What's it like going public?

[Carrie]

Sez- Definately using my Doula again!! It was funny but the first thing DH said when we were talking about options was "Well we're definately having Julie"!!! Haha - funny when first time around there was a bit of convincing.
Thanks Holly[/B] and Anney for your advice. I did think about a birth center...do you get to stay at all or just go home a few hours after the birth?

[olive]

carrie i *think* with the bc you can choose to go to the ward if you wish

[HollyM]

You can stay 24 hours post birth in the birth centre and afterwards you have the choice to go home or to the main shared maternity wards. However, like I said, if it is quiet and your room isn't needed by someone else, they might let you stay for longer!

HTH

[CheezelMonster]

I had my son in a public hospital even though I have private health insurance. I had a completely active birth with no drugs or intervention. I had the same midwife for all my antenatal appointments, she delivered my baby & did all my post natal visits too (7 in total). To be honest, I didn't really notice her during my labour. She was very unobtrusive & I was able to just do my own thing. I could've gone home the same day but I had some bleeding so had to stay overnight. The midwife on the ward offered to take my son so I could have some sleep but I declined. I was in a 2 bed room but had no one in there so had the room to myself.
Yes the food leaves alot to be desired but I really can't fault the public system in my experience. Just take lots of snacks!!

[JellyBean]

I had DS1 in a public hospital and all the midwives and doctors who attended to me were very pleasant. Remember that all midwives and doctors do the same training - regardless of what system they end up working for.
I also had my own room and bathroom - I think many public hospitals offer this now? You can also be a private patient in a public hospital. Not sure what costs are involved there...?
Regardless, I think if you have a doula or private midwife - THIS is the factor that will ensure you really get the birth experience and support you are after - and you can have that in any birthing system. I personally don't support the private system simply because I don't believe women should have to pay big bucks to have a baby - its a natural process - and if anyone's going to get paid for it - it should be me!!! I'm doin the hard work thankyou!!
Food - meh. I can't compare but I was happy with the options I had. Plus I honestly can't see how staying longer in the hospital is supposed to be a benefit. There's no place like home and that is where you truly feel like you can just be yourself, relax and bond with your baby. The food is better at home too - that is where you get family and friends bringing you lovely home-made casseroles etc!!

This time around I am going to a public birthing centre which will be midwife led - plus I will have my doula with me. Standard discharge is after 24 hours (provided everything is fine, of course), and instead of being confined to a single room & bathroom for days on end I get to be in my own home and the midwives and doula will come to me for post-natal support. I think that is truely woman-centered care!

[satya]

Originally Posted by Carrie

Okay, so I just got off the phone with the Ob's receptionist (Dr Chee Kwon Chew) at Knox Private (if anyone knows about her I'd appreciate your feed back!

I was referred to her by my GP but I did not continue with her as I could only see an OB that was linked to my hospital network (and she wasn't). I will pm you on what I thought of her as I know BB doesn't like recommendations being done publicly now.

I gave birth at Dandenong public hospital & would do so again if I were to ever be pregnant again. The on duty doctor delivered my bub, my OB was just for appointments so I could just see the one person throughout. No pregnancy management fee was charged.

I shared the room with one other woman & the toilet & shower with 3 other women. Both were always spotless. I never had to wait to use the facilities. The food was fantastic & I am mega fussy so that surprised me. I had only one bad meal in a 5 night stay. My last two nights were in a bonding unit & I had a private room & an ensuite which I shared with one other woman. I actually preferred the shared room to be honest. Being on my own was quite isolating once everyone went home.

I didn't notice much noise. Some distant baby crying. Can't remember much crying from the other bub and mine wasn't with me.

You are not guaranteed a private room in a private hospital unless every single room is a single. They usually have a few twin's that they use in case of emergency. I know someone who gave birth in a private hospital recently (not Knox) and she had to have a shared room the first night & that was for a planned C section. Some stuff up apparently.

I personally don't think it's worth paying out all that money for a private room. I based my hospital choice on where the best SCN was as I was concerned that my bub might need it due to all the age related complications that could cause me to give birth early (none of which happened). I'm glad I did that though as in the end I still required the use of it.

[AliBaby]

I went public and will do it again HOWEVER I think it depends what hospital.

I went to Hornsby in Sydney and I had my own private room, private bathroom, all brand new maternity building to the hospital. I couldnt fault them at all!

[BekZ]

Carrie - I have gone public 3 times now. Mostly I have had great birthing experiences and pre/postnal care through the midwife program that my local hospital offers. I don't care for any of the Ob's I have come across but I was lucky enough to have 3 healthy pregnancies and I didn't require much medical intervention (except for a retained placenta with my 2nd birth).

With my first born I had my own room for 5 days and it was bliss, however with my second I had to room with 4 others and it was hell for me. I hated not being able to sleep and I really hated sharing a bathroom with a whole ward of people.

Thankfully my third birth was very straight forward so we went home 6 hours post birth. I had my MIL at home with to look after my two older kids. So I went home to a home cooked meal, my kids, my own bed. my own shower and I avoided any potential exposure to flus and illness. A midwife came to visit me everyday for 4 days post birth as well.

With the money we saved from opting out of private we hired a cleaner once a week for a month post birth...money well spent

Goodluck with your decision

[Carrie]

THanks all, I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with the public option, probably through shared care with my Dr and i'll also have my Doula with me.
I figure that if I hate it I can always go home early or hubby, bub and I can book into a nice hotel with the money we save.
Thanks so much for all of your fantastic replies, it has really eased my mind.

ETA: Bek - what a great idea with the cleaner!

[Midwifemum]

The most important question you need to ask of any Dr /hospital is: What is the C/S rate? Having a nice single room with lovely food and a huge out of pocket expense bill will be of no assistance to you when you are struggling to care for your baby after a ? unnecessary C/S due to ? unnecessary interventions. If they can't give you an answer ie % of C/S done at the hospital I would look elsewhere. Warragul has the lowest rate in Victoria around 18%. If the hospital you are looking at has a rate > than say 25% I would be concerned.Thanks for listening. Hope I am not being too blunt here, but sometimes trivial issues cloud what is really important.

[Lulu]

If you want the nearest birth centre (angliss - and I loved it), you better book in now!

xoxoxo

[Rainbow Raver]

I havnt read anyone elses responses but i have had both births in a public hospital...



Are you kept awake all night by everyone else's babies?
Nope.
Is it awful sharing a bathroom? Do people clean up after themselves in the bathroom?
Not awful, and yes they do clean their own mess
If you have gone private then public, how do they compare?
N/A
Do you think it is worth paying thousands of dollars just to have a private room and a few more days in hospital?
Nope.

The only thing i did not like in the public hospital was the food

ETA: with DS they let me stay for 5 days and with DD i stayed for 3 (that was my choice though i was ready to go home!!)