Your full prenatal care, labour and birth plus a time after the birth, is all provided by one midwife, who will come to you in your own home. You can birth anyway you want – including water birth in a special birth pool. Each prenatal visit lasts up to 2 hours each time. *Approx $4000 No health fund is required, but some do cover part of the fee.
This type of care is provided by a team of approx 4 midwives during the prenatal period and for the labour and birth in the Birthing Unit of Wollongong Hospital. You will have the one of the same 4 midwives for each visit and for the birth. There is a waiting list for this very popular type of care and you must meet certain criteria to determine that you have a LOW risk pregnancy. *Free - however it is very hard to get into due to limited spaces, so you must book very early in your pregnancy!
Your prenatal care is shared with your GP and Wollongong Hospital midwives at the prenatal clinic. You will give birth in the Birthing Unit of Wollongong Hospital. You can choose to attend the clinic in Wollongong Hospital or Shellharbour Hospital on selected days. Visits are every 4 weeks – shared between your GP and the midwives clinic. You are not likely to see the same midwife at your visits and the midwives in the Birthing Unit will be different again. You also see the Hospital Doctor (Wollongong Clinic only) at 12, 28, 35 and 40 weeks. This will not necessarily be the same Doctor each time. You can choose not to see the Doctor, however this is the hospital’s protocol. Wollongong Hospital is currently working on getting a birthing pool, but it is currently NOT an option. You can however, labour in the bath, or shower. Visits last between 5-15 minutes. *Free with Medicare, however if your Doctor doesn’t bulk bill, you will need to pay their fee for visits.
This type of care is similar to shared care, but without your own GP. You simply book in at Wollongong Hospital. *Free with Medicare.
Your care will be provided by an obstetrician, usually every 4 weeks until 32 weeks, then fortnightly until 37 weeks, then each week until the birth. You visit your OB in their consultation rooms. You will birth you baby at Figtree Private Hospital and your obstetrician will be called by the hospital midwives when the birth is imminent or sooner if required. This will be different if you are being induced or having an elective C-section. Figtree Private does not allow water birth, but does have a bath to labour in. Each visit usually lasts between 5-15 minutes.* Cost approx from $1500 plus any hospital excess for your private health fund and your regular health fund contribution.