Private Maternity Hospitals – Choosing the right one
One of the appealing aspects of private maternity hospitals is the high quality standards of comfort and great food. With private maternity hospitals, you get to have your own individual room and hence you get all the privacy and quiet that you need. Some of the rooms in private maternity hospitals come with a television, CD player and sometimes a fridge. The staff is also on call around the clock to provide tea and snacks for your visitors. If your partner wishes to stay overnight, accommodation can be arranged. You also receive personalized care in a relaxing and lovely homely environment.
Your delivery choices in private maternity hospitals include the OB/GP who will give you all the care that you need during your pregnancy and delivery. You should also find out if the doctor you choose has visiting rights to the private maternity hospital you may be in. When you are about to deliver your baby you may be admitted in a private maternity hospital or a public hospital as a private patient. If your doctor will attend the delivery of your baby, he/she will receive assistance from other members of the hospital’s staff. However, there is no guarantee that your OB will be present at the time of birth.
Remember that choosing an OB is not really necessary especially if your pregnancy is normal and free of any complications. Some people choose to have one just to have peace of mind. Making this decision is not simple but if you choose to see an OB, your GP can refer you to one he/she knows or you can enquire at the hospital of your choice.
If you are a private patient in a public hospital you will be given a single room only if it is available. Postnatal care is provided to you during your stay in the hospital which is usually about two to three days. If everything is in the right order, you may even leave the hospital earlier.
With private maternity hospitals, you have the opportunity to decide whether the antenatal, delivery and postnatal care given to you should be shared between your doctor, OB and midwife. This option will help you in considering a wider range of delivery options to choose from such as a labour ward, birthing centre or a homebirth. You will still be considered a private patient and treated as such. The fee will be the same too.