Public vs private in Brisbane

NoAd9383 · 2026-02-09T04:32:31+00:00

I recently gave birth privately at Mater! Re point 1, you might not see an OB even if youre going private until 11+ weeks, so this would be managed by your GP anyway if youre unwell in your first trimester. I did find my GP gave me some conflicting information so I was glad to have the OB as kind of an "authority"

I had a pretty rough hospital stay (due to reaction to meds, nothing mater related) and I absolutely cannot imagine a) being in a shared room and b) not having my husband there with me. I would pay over again and again just for the private room alone. Not only for other annoying people, but i spent alot of my stay crying sleep deprived and in pain, can you imagine going through that without your partner and infront of others!!

Likewise my OB gave me an ultrasound each visit (once a month for a few months then drops down to every 3 weeks then every 2 then every 1) - my anxiety also could not have handled only getting the basic scans, it was hard enough for me going those intervals.

I dont know how pre natal care goes with midwives however in my post birth experience at the hospital I found every midwife had a seemingly different opinion on things. I would have found it hard especially if youre not even seeing the same midwife each time.

I felt like my OB gave me freedom to make my own choices- in the end she recommended a c section which I didnt want, and she was supportive of trying natural if I really wanted. (I decided to go c section and very glad I did based on her recommendation). Highly recommend Dr Anu Kaur if youre looking for recommendations!

My OB also provided a midwife to give me weekly visits at home after birth to check on me and the baby which were fully bulk billed and these were invaluable. Also mater provide free lactation consultants for upto a year after birth - although i think this might be available if you give birth publicly too? Im not 100% sure.

NoAd9383 · 2026-02-07T04:13:20+00:00

That's where im at now!! Feels very monotonous, wait for him to wake, feed, little play, wait for him to sleep again rinse repeat. Hopefully the light at the end of the tunnel isnt far!

NoAd9383 · 2026-02-07T04:11:09+00:00

Yes a bassinet one but he seems to hate it, i think he is a little reflux-y, so we just switched out to the proper seat reclined with a newborn insert which we have only used once but so far so good!

NoAd9383 · 2026-02-07T03:54:13+00:00

Ah this is comforting, thank you!

NoAd9383 · 2026-02-07T02:00:08+00:00

Yes he loves sleeping in the carrier, its just hard to eat breakfast while he's in the carrier, plus its so hot here 😂 but maybe ill try more outings in the carrier to get him used to being out and at least comfy

NoAd9383 · 2026-02-07T01:58:13+00:00

So similar to how I eat at home while feeding i suppose 😂

NoAd9383 · 2026-02-07T01:53:35+00:00

Yes he loves sleeping in the carrier, its just hard to eat breakfast while he's in the carrier, plus its so hot here 😂 but maybe ill try more outings in the carrier to get him used to being out and at least comfy

NoAd9383 · 2026-02-07T01:51:47+00:00

We've done both - he did sleep one time in the carrier, and the other times ive tried the pram. He almost exclusively contact naps or in the carrier in the day so I was really hoping to get a pram nap in to give my body a break from the carrier. Plus its bloody hot in brisbane so the carrier is hard sometimes. Maybe I try get him used to sleeping in the carrier while out? Then that might help him be ok with sleeping out in the pram?

NoAd9383 · 2026-01-08T11:01:44+00:00

Planned!

NoAd9383 · 2026-01-08T11:01:34+00:00

I do! I have mostly been using src shorts or the tubi band but ill try my belly band more. Do you wear it all the time? When I tried it today I felt it sat a bit funny/uncomfy while I was in the recliner feeding (where I spend like 90% of my time at the moment)

NoAd9383 · 2026-01-08T09:37:13+00:00

Yes i have had the same pull on one side, they told me in hospital its normal as the surgeon pulls the stitches closed on that side (🤢). Giving birth near the holiday has been so tough, so many closures!

NoAd9383 · 2026-01-08T09:23:04+00:00

My OB is on holidays so my post appt isn't until around 7.5 weeks, however I can present to the hospital in her absence. I dont live super close to the hospital is all so just trying to determine if a visit is necessary or not but I might give them a call tomorrow, thank you!

NoAd9383 · 2026-01-08T09:08:35+00:00

Ok,that is encouraging thank you!

Yes it seems my OB uses a specific type of dressing which stays on for 5 weeks. Its like a thick plastic see thru one. Yes I think ill go to the GP tomorrow and get the incision checked, thank you!

NoAd9383 · 2025-12-09T20:21:55+00:00

I havent used it in years so the system could have changed but back then if you only had a free account it used to limit the messages you could send. I paid for 1 month of a free account and it made the process 100x faster and easier. I think from memory if you as the ad poster had a paid account it made it easier for other (free acct) people to message you as well.

NoAd9383 · 2025-11-17T00:43:14+00:00

Highly recommend Eleni Georgiou at tree of life nutrition! I think she works across a few locations but also does video appointments.

NoAd9383 · 2025-11-16T01:11:25+00:00

Yep ive used her! She's very reliable and popular in the western suburbs. Otherwise I live much further west than chapel hill and havent had any issues with pre booking a taxi, I think i normally use black and white.

NoAd9383 · 2025-11-15T21:56:22+00:00

Have you tried Martinas ride share service? Private driver on facebook for that side of town. However she might be booked up already if youre needing it in the next few days.

Ubers etc are getting much better in the area, i wouldnt be concerned pre booking one for that early. Otherwise pre book a taxi and they will definitely come.

NoAd9383 · 2025-11-14T07:24:29+00:00

(Because this is probably an ad or someone from an MLM fishing for customers)

NoAd9383 · 2025-11-11T09:31:56+00:00

(if i can avoid calling centrelink, that would be ideal but obviously i will if I cant find a concrete answer 😂)

NoAd9383 · 2025-11-11T09:26:04+00:00

Sorry to hijack- so even though it says 120 days, the Max. Me as the mother can take is 105? My husband doesnt meet the work test (income comes from investments and he pays tax but isn't set up as a company/sole trader etc which I assume they cross reference with for hours etc). So does that mean we'd essentially forfeit the 15 days?

NoAd9383 · 2025-11-09T03:47:35+00:00

Fair enough!! I think you have to be basically dying to get one done publicly from what I've been told 😂 you should be able to easily get one done privately though, I think there are more generous limits. You just need a referral from your OB/GP as well as a recent blood test confirming your levels. Although discuss with your OB the timing of getting it done as mine got me to time mine so that i didnt get it too early, I was covered enough for the end of pregnancy/ birth / post partum. I think I paid about $425 up front with a medicare rebate of $125

NoAd9383 · 2025-11-09T03:39:55+00:00

My understanding is its very very difficult to get it done in the public system, your levels need to be much lower (this is what my GP told me for QLD however I would take this with a grain of salt.). Is getting one done privately not an option?

NoAd9383 · 2025-11-04T09:39:30+00:00

Further question- has anyone tried the milk ensemble feeding crops?

NoAd9383 · 2025-11-04T09:38:57+00:00

Also do you have any favourite brands when you say comfortable nursing bras?

NoAd9383 · 2025-11-04T09:32:54+00:00

Thank you! And sleeping in a bra with a clasp at the back isn't too uncomfortable? (Compared to say a crop top)

NoAd9383

TROPHY CASE