elective c-section, general Q's

[belsefa]

Hello!
Just after some information about elective c-section. I live in Sydney, not in health fund (but thinking of it) and am interested in c-section birth.
Any ideas where I can find out about what hospital, cost, and if elective is allowed in NSW?
Thanks!

[bbkb]

belsefa - im not in nsw but i know in qld very hard to get a c-sec without medical reasons when going public unless of course you want to pay for it in private. are you getting a midwife assigned to you at your hospital? if so perhaps ask her on the hospital policy there.

[kas3]

I'm in Queensland too. I went private and my ob was happy to go with vb or c/s, whatever I chose after I had been given all the info. I get the impression it's much easier to get a purely elective (one where there is no medical reason) if you go private. I have heard of women getting one in a public hospital if they are persistent (bring it up at every antenatal visit etc.) but it really depends on the doctor. Good luck!

[Pulp Fiction]

I actually think its harder to get an elective c-section in Sydney than anywhere else. I'm in Melbourne and I had a c-section in a public hospital, but I had to go to a couple of different hospitals before I found one that would allow it. I think its easier if you have an underlying anxiety disorder though. Good luck!

[Pulp Fiction]

But as someone else pointed out, if you have private health cover they will usually do it. I started going to a private ob who was going to do it but then I found out my health cover hadn't actually kicked in yet. Then I had to go to a couple of different public hospitals before I found one that would do it.

[belonna]

Weird how different states 'allow' different things. We're all from the same country.

I had no problems, I live in Brisbane. Wasn't a planned cs though had one without trouble. Having an elective for this one and met no resistance.

[shymmer]

I did a little research on this a few months ago . . . If you can't get one through the public system and chose to go private (without cover), ballpark you are looking in the vicinity of $6000 to $8000 aprox for a c-sec.
Ob fees you claim on medicare and get a bit back, but hospital fees are not covered with medicare, so you claim that on your tax and might get some back (over medicare safetynet etc).
With private cover I believe Ob fees are still a medicare issue, but your health fund covers the hospital fees - I think.

Hope that has helped slightly. :)

[Hooves]

Ok you should be able to get an elective c section in a public hospital.

The problem is not many of us are fully aware of our rights.

Ask your doctor flat out, what your rights are?? You may be surprised by the answer.

I put it straight to my doctor, what are my rights, can they make me have a vaginal birth?

I was told NO. I was told, we do have a choice.

I have heard so many conflicting stories, from various sources. SO I just flat out asked.

I did have a physchological reason though. And I did seek a physch consult, before choosing what way I wanted to go.

BUT my doctor did tell me, I had a right to choose how I gave birth.

SO ask, and talk to your doctor about why you want a cs, and see what they say.

[shymmer]

I agree with Hooves . . . I had a very similar situation - psychological reason. My GP was not supportive in my consideration of an elective C-sec and kept telling me the hospital probably would not give me one. So at my Ob appoint at the hosp, I asked him directly "I am considering a c-sec, what is the hosptial policy on that?" and his reply was "We will support you." He was a very compasionate Ob, and I'm sure not all are like that, so that could make a difference.
I did write out a couple pages of why I wanted one and my understanding of risk involved etc, so there was no doubt that I was not making this decision lightly and I had done my research.
I also have a friend at the same hospital, who wanted an elective c-sec because of a spinal injury, but she had to fight for it. So I do think it may depend on the Ob you get.