Hi Fiona, I'm having the same dilema as you. But I've already had one bub at a private hospital. I had a cs (which I didn't want) and although I got to stay in a lovely suite for 6 days the midwives were not very nice. They were always rushed and understaffed. A midwife brushed me off when I knew I had a bladder infection and they also failed to pick up that DD wasn't attaching correctly and as a consequence 5 days post birh my milk had not even come in properly.
If I knew our local public hospital was having a trial with the one on one midwife care there would be no doubt that I would go there.
This is more for Spice than for Fiona as she's already made her decision.
You can always see an OB throughout the pregnancy yet deliver at a public hospital with whoever is on duty at the time. That's what I did. It cost around $50 per OB visit (a little more for the initial one). I did this because I wanted to have the same person caring for me during the pregnancy but was happy to have whatever midwives were on duty at the time at the hospital.
My labour was long so I didn't just have the one midwife, but it was one on one care while they were on shift. It made no difference to me that I had never met them. I must admit I didn't like the first on duty doctor but the one that was there for the birth was fantastic.
We had a 5 day stay in hossy (3 days in the 2 bed ward, 2 days in a single bonding room) and all the midwives were fantastic. I got so much individual attention to help with breast feeding. Bubs was in SCU due to infection and jaundice and the midwives helped me every single feed time, sometimes staying for the whole time if I needed it. I never got the feeling the staff were in a rush, they always had time for me.
I would choose the same type of care again in a heartbeat.
I am going public and I see the same OB evey 2 weeks and I have seen the Midewifes 2ce now - I love my Ob she is perfect! And I love the support that the midwifes that I have seen have given - I have done the tour of the birthsuits and wards and they have all been updated. I have no regrets about going public - and it is all free!
I went Public and had no problems...was extremely happy with the care they provided! Had a quick labour so I had the same midwife but my sister gave birth 2 months prior and had a long labour and a couple of diff midwives but they all treated her so well and the original one stayed with her past her knockoff time until bubs was born!!! That was great of her!!!
My friend is a Doula in Geelong...let me know if you would like her website address!! Doula's seem to be a good idea these days!!!
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