When to book ob?

[BBB]

Hi ladies, I would like to find out how early other people have booked their ob. I have just had my second BT today confirming my pregnancy is developing well but I am only about 5 weeks so I don't know if it's too early to start phoning obs. My next follow up with my FS is in 3 weeks when I'll have a scan. By then I'll be 8 weeks and I don't know if that's too late to book an ob - I'm scared the good ones will be booked out!

Also if anyone has recommendations for obs on Brisbane southside who deliver at Sunnybank or Mater Private I would appreciate it :)

Thankyou!

[hunnybunny]

From my experience, I waited until my 7 week scan to make sure everything was ok, then booked my OB and only just got in, and didnt get an appt until I was 14 weeks! So I would book asap. Congratulations on your pregnancy :)

[threechooks]

I would book ASAP! Congratulations! some of the more popular OB's close their books to new paitents when they are too busy :). At Sunnybank I would Dr. Neil Astil and at Mater Private I would try Dr. Paul Bretz at arrivals. Both pro- natural birth and pro womens choice. A lot of midwives go to them to have their babies. Good Luck!

[drewid]

ASAP, absolutely. They book out so quickly these days, you really need to book in some places before you even know you're pregnant! Most OB's will want to see you around 10wks, so they can organise your 12w scan.

[Scientician]

It is never too early. :)

Subscribing as I am on the southside.

Oh, congratulations!

[lilypily]

I booked at 5 weeks, go for it.

[BBB]

Ok, sounds like I should make some calls tomorrow! I was also looking at Michael O'Brien, Brad Armstrong or Heng Tang at Sunnybank so if anyone has any feedback on them it would be appreciated. I know Armstrong and Tang work together and charge a $1500 preg management fee but all appointments at medicare rates, but no idea if this is good or not (I assumed it was good since they advertise it).

Thanks!

[Scientician]

How did you go bbb?

[Anna11]

Am also interested in the results of this one! Got a letter from my FS today to confirm the date for my 6 week scan but it said that I should organise my obstetrician now to avoid problems with waiting lists. Had only ever investigated everything in so far as getting pregnant - not who to go to once I was! Would prefer to go to Mater Private - thinking Rod Allen as a couple of my friends had their babies with him and were happy but open to other suggestions.

[Pina Colada]

ASAP! I didn't realise how quickly they can book out for my first. I waited until 8 weeks, and got in with the 4th ob I rang.

With number 2 and 3, I peed on the stick, told DH, and rang an ob :laughing: Well not quite that bad, but you get the idea.

[Aka]

Hi..congrats! I am 15 weeks and I am with Brad...I have had one appointment with him so far and have been super impressed. I have just moved back to Bris so my referring gp had no history...after my appointment a few days later i got a copy of a letter he sent to my gp with my history. My first appointment was only 70 which is cheap for an initial consult...my first pregnancy i had no problems so he said if all goes fine with this one i wont need to come to every appointment....he also has midwives that u can see also if u want a check up and those visits are bulk billed.
good luck!

[threechooks]

My friend went to brad armstrong for retained placenta procedure. She said he was very kind and she will use him for her next pregnancy. He is CHEAP compared to alot of OB's in Brisbane.

[BBB]

Well, just letting everyone know that I phoned O'Brien and his receptionist said I don't need to book in until 10-12 weeks. I don't have the figures in front of me but I think it was $1200 pregnancy management fee and the visits were around double the medicare rebate amount. I have reached my medicare extended safety net (as I'm sure all IVF ladies have!!) so I'm sure I'd get a large amount back from each visit. I also phoned Armstrong and his receptionist said he still has vacancies for my due date.

Since then though, I had a horrible day yesterday - had a bleed when I first got up, was convinced I was starting to m/c. Went to see my FS immediately and turned out it was all fine, but it really shook me. To the extent that I don't want to book an ob yet - I am completely over feeling excited, and now just feel scared and anxious. I'm certain I will be able to find an ob after I have my scan in 2.5 weeks, even if it means my FS "putting in a good word" for me with someone he recommends. It's also made me re-think my preference for sunnybank, and am now thinking it may be better to go to mater due to their extra facilities in case anything goes wrong.

I really appreciate the advice though, thankyou everybody.

