[Tilly77]

I had DS as a private patient as the Mater Hospital in Brisbane and loved it! However, due to financial reasons we have decided to go public with our second.


Would love hear from anyone who has birthed at the Mater Public. Surely the care and urgency would be the same?


My understanding is that the main differences are; sharing a room, dh cannot sleep over and may only visit during visiting hours, possible shorter stay, i meet my delivering obstetrician on the day, my regular check up appointments are conducted by midwives, most likely a different one each time?

But i would still receive the same after care, access to lactation consultants etc?

[Bluemakede]

I can't give opinions on things after the birth, but I'm going through the mater for this pregnancy.

They booked all my appointments with the same midwife, just ask when you have your booking in appointment (should be around 16+ weeks), the admin staff there are lovely and did this for me (i got along really well/felt really at ease with the midwife who did my booking in appointment, so wanted to see her for antenatal). I may end up seeing a different midwife if the one I see is sick, on holidays or team leader that day, but so far so good.

I can't fault them so far for public, everything has been great.

[Lulu_R_S]

I know this was asked last month but wanted to say, I had DD at the Mater as public and found them to be great, although it was just over 9 years ago now. As you said checkups are with a midwife unless there is a problem. You share a room, visiting hours are strict (but generally not the day/night you have the baby in my experience). Partners cannot stay overnight.

I never needed a lactation consultant so do not know about that, though I found the nurses very helpful A physio also comes and goes through some exercises for you.

When pregnant I puffed up like a balloon and had to have a couple of extra visits to make sure that it wasn't pre eclampsia. I also called them freaking out that my waters had broken early and later that I was in labour though it was braxton hicks and the staff were lovely, kind and reassuring. I had a post partum hemorrhage and lost consciousness and the nurses and Drs reacted quickly and professionally and I was able to avoid surgery as a result.

Hope that helps OP