New to brisbane, help needed!

[Brismum83]

I feel completely lost.

We’re new to Brisbane (Yeerongpilly) and due to work issues no longer have private health insurance.

I found out a week ago I’m Pregnant for the 5th time (DS 7, 1 miscarriage, DD3, 1 miscarriage) and already feel overwhelmed with worry.

I’ve always been seen privately and know nothing about the public system and we don’t even have a GP yet.

I had problems during my pregnancy with DS and DD and fear things may be missed if I chose the wrong type of care.

I’ve searched the net but I’m left more confused than when I started.

I’m really looking for some helpful information regarding GPs in my area, hospitals, basically anything that might help.

I’m also over weight and want a Dr who isn’t simply going to put things down to “you’re a fat girl, so going to have problems”. Had this happen before and things were missed.

Thank you very much for your help

[trin_007]

Hi

Firstly - Congratulations on your latest pregnancy and welcome to Bubhub.

Unfortunately, I can' actually help with any of your questions, because I have a low risk pg, and am going through the Midwife Group Practice. But I wanted to say congratulations and that at least you've come to the right place....hopefully someone with a bit more experience with your kind of situation will be along soon - I'm sure you'll get all the info you need on here

[MummaBear79]

Hi there,

First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy!. Im not in Brisbane (im on the Sunshine Coast), but have recently moved from the Gold Coast. I am a Doula and a Midwife in training, so id be more than happy to help with anything you need. Ive been a Doula for 5yrs so I know a little about the hospitals around Brisbane. Where have you moved from?. If you would like to email me you can at claire_margin@hotmail.com maybe we can have a little chat??...id be more than happy to help you. Chin up hun...

[julietv8]

Hello and welcome to Brisbane
You have a few options with public care, once you find a GP you are comfortable with, they should be able to explain it all for you. I gave birth through the Midwifery Group Practice who run through the Mater and it was wonderful, but their places are limited. I'm not sure which catchment area you would be in for Yerongpilly, but I know the RBH also has a midwifery group. I found that having the same midwife the whole way through meant that I had a very trusting relationship and continuation of care. I got treated as a person, not a patient.

I found that simply being overweight didn't classify me as high risk, and it never got mentioned. But if you have other factors at play it may limit your options for care. There was a thread on good doctors on the southside that might be worth checking out if you are on the hunt for a GP

Good luck with it all and I hope you can find care that you are happy with

[Crazydaze]

Congrats on your pregnancy and welcome to Brisbane Being fairly close to the city, I honestly wouldnt stress about not having private cover. The Mater Mothers Public and the Royal are great hospitals. I personally dont know of GP's near you, but I would honestly just call & make a bunch of appointments. Ask them straight up about your weight and if you get a vague response etc or a not so supportive feeling then keep searching. Alot of OB's will take on public patients so Id also try phoning a bunch of them, their receptionists will tell you if they take on public patients so you wont be wasting loads of money on private appointments. I mean you would have to pay for appointments and probably a management fee but wouls still be less than paying PHI premiums if you feel a GP isnt the best option for you.

Congrats again

[oscarjessie]

I feel completely lost.

We’re new to Brisbane (Yeerongpilly) and due to work issues no longer have private health insurance.

I found out a week ago I’m Pregnant for the 5th time (DS 7, 1 miscarriage, DD3, 1 miscarriage) and already feel overwhelmed with worry.

I’ve always been seen privately and know nothing about the public system and we don’t even have a GP yet.

I had problems during my pregnancy with DS and DD and fear things may be missed if I chose the wrong type of care.

I’ve searched the net but I’m left more confused than when I started.

I’m really looking for some helpful information regarding GPs in my area, hospitals, basically anything that might help.

I’m also over weight and want a Dr who isn’t simply going to put things down to “you’re a fat girl, so going to have problems”. Had this happen before and things were missed.

Thank you very much for your help

Like all of the other ladies...congrats!

I live on the South/East of Brisbane and am a public patient too.