[newmummaofbub]

I'm seeing to doctors at Arrivals (is a group practice) and am really happy. They delivered my first bub too at Mater Mothers Private. A bit more expensive (management fee $2750!)... But very low intervention as far as private goes I think? I was very much left to labour and birth naturally last time which I am so grateful for :-)

[RTT]

BBB - I had the exact same question. When I received the amazing ph call to confirm that we are pregnant and having a baby. My nurse also explained that I should book an ob as they can be hard to get into. I hadn't thought about obs, hospitals, etc. I started googling but its so hard to know, who's good etc. I'm from Melbourne so obs mentioned before I can't use.

[Bug11]

Dear BBB,

How did everything go? I hope you are well!! For you and the other ladies who were asking about Sunnybank Private Hospital and obstetricians. Here's my two cents.

I called a lot of obstetricians at the Wesley and Mater when I was around 8 weeks pregnant and found 1) many of them were booked / not taking new patients, and 2) the fees were really quite expensive (>$2,000).

I looked into SPH as a friend's wife had recently had their baby there. They found the midwives, antenatal classes and breastfeeding support excellent. I am only 28 weeks and have not yet attended antenatal classes so cannot comment too much on the hospital. However, what I do like about it is that it has a smaller feel while having excellent maternity facilities. My husband is extremely happy with the free onsite parking and also the option to room in with me once bub arrives. One potential drawback with SPH is that it does not have emergency pediatric facilities, so if there is a complication with bub you may have to be transferred elsewhere. Thus far we have had a very easy pregnancy with no complications and are low risk so are not too concerned about this.

My obstetrician is Brad Armstrong and so far he's just been wonderful. He's very relaxed and easy going, while having all the answers we need. We've both established a really good relationship with Brad, which gives me so much more confidence going into labour. He has a general principal of non-intervention and has demonstrated in attitude and action his support for women's choices. However, I have no doubt that both my little one and I are his number one priority so if an intervention is required during labour, I am confident that my husband and I will be given the best advice and can trust Brad to do his best for us. We are also going to see Heng Tang (since Brad will be o/seas on my EDD) and I have heard he is also lovely and an excellent obstetrician. I think someone has already commented in Brad & Heng's fees (they are the same) and I am very happy with them.

Hope this helps. Best of luck to all of you who are trying or on your way!

[BBB]

Hi ladies, thanks for all the wonderful words of wisdom and advice. It's quite a few weeks since I last posted on this thread and in that time I have fortunately been really well but stuck with my decision to go to mater simply because it has the maternal/baby ICU facilities, even though it will cost me $2500 in preg management fee.

I actually had no trouble getting into my chosen ob when I phoned him at 8 weeks (just after I saw my FS for a scan). I then had my first appointment with my ob yesterday at 10 weeks which was fine, but when I phoned to book my NT scan yesterday afternoon that was a bit more of a struggle! The place at sunnybank was booked out until the end of July (no use for me as it has to be done at a certain number of weeks) so I ended up having to go to the mater and it will be at 13.5 weeks (I was hoping to go a little earlier, just because I am impatient!)

All is well though, and I'm sure it is good advice to book an ob asap once you find out you are pregnant, and then probably a good idea to see your GP sometime in the first few weeks to organise your NT scan so you can get your choice of times/dates.

[tjayne]

Hi Ladies

One quick related question for you...maybe a stupid one but I'm confused!

I always assumed that every pregnant woman has an OB, but several of my pregnant friends have said that they haven't seen an OB during their entire pregnancy. They've just seen their GP, been referred to an general imaging place for scans and then someone at the hospital a couple of times. But no OB - they say the OB only comes in during the birth if there's a problem.

Having gone through 2 years with a great FS so far, I couldn't imagine that when I finally do fall pregnant I would actually cut back on Dr visits!?

Can anyone explain? :-/

[Jess1889]

To the pp if you have an uncomplicated pregnancy and go public there is no need to see an ob as the midwives look after you and only refer to ob if there is a problem.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Bubhub

[jessesgirl]

Yep! Mu SIL just saw our gp for her check ups and 3 visits to the hospital! That's it! All u/s were done at south coast radiology etc.

[tjayne]

Thanks for your answers! :)

[Jay11]

Hey BBB, sorry to hear of your scan but excited to hear all is well & your pregnancy is well on it's way!
My husband & I will be moving to Melbourne at the end of the year so this thread has been a great heads up.
*Not preggers yet, that i know of LOL Cycle due today actually - so fingers crossed 3rd times the charm & my FET cycle is going to stick oh & be a keeper (not turn out like the last one). If luck has it I'll be due in Mar12 and will have to sort something out in Melb for my last trimester! so keen to hear all the goss!
Big congrats hugs!