[RainRain]

Hi...I have no idea how all of this works....if I was to fall pregnant and I wanted to go private (am covered) do I have to have an ob?
Who do I call first, the hospital or the ob?
Do most people choose the ob based on hospital preference or the other way around?
Ideally I would like to go private with ongoing care with the midwives of that hospital and check ups with my GP...is that how it could work or am I delusional?

[JuniorSpies]

I'd encourage you to check out your local hospital birth centre.
If you register as a private patient in a public hospital you don't need an Ob, you can go through the midwifery program but you'll be given priority when they are allocating private rooms.
If you do want an Ob, you do usually select an Ob and then go to their hospital rather than the other way around.
I saw an Obs once (public hospital) during my pregnancy during a scare but otherwise had wonderful care from my birth centre midwives.

This post has been edited by JuniorSpies: 15/01/2013, 05:38 PM

[libbylu]

I asked a couple of private hospitals if it was an option to have private midwife care and was told that no, I had to have an Ob, so probably not possible I imagine.

I am booked in a my public hospital and am seeing a private midwife (I get medicare rebates for appointment costs) for antenatal care and postnatal care. She will attend the delivery but as she is not employed by the hospital she is not able to perform medical functions.

[RainRain]

Hmmm, the thing is I'm not in a major city so don't have a lot of options. I'm at the sunshine coast at the northern end.
I hear there is an excellent private hospital set up with double beds and baths and all of that at Buderim.
Or there is the public hospital at Nambour that I hear has mixed reviews...but I really feel that I don't want to go to that hospital. Can't give a good reason.

Does anyone have experience of either of these?

[aidensmum]

I had my youngest at Sunshine Coast Private in Buderim. I loved it. It was 9 years ago tho. Used the pool in the birth suite for a bit and DH stayed the night with me after the birth in double bed. Bath for baby in the room. All the OBs deliver there since Selengor closed their maternity ward. Im not one to form much of a relationship with Drs so I choose randomly. I have a thing about sharing a room so Nambour isn't an option for me. Costs for private OB have skyrocketed so be prepared to be our of pocket a few grand. I had mine back in the day when the private ins covered everything.

[RainRain]

Aidensmum, that sounds like the birth environment that I want. Any obs you might recommend?

This post has been edited by RainRain: 15/01/2013, 08:05 PM

[Soccer Mum]

I'd encourage you to check out your local hospital birth centre.
If you register as a private patient in a public hospital you don't need an Ob, you can go through the midwifery program but you'll be given priority when they are allocating private rooms.

Depends which hospital and where you live whether you will get in unfortunately. I went public live out of the area to get into any birth centres even though Im in suburbia about 10K from the cbd

I dont know how this works if you are private. If you go to a private hospital you would surely be able to choose a birth centre though.

This post has been edited by Soccer Mum: 15/01/2013, 09:07 PM

[Stanzy]

I'm booked in for the end of the month at buderim. It's just been renovated and its amazing. I've had friends go there and they loved it. The midwives are lovely. Pm if you'd like the name of my ob.

Rta my ob has two midwives. Early stages I saw my gp. Pm with any questions :-)

This post has been edited by Stanzy: 15/01/2013, 09:11 PM

[RainRain]

Thanks Stanzy...I sent you a PM