Community post

Bump

Hi Samantha,
I'm not sure what part of aus your from but where I am we don't have a close obstetrician so we have this program called mgp which is run through the public hospital (midwifes) I have never used the private system, the only thing I've had to pay for is the 12 week scan but Medicare will part pay it so it's not too expensive. Feel free to pm for any other information.

I've had all 3 of my babies in the public system and see no reason to ever go private. I did shared care (GP for most appointments, hospital for a booking in appt, a 32 week OB appointment and 38 weeks check with their midwife) I would NOT recommend doing this at all.

My second was through midwives at the hospital, it was fine, but I saw a different midwife at every appointment, an OB only once at 32 weeks, and did not really enjoy this either.

What I absolutely LOVED, is the MGP (midwife group program). Absolutely amazing!! I had one primary midwife, she was part of a small team of 4, so if she wasn't available for what ever reason, she had a back up that I got to meet too. I could chose to have my appointments at the hospital, at a smaller centre nearby, or they would come to your house. I chose to have my midwife visit me at home. She had all the equipment with her and was very thorough, professional and friendly. I had her phone number and she encouraged me to text or call at any time about anything. Any appointments or blood tests I needed at the hospital she would book me in for. When I went in to labour, I called her, then headed up to hospital. When I got there she had everyrhing set up just as we had talked about. It was the most organised, most relaxing and smooth process. Having a midwife I knew and trusted and who knew me and what i wanted was amazing.
If you can get into a MGP I cannot recommend it enough.

Even if you are high risk, the public system is still good. A friend went private for her first (she had private cover but was still out of pocket about $5000), then had her 2nd and 3rd public. She regrets ever going private for her first, as the care she received publicly was just as good as private. She was high risk and had c/s for all 3 of hers too.

Thank you so much ladies!

I'm in South Sydney and will definitely be discussing shared care vs. MGP at my doctors appointment on Thursday!

I very much agree with mystique mgp is amazing, I had a different midwife each time when I had my 1st bub at manly hospital but for my second I had MGP when I moved with my 2nd bub and had the same midwife the whole way through, so much more relaxing!

All the best lovely, hopefully we've given some info for you to make a decision that's right for you and your bub.

Thanks so much ladies! Going to do some research on availability of MGP in my area!