[Apple Cheeks]

Hi All,

I've just joined as I found out I was pregnant this weekend (5 weeks tomorrow). I know from friends experience that you have to be quick to secure an OB but I'm a little lost as where to start?

My GP is on holidays until next week so I cant talk to him. I'm unsure whether I should pick a hospital first or an OB? Where do you start and when is too late to start looking? ie is waiting an extra week going to matter or should we visit hospitals this week?

I live South East Melbourne so I think Cabrini, Monash or Frances Perry would be best.

Can anyone give me some advise on hospitals they've experienced or PM me with OB reccomendations.

Thanks so much - theres so much information to digest!

[LittleMissPink]

OB first, then find out which hospitals that are allowed to work at. Not all OBs can work everywhere

[lsolaBella]

Book Cabrini NOW it may already be too late. Same gos for many of the OBs who deliver there.

[BubblyGal]

Congratulations!

I'm not in Melbourne but hospitals and OBs are much the same in Brisbane.

I chose my OB first and the hospital naturally followed. Not sure how it work in Victoria, but once you're booked in with your OB you have no problems with the hospital (assuming you go private).

[elco]

I chose my OB first. Like bubblygal said generally you choose your ob and then the hospitals naturally follow, this has been my experience anyway.

[Apple Cheeks]

Thanks for the feedback so far, have started calling OB's to find out more and make a booking.


If anyone else has OB recommendations please PM me or with any good/poor hospital experiences.

[Mamabear2010]

Obs book up quickly. During my first pregnancy, I phoned them at 5 weeks and some were already fully booked!

I didn't find my gp very helpful for recommending an ob. He was familiar with their names but he couldn't tell me if they were any good. Speaking to my friends about their experiences was more helpful.

I picked the hospital that I wanted and then looked up which obstetricians delivered there. I then picked an ob after phoning around and asking questions. That's how I did it for both pregnancies.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

[futureself]

I chose my OB first. Like bubblygal said generally you choose your ob and then the hospitals naturally follow, this has been my experience anyway.

I was the opposite and chose my hospital first. I chose it based on it's tertiary level care; NICU in the same building if needed; it's care model for caesarians (baby with you in recovery etc) - these were the main criteria for me. I then got the list of OBs that delivered there from the hospital and went searching online for their websites; comments and reviews online as well as seeking feedback and recommendations for OBs from that hospital here.I also checked with my health fund about which ones were no-gap. I ended up choosing 3 from that to then ring and get prices and more info from their rooms. I did all of this before falling pregnant though so could be thorough as I" had time up my sleeve which you don't - my OB had to turn people away after 5 weeks as she books out that fast

[Natttmumm]

I picked the hospital and then picked the best Obyn I knew of there. Not easy to get in though so I'd be making some calls soon.