As a public patient there are basically 2 options for your care -

1. Midwife care which consists of visits to a midwife at the hospital throughout your pregnancy - usually with one visit to the hospital ob at about 16 weeks and a visit to a GP for an ultrasound referral prior to the 20 wk ultra sound. You get a referrral from a GP to be booked into a hospital to get this program rolling and normally book into the hospital with an appointment that takes almost 2 hours. They go thru your history etc in this appointment.

2. GP Shared Care which consists of seeing the GP throughout your pregnancy with some visits to the hospital normally towards the end and the one at the start to book in.

The midwife practice the other ladies mention is where you see the one or two midwifes throughout the entire pregnancy so it is great for continuity of care. They also deliver your baby with an Ob and also follow up with you after you have given birth at home etc.

I wanted to do shared care initially but was convinced by a midwife at the hospital to go with midwife care. I am now 27 weeks and have changed my mind as I find getting to the hospital during work hours really tricky and also am not happy with seeing a different midwife each time I go to the hospital. I could not get into the midwifery practice - it was already booked out and was told it is only for low risk pregancies - and you might not feel comfortable with it.

My GP is awesome - a really positive guy, professional and with a great sense of humour and he loves kids! He is realistic about things and has been so great. He is very thorough and I think you would feel really comfortable talking to him about your concerns. When we went in there for the initial confirmation of the pregnancy he gave my DF a high five and shock his hand - I think it is great to have that positivity surrounding you - and is genuinally happy to see you each time you are there. I have rang him a few times to ask questions and he always takes my call. His name is Dr. Mina Nematella and he is based in the Morningside family Medical Centre on the corner of Junction and Wynum Roads in Morningside. I have changed back to shared care because I miss going and seeing him every few weeks. He would be a great family doctor for your children too. Be warned if you go to see him - he is always running late - up to 2 hours - we always ring and get an ETA and the receptionists are really good at giving you a time to come without the wait. I think he is not taking any more patients, but if you say you were referred you would still get in. He loves pregnant women!

If you have a high risk pregnancy for whatever reason you will be simply referred to the hospital ob on all of your visits rather than see a GP or midwife - and it is free.

As a public patient you don't pay for your ultrasounds either. Our biggest expense was parking at the hospital lol.

My midwife appointments are more spaced out than the appointments the GP wanted but they are generally pretty similar.

Hope all of this helps!

[shymmer]

Hi, congratulations on your pregnancy!
I used to live in Yeerongpilly and went to a bulkbilling Doctor at Fairfield shopping centre (just up the road from you). I wasn't preg though, so don't know one to recommend I'm sorry.
As mentioned the Mater Mothers Public is a good hospy, I had my DD there and it's not too far away (at South Brisbane). I am preg now, but live a bit further out and the Mater said no because they are booked out (due Sept). So it's important to go to a GP very soon - any GP and get your referral sent in! It's a new hospital and more popluar now I think. You can hunt for a good GP once you've done that!

I did 'shared care' too - so I didn't have to drive to the Mater and wait around for checkups - my local GP did them. Much more convenient for me. I just went to the Mater for the initial Midwife book in, then 3 Ob appointments (16wks, 30wks, 36wks) and the birth (c-sec).

I don't think you will be in the Royal Womens Hospital catchment (pretty sure it's Northside upward), so your choices are Mater, Logan (miles away from you) or maybe Redlands Bayside (even further away, but a nice hospy apparently)
I'd recommend the Mater, I went to the 'old' one and found the level of care really good.

oscarjessie mentioned the ultrasounds being free - but it does depend where you go to get it done. If the hospital does it, it's free. At a private diagnostic centre you may have to pay if it isn't a bulkbilling centre. Ask your doc to send you to the hospital for the scans and it will be free. Unless you don't mind paying.

Parking at the Mater costs maybe $10 - $15 a time? Can't remember exactly. You might be lucky and find a street park, but it's only 2hr I think, and you might be there longer than that!
Considering everything is free though, paying for parking isn't such a big deal.

[Brismum83]

thanks heaps everyone, I booked in to healthy women in indooroopilly, so fingers crossed they are good, i also know my way there which helps

I'm soooo nervous, starting to worry things are going to be booked out etc

Still very worried about the hospital side of things, very very different to going private.

thanks again every one