first time private versus public care

Millem · 21-04-2014 8:15pm

How Strange wrote: »

As far as I know giving birth in water is still banned in Irish hospitals. In the coombe you can labour in the baths but you have to get out once you're in the final stages. I'm not sure how that'd work if you were in the full throes of pushing though.

Anyone I know who was in a pool got out at the pushing stage.

ShaShaBear · 21-04-2014 8:21pm

Millem wrote: »

Anyone I know who was in a pool got out at the pushing stage.

Same in Cavan, stay in there as long as you like, but once the pushing stage starts, they take you out. Partner doesn't want to get in with me because he's afraid he'll get excited :P

Chattastrophe! · 21-04-2014 8:58pm

ShaShaBear wrote: »

Same in Cavan, stay in there as long as you like, but once the pushing stage starts, they take you out. Partner doesn't want to get in with me because he's afraid he'll get excited :P

Yeah ... no!

You can tell him that labour is absolutely NOT a situation where he'll be in any way excited!

Roesy · 21-04-2014 9:01pm

Chattastrophe! wrote: »

Yeah ... no! You can tell him that labour is absolutely NOT a situation where he'll be in any way excited!

Was thinking the same thing myself :P I was pretty quiet during labour until the bitter end but I'd say I looked terrifying to my husband....even though my hair still looked great in the after pictures

How Strange · 21-04-2014 9:06pm

It doesn't apply to me as I'm finished :P but it's great news for pregnant women.

Moonbeam · 21-04-2014 10:33pm

I would have loved the option of water as pain relief , my daily warm baths got me through most the pain of pregnancy !

contrary_mary · 22-04-2014 6:54am

What's the story if your waters have broken - are you still allowed into the pool? I know in my antenatal class we were told that it was showers only - no baths - once the waters had broken?

Millem · 22-04-2014 7:20am

contrary_mary wrote: »

What's the story if your waters have broken - are you still allowed into the pool? I know in my antenatal class we were told that it was showers only - no baths - once the waters had broken?

No you can go into the pool right up to pushing. Maybe different hospitals have different rules but holles street recommend you taking a bath! (But we were told to bring a sample of our water once they had broken)

Roesy · 22-04-2014 9:27am

Millem wrote: »

No you can go into the pool right up to pushing. Maybe different hospitals have different rules but holles street recommend you taking a bath! (But we were told to bring a sample of our water once they had broken)

To the best of my knowledge you can't go in the pool in CUMH once your waters have broken. You also can't use it if you've been induced.

uck51js9zml2yt · 22-04-2014 9:45am

My wife was public in the rotunda on both ours but got a semi private room on the first.
I was amazed at the lack of midwives on duty at the weekend.
We were falling over them during the week and there were 2 covering private and semi at the weekend.
The thing with public clinics is to be there an hour beforehand to get your number so as to be seen early.

Sligo1 · 22-04-2014 10:50am

Regarding using the pool after waters have broken I'm not sure... However, i was of the belief that once waters have gone its showers only as baths/pools were more likely to be an infection risk. I was informed of this in 2012..... So perhaps guidelines gave changed since then?

contrary_mary · 22-04-2014 11:00am

Sligo1 wrote: »

Regarding using the pool after waters have broken I'm not sure... However, i was of the belief that once waters have gone its showers only as baths/pools were more likely to be an infection risk. I was informed of this in 2012..... So perhaps guidelines gave changed since then?

Well at my antenatal class on holles St 2 weeks ago we were told no baths once waters had broken.

Penny Dreadful · 22-04-2014 11:14am

January wrote: »

I've read about NMH moving to Vincents, Rotunda moving to the Mater and the Coombe moving to Tallaght so much in the past ten years that when it does actually happen I'll be so surprised my eyebrows will probably fly off the top of my head.

I think the babies we're all pregnant with will be hearing the same stories of the "move to x, y,z being imminent".
I work in the health service sector and its a long way off anything happening.
When I was waiting for my consultant appointment in the Coombe last week two women who work there were all chat about the planned ward extension for the Coombe starting in September.
If thats true it leaves any move to one of the major teaching hospitals even further away.

monflat · 22-04-2014 11:16am

contrary_mary wrote: »

Well at my antenatal class on holles St 2 weeks ago we were told no baths once waters had broken.

