public or private???

[Lisa B]

Hi there,

I'm trying to decide if I go public or private.

My reasons for wanting to go private are:
* own room
* can stay for 4 nights with a vaginal birth

The only reason for wanting to go public is to save the money. I'm wondering if 2 nights will be long enough in hospital for my first given i don't have family living around me. I'm also wondering how I will manage in a shared room if I"m tired and the other person has visitors or a crying baby - I'm sure mine will be enough given it's my first.

What are your thought on 2 nights in public versus 4 in private and managing in a shared room in public.

I have to decide in the next few days. Any thoughts and experiences would be helpful.

[deletedit]

I've gone public 3 times with no complaints. I stayed about 3 days with my first in a shared room but there was noone in the room to share with until the last day. I got very bored in there and didn't know I was allowed to go home early otherwise I would have left.

Stayed 1 night in a private room with #2 and half a night (checked in at 11:30pm and out at 3pm) in a private room with #3.

Its actually nicer being at home than in a hospital, especially if you are in an area with post-baby visits after the birth.

[RhiChiChi]

Private for me all the way. Went private with DD and loved it, loved the hospital. Had my own room and stayed until Day 8 - they told me I was welcome to stay another if I wanted

[Mum2SweetCs]

I think research on the private hospital and go for a tour for both private and public.

DH and I did that and we really liked private because it felt more like a hotel room rather than a hospital (i am actually very scared of the hospital smell).

WIth the private hossy, DH could stay the night too and that was great for us whereas public they kick the partners out at 8PM as well.

I thnk for the first birth, private really helped me and the midwives were really nice and helped me look after DD while i needed some rest.

For the second child, im thinking of going public only because i know i want to be home with my DD rather than in hospital though.

[deletedit]

I think research on the private hospital and go for a tour for both private and public.

DH and I did that and we really liked private because it felt more like a hotel room rather than a hospital (i am actually very scared of the hospital smell).

WIth the private hossy, DH could stay the night too and that was great for us whereas public they kick the partners out at 8PM as well.

Heavily depends on the hospital I'd say. Our local hospital has a very nice room for people with new babies - its been redecorated and if you ignore the dated lino it is like a hotel room with nurse call buttons and a bed that goes up and down. They have a fancy foldup bed for partners to sleep on that was donated to the hospital by someone who didn't like the partner sleeping arrangements

[onthefly]

Having my own room was nice first time round, but it is sooooo expensive going private! We're staying at home this time, which will be much nicer I think.
For help in the early days, you could consider lining up a post-natal doula to help out at home, or a cleaner to come for the first month or so. Remember you should also get home midwife visits too. That way you can get get your own bed, and help, and at a much lower cost.

[Mum2SweetCs]

Heavily depends on the hospital I'd say. Our local hospital has a very nice room for people with new babies - its been redecorated and if you ignore the dated lino it is like a hotel room with nurse call buttons and a bed that goes up and down. They have a fancy foldup bed for partners to sleep on that was donated to the hospital by someone who didn't like the partner sleeping arrangements

I wish all hospitals were like that!!!! Unfortunately our local hospital has been on the news numerous times due to a lack of beds and mothers having to give birth outside the maternity ward. But next time i will still go public due to the cost of private.

[~Hestia~]

I've only gone public & I noticed my hospital had single rooms as well as double. I got a double room but didn't have anyone else in with me.
I preferred to be in my own home so only stayed the one night & that's because they made me! It's amazing how you mindset changes. I was originally terrified about going home with a newborn but the further along I got the less I worried about it.

[feeb]

Hi there,

I'm trying to decide if I go public or private.

My reasons for wanting to go private are:
* own room
* can stay for 4 nights with a vaginal birth

The only reason for wanting to go public is to save the money. I'm wondering if 2 nights will be long enough in hospital for my first given i don't have family living around me. I'm also wondering how I will manage in a shared room if I"m tired and the other person has visitors or a crying baby - I'm sure mine will be enough given it's my first.

What are your thought on 2 nights in public versus 4 in private and managing in a shared room in public.

I have to decide in the next few days. Any thoughts and experiences would be helpful.

Depends on what public hospitals are near you!!!!

I went private as I wanted continuity of care and to know if I needed a cs who was doing it. (I have had 2 cs now) I loved my 2 nights at park hyatt!!

I work in a public hospital and the care is very good, but staff are very busy as lots of babies being born.

If you can get into a hospital with a caseload/know your mw program you will be very happy with care.

Good luck