Can I go private without having an OB?

[Melbaby07]

I gave birth to my DS at a lovely private hospy (SJOG Murdoch in WA) back in 2007.

Back then, I was working full time during my pregnancy and could afford the huge OB fees for care during my pregnancy.

Now I am a SAHM and my DH is low income/student - we are broke and loving it.

I still have private hospital insurance - which covers birth and staying at a private hospy. I'd love to birth in a private hospy because I think having a private room is important. Mostly because I want my own bathroom - I don't want to share a bathroom while I'm bleeding and sore postpartum and I don't want strangers gawking at my newborn.

Can I give birth to a baby in a private hospy, without hiring a private OB for my healthcare during pregnancy, just for the birth?

The midwives at SJOG took care of most of my labour anyway (totally natural, no drugs) and they were great! What if I just reserved an OB for the date - if needed.

What do you think would happen if I rocked up in labour and at 8cm? Would they turn me away, lol?

[Tam-I-Am]

As far as I understand it, an obstetrician is required to admit you for a birth in a private hospital - so if you just 'rocked up' at 8cm, they would more than likely call you an ambulance and send you to the local public hospital.

You could try and find an obstetrician who bulk bills your appointments and has a low management fee, you'll get the majority of it back from medicare - especially if it tips you over the threshold, but aside from that I think your only choice for free care is to go public.

[talia11]

I am pretty sure also that you need to be with an Ob to be admitted to a private hossy. I know I couldn't even call the hospital for my inital appointment until I had the referral from my Ob.

[Opinionated]

The thing with a private hospital is that they don't have a doctor there on staff. The doctor there is your ob or the colleague of your ob that your ob arranges to cover them when they cannot attend, iykwim. If you needed medical help during labour, there would be nobody there for you.

You could always give birth and just go home. Public will let you check out less than 24hrs after birth in most cases.

[lulu 2]

You cannot attend murdoch without your own ob but you could try the other private hositals around the area, Galliers private hosp(next to armadale hosp) is good and all you need to do is see one of the gp/obs who deliver there during your preg. Being a 2nd preg as long as there is no complications you don't have to see them very often and those visits r charged as antinatal visits (about $69)and you get nearly half back thru medicare and the only other cost is ultrasounds which r around $100. In the end its way cheaper than going sjog and you don't have to pay the ob delivery fees seperate its all included in the hosp cost which if you have top cover will be nothing and your dh can stay the whole time your in hosp too (as long as theres enough double bed rooms available at the time) it differs from hosp to hosp the way they charge for delivery fees. They also have shared care with the midwives which doesn't cost anything and you get to meet the middys who will be at the birth. lol oh and free parking !! I work at both hospitals and i prefer galliers anyday. Or another alternative is to go to a public hosp as a private patient ( like Kaleeya hosp )you still get your own room (permitting that theres one available at the time ) but dh doesn't get to stay in most cases. I did this with dd1 as we lived in the country and only had one hosp I got my own room and the menu was a bit diff for private patients ,cooked breakfast and we got cake instead of bikkies for morning tea and your tv and phone r payed for by phi fund.

[Miss_N]

Hey there!

At the large regional public hospital my Mum works at HEAPS of women gave birth then transferred IMMIEDIATELY via ambulance or hospital transport to our ONLY private hospy. This was because for a good 2 years the private hospy STOPPED allowing women to birth there due to the EXTREME cost of insurance for obs. I think they actually passed the cost onto the obs and then the obs stopped delivering at that hospy!

Anyway would that be an option for you? Could you enquire whether you can give birth in a public hospy and then transfer to the private one?! :)

[KatiesMum]

Give them a call and ask if they have any GP's who are accredited to deliver there.

I know at Mercy they have 1 GP who does shared care and delivers at Mercy. He has arrangements with a couple of other obs' if a c/s is necessary.

Its worth a try, anyway.

[Melbaby07]

Thankyou for everyone's input - some great suggestions!

I'd never heard of Gallier's, Lulu - I'll have to check that out, cheers.
My 1st option if I don't go private will be Kaleeya - they seem very nice and new. I was just put off at the idea of potentially sharing a room and toilet with 4 other women and their crying newborn babies and nosy visitors. But at zero cost, I guess I can't complain hey. A private room would be the best of both worlds.

I'll definetely ring and see if anyone does shared care - that would be ideal. Thanks Julie. Even if I could go to Kaleeya for care during my pregnancy and then just pay for delivery at a private hospital.

Thanks everyone, all great ideas to think about!