our baby into the world.

He now has this whole new amazing respect for women that he never had before.

I guess the thing I'm getting at is you don't know how you will react and there is something truly magical about seeing someone giving birth. (I've been a support partner for my friend)

You've got an other 8 months before bubs comes, maybe you should talk some more to your hubby about him being there.

There is something so special that happens when a husband see's his wife bring their child into the world.

[loop]

Thanks for the lovely post Kaz! I am hoping something along that line, that once he's in he just wont find the right moment to leave - hehe or even want to stay and be part of it! I know it sounds like he's a selfish idiot to some people, but he is just a very nervous and sensitive person. I realise he just needs some time to adjust to the whole pregnancy thing. Knowing his mother and her stories about his own birth and her attitude I can understand where this is coming from.
I have done some more research, and have almost decided to go with an OB after all and have bubs at SJOG or Mercy. As I have to go private anyway I think, why not! And SJOG or Mercy give you more time in the hospital after birth, I just cant see myself coming home after 24h! I do know the middies come to see you at home, but other than DP I have noone here that would come and help. Family and friends close enough are all in Germany, so I'll see it as a treat for myself staying at least 3 days! No cooking either - woohoo!

[kezzaskids]

if you have to pay private anyway I WOULD definitly go to a private hospital!!!!! It will be like a hotel :)

[Kazamataz]

Thanks for the lovely post Kaz! I am hoping something along that line, that once he's in he just wont find the right moment to leave - hehe or even want to stay and be part of it! I know it sounds like he's a selfish idiot to some people, but he is just a very nervous and sensitive person. I realise he just needs some time to adjust to the whole pregnancy thing. Knowing his mother and her stories about his own birth and her attitude I can understand where this is coming from.
I have done some more research, and have almost decided to go with an OB after all and have bubs at SJOG or Mercy. As I have to go private anyway I think, why not! And SJOG or Mercy give you more time in the hospital after birth, I just cant see myself coming home after 24h! I do know the middies come to see you at home, but other than DP I have noone here that would come and help. Family and friends close enough are all in Germany, so I'll see it as a treat for myself staying at least 3 days! No cooking either - woohoo!

He doesn't sound selfish at all, I think as you talk to more and more mums you'll find that many men are nervous about the whole birthing process.

And when you think about it for alot of them their dads weren't in the birth suite at the time they were born.
:fingerscrossed: He comes around to the idea a bit more.

I reckon once he's in there, he won't want to drag himself away ;)

I personally think for your first bubs it would be hard to go home after 24 hours.

Asher was born in a country hospital and we were a 45 min drive from the hospital so I stayed for as long as I could. (4 days)
There is a bit of security in being in the hospital, if anything was to go wrong "knock on wood" you would have all the help you need close by.

They say the first three days are the most likely time for problems to arise.
So after three your generally ok and your usually sick of the hospital by then and want to go home.

I noticed you said all your family is in Germany.
There are plenty of lovely bubhub ladies here in Perth.
If you can come along to the bubhub meets and dinners.
We would love to help support you in anyway we can.

I don't have any family here either and the Perth bubhub ladies have been answers to my prayers.

Esp since Jesse works away in the mines.

Congrats to you and I hope all is well with your pregnancy :hugs:

[Gruffalo]

OBH is fantastic. I had both my kids there and have never had a drama. My second was a trial of labour and they were fab, and even induced me two weeks earlier, cos I wanted them to :smiliedance:

I asked about private at OBH (not that I would ever be a private patient for maternity) and they told me they don't take private patients for maternity. But I do know they have private rooms as well as shared rooms, cos I have had both.

[loop]

Just rang OPH and learnt I wont be able to go there, because of the insurance situation.
Then, just for seeing if I could I rang at Dr Farrells rooms, fully expecting to be turned down, but I am now booked in with her as OB! I would like to go to SJOG and have heard she is great, wante a female OB and so I'm :smiliedance: that I've got things sorted for now! First app is on 05.08. so looong to go....

[Kazamataz]

Just rang OPH and learnt I wont be able to go there, because of the insurance situation.
Then, just for seeing if I could I rang at Dr Farrells rooms, fully expecting to be turned down, but I am now booked in with her as OB! I would like to go to SJOG and have heard she is great, wante a female OB and so I'm :smiliedance: that I've got things sorted for now! First app is on 05.08. so looong to go....
:thumbsup: Thats great, I love when you think something isn't going to work out the way you want and then it does.
:laughing: did that make sense?

[HART]

Hi ... I had my DS at Mercy Hospitial and would definately recommed it.. as I was a country patient I had a share care arrangement with my GP and my ob.. I only had to see my ob at 20 weeks and then from 37 weeks onwards and it seemed to work great.. it is worth checking out the different doctors who deliver where as they all seem to have different costs.. as I said I loved Mercy, the midwives were great, the room had a double bed so husband can stay if he wants and some of the views are fantastic - which is a nice touch... I am going back there for my next bubby due in 9 weeks..:)