C Section... Private or Public?

Firstly I'd like to ask for no "lectures" on how serious a C Section is, I know all the pro's & con's for a C Section & for a Vaginal birth. All I ask is for some opinions on the question below.
Thanks.

What is the difference between going public or private when it comes to a C Section? What have your experiences been?

Thanks in advance :)

Hi Danielle,

I have had 3 C-sects. The first was Public, second was Private in a Public Hospital, and the third was completely Private.

I was not really happy with the first - as I felt that I was told what I was going to do, and not given an option.

The other two were much better, not problem-free - but I felt that my wishes were a little more important. The other thing that was important to me, was I chose my OB and anaethestist.

Hope I can be of assistance.

xx

oooooh - I forgot - the most important part.

In the private C-sects, I had DH stay with me as much and as long as he wanted (or I wanted). In the public, there were clear visiting hours, and he was forced to go!

I have had both but the benefit I feel with private over public, if you know you are definitiely having a c-section, is that you have the privacy of your own room for your recovery and have more of an opportunity to stay as long as you feel is necessary for your recovery. I was lucky enough to be able to have this in public though as well cause it was in a country town with small hospital. I have heard of numerous people being kicked out of public hospital after 3 days with a c-section and physically not being in the best position for going home. I have heard of the odd provate hospital trying to get you out after 4 days but most I have spoken with have generally indicated that you can stay as long as necessary.

excellent point jaspen!

Thanks ladies. Something else I forgot to ask was about the cost.

How much (if you dont mind me asking) did you pay to go private in a public hospital & how much to go private in a private hospital?

I do have private health cover if that helps.

Thanks again.

It depends on your level of Private cover.

My OB was a 'No Gap' Specialist - so we had no out of pocket expenses with him.
My Anaethestist was the BEST in the NT, and we paid accordingly. I think we were about $700 out of pocket with him.
There were no other theatre expenses.
Our level of Hospital cover has Co-payment, $50/night to a maximum of $250.

We were thrilled with the success of our private C-sect (especially for the hip-pocket).

If you can be a Private patient in a Public hospital, it is cheaper still.

My best advice is to do your research, and make lots of phone calls.

i just paid my GP bills for private in a public hospital cause that was shared care with a GP.

Private in a private was around $1600 out of pocket from memory (sydney but chepaish OB at the time) - and this was all OB bills - the actual hospital stay cost me nothing (we have top cover with no excess and chose hospital taking into consideration that it was on the health funds "priority" list).

They have since introduced anotheer medicare number for OBs so this time the price has gone up - again the hospital stay should cost nothing and all the fees will be in OBs and paedeatricians (which you have for a c/section in private) Can't think of the toal off the top of my head but am guessing it will be closer to $3000 this time ( I can get out the sheet and work it out if you want to know) - again this is in regional town not in Sydney where it would be much dearer. Most OBs will outline their fees up front (even before you make the first appointment) so you could get an idea of this by ringing round if this was a "stumbling" block

ps - you can ring your Private Health mob, and ask them who they have listed as 'No-Gap' Doctors.

Great, thanks for the info ladies. I still haven't decided whether I'll go for a c/s or vag yet as I had my doc appt today at the hospital & he suggested I consider a c/s due to medical reasons, I was shocked as I never thought I'd be in the situation where I'd have to consider one (unless emergency) & thats nothing against those who have chosen a c/s, I dont have any problems with that at all, it just wasn't my first choice.

Anyway, I'll have a better think about it & try to make the best decision possible. It's so hard!!!

Thanks again, your replies have been a great help....

I agree - it's a hard decision.

I always thought that my babies would be natural - but after my first (emergency - and nearly lost baby), it really opened my eyes to being better informed and making rational decisions (rather than being forced into an emergency situation).

It turns out that I don't get a choice when it comes to natural delivery......and it gets me a little riled up when friends/family tell me that C-sects are the easy way out. Because it is far from it! Just ask anyone who just had a C-sect after having a natural delivery first time.......lol

So sorry, I get a little defensive when it comes to free choice, thanks to the natural-labour bullies!

good luck with your research, and decision making.

xx

Danielle - hey honey how ru? Which hospital are you going to? Im going to North Shore Private. When Julia was born I think my c-section was about $3000 and then theres also the other OB attending the theatre of about $450 and the anethetist bill which varies from $450 - $1000. We got most of it back from Medicare and then our Private health.

