St George Private or Hurstville Community Private?

[firstbubs]

I'm currently trying to decide on Hurstville community and St George private. I have had tours of both and didn't like the look of Hurstville and liked St George. It looked more organised and not as old. Mostly I want a room to myself and Hurstville looks like thats a rarity whereas with St george, sharing a room was rare.
Has anyone had recent experiences at either?
Although Im already booked with an obs that only delivers at Hurstville. Oh I wish I could have my obs at the different hospital! Why do they make it sooo hard for us??
Also, have been reading and coming across private midwives - any ideas where I can get more info? Is this instead of an Obs or as well as? Is it riskier to go with a midwife/safer to be with an obs? Is it only with the public system?
Thanks xo

[cloudgirl]

Firstly, i cant help you with Hurstville Community Private as i havent been there.. but St George Private is a nice hospital and the rooms are very good. Have a good think though about how long you think you will be in hospital and whether this really is worth worrying about how nice the room is, most hospitals these days do an early discharge program where you can go home earlier and have midwives come to your house to give you checkups/help and (in the public system anyway) the stay is usually 3 days or less for a vaginal birth.

In australia to have a child, you can go public (midwive care in a public hospital with an Ob there for emergencies only - you may not even need to see him at all) or you can go Private, which is with a private obstetrician in a hosp. of their choice.
Basically, Public is free, Private you pay for (you will get some back but you will still be out of pocket a bit).
Just because you have Private Health Insurance with Maternity Cover dosent mean you should or have to go Private with a baby (i have cover but am going public)
If you go Private, your Ob makes all the decisions regarding your pregnancy/labour/birth etc and the midwives on duty will look after you and be there with you on the birth but cant make decisions themselves, everything must be approved by your Ob. There is a high chance that your Ob wont be at the birth (too busy/away/etc) and you could get their stand-in.
Obs are trained surgeons specialising in Gynealogical bits and peices.. so as highly skilled doctors they *generally* dont deal with uncomplicated/normal pregnancies, but are a better option for a high risk patient who knows that they have issues in pregnancy/labour and wants the doctor of their choice attending them.
Lots of women nowdays use Obs for standard pregnancies generally because of a few reasons either they are more comfortable being in a doctors hands and knowing their doctor, or they think that they will receive a higher level of care/have a better outcome with an Ob as opposed to a midwife. The last is very untrue and sadly is a lack of education.
In most european countries, when you have a baby you see midwives only, and dont even think about seeing an Ob unless you have issues physically with the pregnancy and are high risk.
The rate of maternal and infant death, and sucessful natural births in a system such as this is very different , compared to countries (like the US for instance) which have a high level of intervention, Maternal death etc and very few midwives providing complete care.
So, you are not any safer having an Ob than a midwife. Statistics show you actually have a higher chance of having a natural uncomplicated birth with a midwife as opposed to with a private Ob. There are some great Obs out there that dont fit into this category, but sadly there are also some that are intervention-happy and others who feel helpless in a natural birth scenario where there is nothing for them to 'do' surgically and no complications/problems to deal with - which is what they are trained for in the first place.

I have seen lots of birth situations, both public and private and having this knowledge, would not willingly choose an Ob for an uncomplicated pregnancy with low risk.. I would prefer the opinion of five midwives and the Ob on duty and the ability to make up my own mind about certain things than to sign my rights over to an Ob soley to make the decisions.. even if all the other staff on duty disagree with the decision.

Your best option is to do a bit of research, on both midwifery-led care and the high sucess rates of natural births and care provided to women and also on what you want out of the birth experience. Dont choose an option purely because its the trend and you dont know what your getting yourself in for.
Obs are expensive compared to the public system with midwives and if you have a normal, uncomplicated pregnancy there is really no need for you to go private, and infact it increases your chances (depending of course on your ob) of having unnecessary intervention at birth that could leave lasting effects on you or bub physically or emotionally.
Please dont feel that just because you have Private health Cover you have to go private.. there are many more benefits to this cover than simply the maternity options and if you are healthy and have a normal pregnancy, its recommended that you go with a midwifery-led care system in a public hospital.

*hiring a private midwife will prob cost the same if not slightly more than a private Ob and is done for things like Homebirths, as only a few public hospitals have a homebirth program.
You cant hire a private Ob AND a private midwife.. they have different approaches to birth (one surgical the other holistic/natural) and wouldnt work together at all in the environments that they would both work in (if that makes sense)

[MelissafromSyd]

You cant hire a private Ob AND a private midwife.. they have different approaches to birth (one surgical the other holistic/natural) and wouldnt work together at all in the environments that they would both work in (if that makes sense)
I totally agree with everything you have said, but women can hire a private midwife and a private OB. The philosophies are very different, but midwife means "with woman" and it is entirely possible to be "with woman" if she is also with an obstetrician. It's about supporting the woman in her informed decisions, and this can occur whereever the woman is birthing. Of course, with a home birth, you're on your turf, you call the shots and you're in complete control of what does and does not happen.

[BreithCuidiu]

it is entirely possible to be "with woman" if she is also with an obstetrician. It's about supporting the woman in her informed decisions, and this can occur whereever the woman is birthing.

:yes: So true. Completely impossible.

[mummyofbella]

I gave birth 2 years ago at st george private and it was awesome! Great hospital. No issues. I'm booked in for october for bub number 2!

