PRIVATE hospital birth rates are dropping while public maternity wards struggle to keep up with Victoria's baby boom - a 3.6 per cent rise since 2003.
Last year 65,761 mothers gave birth in Victoria -- a 3.6 per cent rise since 2003.
However the number of births at Melbourne's public hospitals has jumped by more than 12 per cent in the past three years, while Medibank Private figures show private hospital births fell 4 per cent in the past two years.
Health Minister Daniel Andrews said the quality of care that fuelled the increase would be maintained despite the growing pressure.
"Demand is increasing but our hospitals are coping, thanks to the skills and hard work of our health professionals and the Brumby Government's record funding," the minister said.
However confidence in the public system has been a backhanded compliment for some maternity units.
The Royal Women's Hospital and Southern Health, which has maternity services at Monash Medical Centre, Casey and Dandenong hospitals, declined to discuss their services with the Herald Sun because they did not want more business.
To meet demand the Government this month announced its $35.5 million Maternity Demand Action Plan, which will see fewer complex births directed away from the overflowing Royal Women's Hospital, Monash Medical Centre and Mercy Hospital, and into the suburbs.
Box Hill Hospital's Birralee Maternity Service is typical of suburban maternity services. It helped deliver 2013 babies last financial year, maintaining its average of about 2000 births a year. Director of nursing and midwifery Denise Patterson said choice in the models of maternity care was the secret to the public system. The hospital's Know Your Midwife Program lets women deal with the same midwife throughout their pregnancy, or share the care between a midwife and a doctor.
"We encourage women to play an active role in the decision-making regarding the types of care and service they require from pre-post-natal services," she said. "This is no better demonstrated by the return rate of women for their second and third births or through women booking into our services via word of month of friends and family re the service and attention provided."
Private hospitals allow mothers the choice of their own obstetrician throughout the pregnancy, longer hospital stays and private rooms, often in a hotel suit.
But at a cost. Figures from Medibank Private show that mothers who spend between $1647 and $2640 a year on health insurance still face average out-of-pocket expenses of more than $500, as well as additional costs from their obstetrician.
Epworth Freemasons had the third-busiest maternity ward in Victoria's private hospitals last year, with 849 babies born. The hospital's business development manager, Rachel Weston, said families should consider a few things about private health insurance. No waiting lists, the choice of doctor, 24-hour access to a midwife and customised care were all positives of private health insurance. But, even with private cover, families still have to pay for obstetricians, anaesthetists and pediatricians.
"Ask as many questions as you can of any health fund and get the one that's right for you," Ms Weston said. "It doesn't matter which health fund you're with, but it must be family cover not single."
Despite the strength of the public system, Medibank Private industry affairs spokesman Craig Bosworth said private hospitals still had many advantages for parents.
"The delivery of service, whether it be public or private, in Australia is world class and it is important to have that as a benchmark," Mr Bosworth said.
"What we are doing is giving them choice.
"Private health insurance allows mothers and couples the chance to tailor services to them -- greater comfort, greater privacy, a private room, a double bed for the partner to stay over."
Parents-to-be choosing cheaper option
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However... if I had known about doulas back then I may not have gone private the second time... maybe... it certainly was lovely at Cabrini Private... but these days we have higher financial priorities and by our third i have to say we had the confidence to go home the following day after birth which i found a bit daunting with our first (sent home within 24 hours of birth).
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