ETA - Julia's c-section was an emergency one...so not sure if that costs more or the same as a scheduled one.

hey danielle

birth is birth :) big hugs to you

you can still make a cs a beautiful and welcoming event for you, your partner and your baby

Hi Danielle M,

I had an elective caesar due to pre-eclampsia. I had a private Ob in a private hospital. My health fund is MBF and I had a no gap OB. Basically I had to pay $60 for each antenatal visit (got about half back from medicare), had to pay a $400 "admin" fee at 20 weeks and my Ob charged No delivery fee as she was an MBF no-gap specialist. Oh, and you have to pay for all your bloods and scans but you get a fair bit back from medicare.The anaesthetist also just charged MBF direct - not sure if he was a no-gap specialist too or if he just felt sorry for me because he ended up having to give me a general anaesthetic. The only out of pocket expense I had for the private hospital was the $250 excess. I think that if you're gonna have a private OB you might as well go to a private hospital as you should only have to pay the hospital excess. Check it all out with your health fund anyway.

Oh yeah, and as Blue Daisy said, you can make a Caesar a beautiful experience such as requesting things like skin-to-skin with bub in theatre and while you're in recovery. Also, check out the thread on maternal-assisted-caesareans.

I wish you all the best with your decision :)

Danielle... I had one c/s in a public hospital and one full private.
With public you have the c/s when they say and only when they say and not before and if someone else comes in that need a c/s straight away then your c/s gets put off.
With private you can pick the date any where from 37weeks and thats the date and time it will be. They wont make you wait if someone else comes in or anything like that.
Only down side to going private was i had a private room and i got so bored and lonely.
I didnt have private health cover and it cost me $5,100 just for the op room and my stay. Then the doctor on top of that,i think it was like $8000 all up.
Wish i had that money now so i could go private again.

As far as I know, public hospitals will only do c/s in an emergency situation, or if there is a genuine medical reason. And they decide what that reason is and whether it is necessary for a c/s. So basically in the public system it is assumed all women will have a vaginal birth except in extenuating circumstances. So if you want to have an elective c/s I suggest you go private.

Thanks everyone.

Bon I was at my public hospital yesterday seeing the doctor when he suggested it (I didn't ask for one as I had no intention of electing to have a c/s, I was very happy to have another vag delivery) I've since spoken to the midwives there asking questions about private/public c/s & they dont have a problem with me having a public c/s at 39 weeks. They've said I can think about it up to 36 weeks & then let them know which is great. So I think my circumstances must come under the "extenuating circumstances" you mentioned.

I think I will be going public if I do choose to go down this track (due to medical reasons). Everytime I've been in the maternity ward at my hospital (twice through last pregnancy, plus 5 days after birth) I've had my own room which was my main concern. Its also FREE which is a huge bonus!
So we'll just have to wait & see what I decide in the next few months I guess.

Thanks again for all your info ladies, I do appreciate it :)

Danielle, Just wanted to comment on when I had my emergency c-section in a public hospital that I was in a shared room with 5 other women. It was the 'c-section- room', and was just across from the nurses desk. I had been in a smaller shared room with a couple of other women upon booking in, up until I came back from my c/s.
Maybe a question worth asking? Will you be in a shared or single room with your c/s and if shared how many?
Goodluck with everything :)

Nic

Nic thanks good question, I did mention that today on the phone when speaking with a midwife & she said if theres spare rooms they go to any private patients (which I knew) & then next down the line would be the c/s patients. She also said theres a good chance I'll get my own room again because its very rare they have that many woman in there at once to fill the extra beds in the rooms that take more than one patient at a time.

I suppose I dont mind too much sharing with one but I think more would get to me a little especially if my next baby is anything like my first who slept through the night from the get go. (It was the nurses who woke me not my DD LOL)

Thanks again