Rach - yep my GP went through all the options with me and recommended a couple of different people they knew of personally.

reasons I choose to go private

- my own dr and set appointments, the public system I was faced with was an open clinc (ie open from 2pm sit and wait)
- hospital stay 5 night vag birth 7 night csec
- family room

My experience
- hospital stay was good, gave me more than enough time to get myself together
- having my own OB gave me more power over choices in my care, ie neg my induction in both situations

In the end I figure midwives are going to be the same whichever hospital. I have had some awesome ones in private as well as some shockers. I think if you educate yourself enough about birth no-one is going to push you into having a c-sec. If you aware of the things that lead to c-sec etc than you can avoid them.

All the best making your decision