I'm finally about to cut the Obstetric umbilical cord

[~mamaspice~]

I'm not really sure if this is in the right section but I guess this is about emotional growth for me.

DD's birth was Obstetric lead and in the private system. Quite frankly it sucked. The birth was bad, my hospital stay was bad. It took me a long time to get over. But regardless of all that I just could not get my head around the thought of birthing in the public system with care providers that I didn't know (no continuity of care model where I live), and going through a system I am not familiar with. And as much as I knew in my head that I would be much more likely next time round to have the birth I wanted in the public system I just couldn't part with the OB and private system. I know it's weird, but perhaps a bit of "better the devil you know" type mentality and the fear of giving away the control of who my care provider would be.

Well I have been talking to a fantastic friend, and finally something has clicked. And to come out the other end a more empowered woman and mother I know I need to cut the obstetric umbilical cord. And to do it completely I'm going to delete obstetrics cover off my PHI all together.

Somebody hand me the scizzors please!

Now I feel ready for the next phase.

Bring on Bubba number 2

[Ella]

Hey Mara, I just noticed your signature saying Bachelor of Midwifery, I'm looking to get back into my Bachelor of nursing but was wanting to do the midwif postgrad, can you do them together now???? Do you still get certified as an RN???? and what campus are you going to???

[Arimeh]

Wooohooo sister!!! You can do anything you set your mind to - just remember that!!!!

You are awesome.

[Lulu]

Bring it on Mara!

[Lolli]

**Hands over sharp, shiny scissors**

You go woman

[Oorki Galoorki]

WWWAAIIITTT!!

please check to see if you are covered for midwifery... if not go ahead give them a flick!!

[~mamaspice~]

Awww thanks so much for your encouragement lovely ladies, it means a lot to me.

DouDou, I will double check for sure but from memory I get a huge benefit of $100 for midwifery services. Big Whoop huh!

[Jas]

Lol thats awesome! I still think of you as Spice by the way...not sure if you remember me but back from the prettc threads a while ago! I am so looking forward to reading you pa and ba and to read about the amazing vbac you will have

[widdly]

you go girl!

[~mamaspice~]

Thanks Jas & Widdly, I'm feeling super happy with my decision. Tried to ring my health fund today but they were shut. So I'll be calling them on Monday to ditch the obstetrics cover

[rufalina]

well done hun. Bring it on!!! Good luck!!!!! xo

[~mamaspice~]

Wellll, ummm, I haven't quite ditched the obstetrics cover yet

The thing that I've got on my mind now, is what if I end up unable to have a VBAC for reasons outside my control, like placenta praevia or something (that would be my luck). In that scenario I'd be better off going private because #1 I could go back to my old OB who agreed to let me have a maternal assisted caesarean, or #2 I could go to the other private hospital in my region which happens to be QLD's only World Health Organisation endorsed "baby friendly" hospital and know that they have a definate skin-to-skin in recovery policy. If I went public all of that could be outside my control. Oh, I dunno

Cutting the cord is seeming a little harder than I thought . . .

[~Kaz~]

Darl I think there's a difference between emotional development (read cord cutting) and practical realities. If retaining your private health insurance leaves you with more choice, then that's not a bad thing. And it doesn't mean that you haven't moved on emotionally from feeling dependent on having a "private" experience complete with your old ob etc for your next bub. I think you can still have that (if you end up needing it/wanting it) as a considered choice that's the best one for your and bub in the circumstances and it won't mean that you haven't 'cut the cord'. Like you said, something has clicked. That's happened whether or not you retain your PHI.

[CrystalBoo]

Mara, I don't want to make the decision harder for you, and I know I've said it before, but my experience at that other hospital was awesome, despite an EC and a sick 3 day old.

Can you face sharing a room with others and their babies, especially if you have a longer stay? That was a huge factor for me in deciding to go private.

Go and have a look around if you haven't already, I think they do tours each Saturday.