[firstbubs]

Thanks so much for all the info!
Is it possible to have a private midwife of your own deliver in a private hospital (is this 'partly' covered by health insurance &/or medicare the same way obs are) or can it only be homebirths.
I watched an interesting debate on ABCs 'insight' last night about the issues in the current system and how difficult it is to go with midwives as they don't have insurance or something.
I definately want to be natural birth, but was hoping to use the private cover so i'll get a room to myself afterwards and my husband can stay.
I also want to be able to develop a relationship with the ob/midwife throughout the pregnancy and have them there for the birth.
But we are strapped for cash also.
It is also important for me to have help afterwards as im a first time mum and may need help adjusting, breastfeeding, wrapping, bathing, etc etc not to mention emotional support. Who usually does this help afterwards? i have heard some awful stories about rude nurses in hospitals being pushy about breastfeeding methods when mum is trying her hardest, thereby stressing everyone out and making the attachment much more difficult and leaving mum feeling inadequate.
I don't want to end up having to have an unnecessary ceasar! I guess i will discuss all this when i go for my 1st appt.
hmmm thinking more i think id rather a private midwife but how do you go about hiring one and how much do they cost, and can you use them in the private hospital system? I have the feeling a midwife will be more genuine, caring and put in more time.
Do they have their own 'practices' like obs do? do you go to them for all your checkups etc?
btw...mummyofbella - im due in october also! we may run into each other in the hallway!
Thanks girls for all your ho9nest opinions it is really helpful xo

[MelissafromSyd]

You can have a private / independent midwife in a private hospital but she will not have any rights in the hospital. You need to have a private obstetrician to go to a private hospital, and having a private OB will significantly increase your chances of having a CS. Your chance of getting the natural birth you're wanting might be around 10% - 20%. The independent / private midwife can provide some of your antenatal and postnatal care and she will act as an advocate / support person in labour and birth, but she can advise you on what's necessary and what's not.

Private / independent midwives mostly attend home births, and if you have a home birth, you don't have a private obstetrician - all your care is provided by your midwife. Some private midwives also attend hosital births.

If a natural birth is what you're after, home birth or a birth centre birth would see you most likely to achieve it.

How important is it to have a nice room? If you have a home birth, your partner can definitely stay ;) and you can have a private room :)

If it's important to be able to develop a relationship with the ob/midwife throughout the pregnancy and have them there for the birth, when private midwifery care is the way to go - even with an OB, you'll be cared for by midwives you have not met both in labour and afterwards. With a private midwife, you see that same person the whole way through; no-one else.

Private midwives usually provide care for 6 weeks after your baby is born, to help with feeding, sleeping, adjusting to having a baby etc.

Feel free to PM me if you'd like more info.

Melissa.

[firstbubs]

Thanks Melissa.
Sorry i don't know how to PM? is that a private message?

[MelissafromSyd]

Hi there,

I sent you a PM. If you want to PM me, either reply to the PM, or if you click on my name, you'll see the option for "private message".

Melissa.

[DjF]

I was originally booked in at St George for the birth of our first child. I found the clinic terrible, i never saw the same midwife twice and had issues with the cleanliness - of both clinic and the birthing rooms. After we were forgotten time and time again to be added to an antenatal class (tel it was too late) i personally contacted Sutherland and was able to slot in straight away for antenatal classes. As part of the classes we didd a birthing unit tour - and straight away we had ourselves transferred from St G to sutherland - and it was great as i ended up needing an emerg caesar after almost 30 hrs of labour.

But - we had personal hygeine concerns about St G - we may have just been fussy. I dont think so - if i could find the story i related about having to do a urine sample at St G and all the dry blood on all the floors and toilets - forgive me but it really turned me right off.

I have heard and read many many stories by people who had great experiences with St G - i have a lady at wk who had both her kids at H'ville private and loved it. You need to visit, tour and get a gut feeling about a place i think.

[mummyofbella]

Are you talking about ST geroge or st george PRIVATE? I went to STG Private and it was fabulous.....:confused:

[DjF]

te he - i just noticed in your OP that you had St George Private - ive heard all good about there - also just walking into the maternity waiting area is serene and calming!

So - unless someone reads this thread who is interested on opinions about St george public - disregard my info about it !

Have you done a tour of H'ville or St G private facilities?

[firstbubs]

Hi,
I thought you meant the public :)
Yes I have done tours of both now... Just didn't get the right feeling from Hurstville... which might have been because they were doing renovations or it just looked old and small, this may be better for some people but i just didn't get the right vibe from them.
There were a few other things about st g private that stood out more - not just being newer, but they have breastfeeding lactation consultants come, its cheaper for partner to stay, more rooms so (hopefully) more chance of a single, etc. I was booked with Margaret but after seeing both hospitals i ended up being too worried so we changed so we could be at st g. pity margaret doesnt deliver there as she is much cheaper, and i have heard good things shes older and experienced. Oh well we are paying more moneuy now but i am not stressed and am happy with where the birth will be now :thumbsup:

[sm2j]

Hi firstbubs..

I gave birth at St. G Private in May '07... had a fantastic experience...I had a fantastic OB and on the night of delivery a wonderful midwife (named Margaret) she was just what I needed.

As for getting a single room...it really really depends on how busy it is at the time...When I booked in there when I was 10 weeks pg I asked how likely it was for me to get a single room and I was told I was # 97 to book in for month of May...so I wasn't really expecting one straight away... but I gave birth at 12.25am...was transferred to a sharing room at 10am and in a single room by 4pm of the same day... Also they give priority to CS patients, although it is meant to be first come first serve.

I'm sure you will have a good experience there.. Which OB did you end up changing to?

[firstbubs]

Hi Steph,
Yes it is very much the luck of the draw.. how many others are having babies at the same time! there will be that anywhere i go i know... but it seemed a better possibility at st g... when we did the tour the midwife said maybe to expect one out of the 4 days to be in a shared room but not the whole time.
I changed from margaret(least $$) to queeny (most $$) as there were no other females who delivered at st george that werent booked out! as it is i dont get to see her until im 12 weeks...