Time to read : 5 Minutes
Bun in the oven of the family kind? Here’s the thing with being pregnant: there are suddenly eighty thousand decisions to make or at least it feels like that. Unpregnant you maybe had to think about what to eat for dinner. If you're pregnant, you need to choose a care provider, decide whether you want to find out the gender and learn about pelvic floor exercises all in the first few weeks.
Heck, researching tummy cream is a mission in itself.
Choosing between the public and private systems — the various forms of care and costs associated with each — requires some rather extensive exploration.
I've been through both, so here's my experience rounded out with some additional knowledge from Compare Club's experts.
What you need to know
There is genuinely no right answer when it comes to how to have a baby. The best you can do is be safe and choose what’s right for you.
And whether you choose public or private care really comes down to two key questions:
Who would you like to care for you during your pregnancy?
Do you want an extensive stay in a private room post-birth?
Pregnancy in a private hospital
What’s involved
Private care is usually provided by an obstetrician (a doctor who specialises in pregnancy and birth) who you can choose yourself.
From the time you return a positive pregnancy test, this doctor will generally oversee all of your care in their own clinic.
Your obstetrician will also attend the birth of your child at a hospital of your choosing.
You can opt to travel to a private hospital if you’re not keen on your local one.
Both public and private hospitals usually offer single (non-shared) rooms for private patients.
Costs
Pregnancy cover generally needs to be taken out a year before the baby’s due date as most health funds insist on a 12 month waiting period.
So, yes, that means planning a long way ahead when it comes to taking out insurance.
And you’re potentially looking at hefty out-of-pocket costs if you choose to go private and don’t have appropriate health insurance.
Here are some general costs:
Obstetricians will usually charge between $3,000 and $5,000 to oversee an uncomplicated pregnancy and birth.
The cost of having your baby at a private hospital ranges from $2,000 to $20,000.
Some or all of your expenses may be covered, but this varies between doctors, hospitals and providers, and your level of health cover.
Bottom line here: do your research and assume nothing. Always check with your fund at every step of the way.
Public care
What’s involved
As a public patient, you can choose from various types of care:
Shared care — in which many of your routine checkups are done by your GP. This is great for patients who feel most comfortable with the advice of their local doctor.
Midwife-led programs — some hospitals offer a midwife practice, in which you will see a dedicated midwife throughout your pregnancy, birth and postnatal period.
Hospital clinic care — in which you will be seen by a rotation of (very good) GPs, midwives and obstetricians.
Costs
Medicare covers the cost of giving birth as a public patient but some services, such as scans, can incur additional costs.
Most public patients report spending around $500 during their pregnancy, birth and postnatal care.
According to Medicare, the following pregnancy costs are either subsidised or completely covered:
Pre and postnatal care given by midwives or obstetricians in a public hospital, birth centre or publicly funded homebirth program.
Pre and postnatal care given by GPs as part of a shared care program.
Routine ultrasounds and blood tests.
Up to three pregnancy counselling sessions.
Your hospital stay as a public patient after giving birth.
The bottom line
The best choice for you comes down to the type of care you want during your pregnancy and the cost of this care.
Chat with other mums about their pregnancy experiences. What did they love, and which paid services will they do without next time?
Finally, if you are considering private care, talk to your insurer and obstetrician to determine your out-of-pocket costs as these can vary wildly from carer to carer and hospital to hospital.
