Going private + no OB

[visitor1]

Odd question but, If you want to have bub in a private hospital....do you HAVE to have an OB?

[Mum2SweetCs]

Apparently yes.

I asked that same question because I loved the private hospital we chose but not so much my obstetrician.

Forgot the reason though, sorry.

[scoobypuss]

Yes you do. If you have an idea which Hospital you wish to deliver your baby at you must book a maternity bed with your due date and the name of the obstetrician you want to deliver your baby. That ob will look after you and your baby 24/7 until you deliver and it is that service that you pay for.

[Oorki Galoorki]

HAHA the OB will look after you 24/7..... that is easily the funniest thing i have ever read!

perhaps call the hospital and ask them, say you want to use there services but dont want to employ an OB

[satya]

HAHA the OB will look after you 24/7..... that is easily the funniest thing i have ever read!

perhaps call the hospital and ask them, say you want to use there services but dont want to employ an OB

LMAO - I agree.

[Lulu]

That ob will look after you and your baby 24/7 until you deliver and it is that service that you pay for.

Oh come on ladies - you will PAY for it.....no one says he will be there

[visitor1]

Thanks for that info.....

Ive only heard some bad things about OB's and their 'care'....and the $$$ you pay for their services is a bit steep

[Trillian]

Mirabelle, you can go private in a public hospital too now because they are so broke that they need the quick cash LOL, but if you have a look around at your public hospitals you may find some that will offer you the same 'private' care for your birth and the duration of your hospital stay, but you can avoid having an ob.

[HotI]

Even in public hospital, you can only avoid an Ob as long as everything goes smoothly. That's the point of Obs, they are there if you need medical assistance.

[BellyBelly]

Yup if you choose a private hospital, you need to have a private Ob to to be 'signed in' as your carer. They need to know someone is responsible for your care as you don't get doctors doing rounds in private hospitals.

Yes, their services are steep. Since the government tried to help out with the Safety Net changes years ago, on average, Obs increased their fees 200% because they knew it wouldnt affect their business (women claim most back on the SN).

Yes, they chock themselves up full of many clients and are not guaranteed to be at your birth and midwives do most of the work, and Obs DO miss births. Mine missed both. First birth I pushed quick as I was scared of interventions when he was on his way in, second he was on holidays and I got a cow of a replacement.

The BEST care based on study and evidence? Continuous care by a known and experienced carer. Who is that? An independent midwife. And the government is trying to sweep them under the carpet and stop them from practicing.

At the very least, protect yourself with a birth attendant or doula. They will be on your side in the hospital system which is not woman focused or woman friendly. Sadly, its all about business and getting women in, then women out.

[visitor1]

Bummer....no wonder it costs so much to go private.

I had a Doula at my 2nd and 3rd birth...

[Olive]

I was going to suggest going private in a public hospital.... why do you want to go private??

[Hummingbird]

You could get the list of Obs that service the hospital that you want to go to and ring around asking firstly if they are available when you're going to deliver and then what the fees are.

My Ob is $1500 and I get some of that back, whereas my SIL paid over $5000 for hers! Mind you these were at two different hospitals (some private hospital's obs charge more than others too!)

I love my Ob and I didn't want to go to my local public hospital, hence private. I don't really need the years of medical study that he has done (well I don't think I do at this stage!) but you need an Ob to go private.

Hope this helps!

[visitor1]

Basically i have PHI so i figure may as well use the services i pay for, 'get my monies worth' so to speak.

Ive always gone public, whilst its been ok, i just feel like another number to the system and they dont seem to have the time to help when i needed it the most. Sure they are under staffed, but even 10 mins was a hassle.

Each time ive left early because i felt so uncomfortable being 'ignored'.

Im not keen on sharing rooms all the time.


I know i couldnt afford an OB....and to be going private in a public hosp defeats the purpose of the whole PHI situation KWIM?

Like why pay for PHI and still end up in a public hospital

[Inanna]

It's gone now Lulu..xxx

If you go private you need an obstetrician. However, I had one that agreed not to be in the room during the birth unless I needed a medical intervention... - which of course I didn't!

Remember this is your body. Your baby. Your birth. You decide. Your responsibility though to get the best care for you. For me it was only to have a trusted care provider who was a Woman and a Midwife!

Yep, my doctor gave me a raised brow... But I said: Sorry J this is woman's business and it's normal. If it becomes abnormal I'd love your help! He was very okay with it... We had/have a great relationship because of it.

You can find the care provider you need - but it's your responsibility to seek it out.

Good luck!

[Trillian]

Mirabelle, you get treated exactly the same way in a private hosptial - the money certainly doesn't buy you respect and you are still treated like a number - that's something that doesn't change. If you look into it, some public hospitals do have private rooms. It really is up to you and what kind of birth you really want. Considering that you do it pretty easy and don't have any complications, you could even look at a birth centre.

[Inanna]

Mmm I would have to say for me the care I received in a private hospital was very different from the public hospital (I was a private patient in a public hospital)...

Private hospitals have to keep customers so their "customer service" is sometimes (but certainly not always!) better.

I know it was significantly better in my experience in the private system.

[visitor1]

Trillian i would love to go via birth centre but im classed as high risk to them.

So what do you pay for if you go private in public hospital?

I assume everything?

ETA: I apoligise for a previous coment made....i worded it badly, so sorry to have offended any members