Elective Caesarean Procedure - Sydney Public Hospital

[Cher]

Would appreciate if you could give me some insights into the procedure for elective caesarean in Sydney Public Hospital, as I am not from around here.
I am due early April, would like to know whether there is flexibility on my end to select the date and time to have my elective c-section. And which public hospital is more accommodative on such request?
When do I need to book for theathre etc.
And usually how long would one need to be in the hospital after c-section?
This would b my 3rd birth, my 1st was on emergency caesarean in the UK, and 2nd on elective.

[Jodie259]

I'm in Melbourne, and as far as I know you can't "elect" to have a ceasar in any public hospital.

If you have private health insurance - and a private obstetrician - you can elect to have a ceasar.

I have HBA cover which provides me with a private obstetrician - but only in a Public Hospital. So I had to find a private ob who would work out of a public hospital. You have to be joined up for 12 months before they cover you for this though. So if you are already pregnant, this would not be an option for you.

I visit my ob in his rooms prior to the birth - and with my current pregnancy, my out of pocket expenses are around $6000 for those visits. The health fund cover all the costs when I am admitted into hospital.

With my first pregnancy, I had an emergency c/s.
With this second pregnancy, I have asked to have an elective. The obstetrician made all the arrangements & bookings at the hospital for me.

I was in hospital for 4 days with my 1st birth, although I could have gone after 3 days if I wanted to as I was recovering really well.
Usually the maximum is 4 days in a public hospital - unless there have been complications.

If I were you, I would be contacting Sydney Public Hospital - and asking if you could have an elective C/S. They may say "no" straight away - and you will have to look at alternative options (paying for hopsital cover or obstetrician - or going with a natural birth).

[christy]

I'm pretty sure that NSW has just stopped all elective caesareans from public hospitals. I'm sure if you have reasons for it, such as physical trauma, sexual trauma or mental health that would stop you from having a natural birth, they would do an elective caesaren for medical reasons.

[10longyears]

I am pretty sure that because you have had 2 previous c/sections the public hospital would probably recommend you have another one anyway, because it is public though you generally dont get to pick which day you want as much as them giving you an availability. I agree with the recommendation of calling the hospital though, or speak to your GP if you have one, they would probably have a better understanding of your local hospital system. As to how long you need to stay most public hospital have a 3-5 day stay after c/sections, you can always go AMA (against medical advice) and discharge yourself earlier if you feel comfortable enough. Either way GOOD LUCK.

[joralyd]

Hi Cher,
Congratulations on your pregnancy! I probably won't be much help as I've had my children in private hospitals so I'm unfamiliar with the public system, but I would suggest you perhaps see a GP who can explain what your next step would be. You do get to choose your public hospital so maybe checking the phone book and internet for public hopsitals close to you would give you some flexability if you don't like the procedures at a particular hospital. I'm not sure but I think you don't actually book in for a C that's up to your dr/midwife atleast that's how it works in private. I'm sure the midwives/dr's won't force you to have a VBA2C so don't worry too much. I think the amount of time you stay in hospital depends on the hospital you go to plus if you have any complications but from what I've been told it's 3 to 5 days standard in public where as 5 to 7 days in a private. The public system is pretty good in Australia I'm sure you'll get what you want.

[AnyDream]

Cher, I'm pretty sure in the public system there will not be any opportunity for you to select either date or time, as these decisions will be made based on clinical reasons - ie date due, how PG is progressing, as well as the urgency of other patients. They also typically only have some days of the week where they schedule elective CS, and only do emergency ones on the other days.

Best first step is to talk to a GP about the correct way to book in with the hospital, usually the CS discussion doesn't come up until you are well into your 2nd tri, when you see the hospital OB. They will explain it all to you then.

Good luck, enjoy your pregnancy!

[castle]

Cher, congratulations on your pregnancy, and welcome to Australia if you are new here.
In the public hospital here, you book the hospital after your initial "booking visit" in the clinic (at about 14 weeks), unless you are having a private OB. The hospital booking date is based on your EDD, unless you are told otherwise by the OB or midwife. Don't worry, the hospital just wants to have an approximate idea and get all your details in the computer. If it is agreed at this visit that you should have another caesarean, and I think it will be, then they will tell you which week of your pregnancy to book it for. I'm not sure if the admissions office will give you a specific date at that point or not.
I think that since you've had 2 c/secs already, there will be no difficulty booking an elective 3rd one. You will not be able to choose the date or time. As Marydean said, they will probably do electives only on certain days.
How long you stay depends on your recovery, and unfortunately, on how busy the hospital is at that time. I stayed a week with my last because I had a baby in NICU, but I was told after 5 days that I could go home if I liked. There was no difficulty about my staying. If you are feeling exceptionally well, you could leave after 2-3 days. If you strongly desire leaving early then you can discharge AMA in any case.
Your room will probably be a 4-share which motivates most women to leave asap! If you have private cover, you may be able to stay in a single room. This is what I did. It depends on the hospital--how many single rooms are available--and how they prioritise them. They try to save them for very sick mums, but if there is plenty of space a c/sec mum would probably get one, whether or not she had private cover. With a public hospital, however, there simply aren't any guarantees.
HTH.