Probably because of the risk of raising the babys temp. And causing foetal distresss.
Waters have broken there is no protective barrier .
They obviously have researched big into it and dont want further complications

monflat · 22-04-2014 11:17am

contrary_mary wrote: »

Well at my antenatal class on holles St 2 weeks ago we were told no baths once waters had broken.

Probably because of the risk of raising the babys temp. And causing foetal distresss.
Waters have broken there is no protective barrier .
They obviously have researched big into it and dont want further complications

dizzymiss · 22-04-2014 3:51pm

I think it really depends where you live. Only the one maternity dept in galway city so straight off it's a public hospital. They have only private (single room) and semi private (really large4bed rooms) rooms. I attended the midwives clinic the first time and im doing the same this time. They are absolutely excellent and I couldnt fault them. The waiting times were never an issue either, in and out in less than 30mins. Unlike the doctors clinic.

We have health insurance so most of cost would have been covered but the way I saw it was, the midwives are the ones that deliver the babies and the docs are there when needed. We had a few hairy moments at the end when delivering our first little woman and the docs, paediatrician and midwives were all there within mins. And if I had gone private, my consultant wouldn't even have been there to deliver as she was on holidays at the time of the birth.

detoxkid · 22-04-2014 5:17pm

I'm going midwife led in galway too. I'm 35 weeks and so far I can't praise the highly enough. I also have health insurance but would have to pay a few grand on top of that for private care. I'm going to spend the money on some unpaid leave instead

Moonbeam · 23-04-2014 7:42pm

http://www.independent.ie/videos/irish-news/the-coombe-opens-stateoftheart-delivery-suite-with-hydrotherapy-pool-29948850.html came across this earlier .

Sligo1 · 23-04-2014 8:35pm

contrary_mary wrote: »

Well at my antenatal class on holles St 2 weeks ago we were told no baths once waters had broken.

That's exactly what I said... Lol

Millem · 23-04-2014 8:38pm

contrary_mary wrote: »

Well at my antenatal class on holles St 2 weeks ago we were told no baths once waters had broken.

That's mad they actually sent me home to have a bath!

contrary_mary · 23-04-2014 9:28pm

Sligo1 wrote: »

That's exactly what I said... Lol

Yeah sorry I was referring to milliem's post! Not sure why I quoted yours since we were agreeing - can I blame baby brain yet?!

Milliem it's mad the way we got differing advice!

lazygal · 23-04-2014 9:32pm

Millem wrote: »

That's mad they actually sent me home to have a bath!

I was told not to have a bath, only a shower, and was put on antibiotics in case of infection. This was in HS about eight months ago.

Millem · 23-04-2014 9:58pm

contrary_mary wrote: »

Yeah sorry I was referring to milliem's post! Not sure why I quoted yours since we were agreeing - can I blame baby brain yet?!

Milliem it's mad the way we got differing advice!

Maybe it's just domino? They told us at antenatal to turn the immersion on for the bath when your contractions start! The wanted us to stay at home till 3cm whereas my mother was terrified I would end up having baby in the house she insisted I go in after my waters broke! But they sent me home and have a bath!

Sligo1 · 24-04-2014 4:42am

Millem wrote: »

Maybe it's just domino? They told us at antenatal to turn the immersion on for the bath when your contractions start! The wanted us to stay at home till 3cm whereas my mother was terrified I would end up having baby in the house she insisted I go in after my waters broke! But they sent me home and have a bath!

We were informed not to bath after waters gone due to infection risk as the barrier (waters) was no longer there. I can't see how that rationale for not bathing would be any different on the domino tho!? Lol... It's not like the domino patients have higher immunity than other patients!! Lols. Really interested to know the reason tho!

Millem · 24-04-2014 7:04am

Sligo1 wrote: »

We were informed not to bath after waters gone due to infection risk as the barrier (waters) was no longer there. I can't see how that rationale for not bathing would be any different on the domino tho!? Lol... It's not like the domino patients have higher immunity than other patients!! Lols. Really interested to know the reason tho!

I didn't mean that domino had higher immunity lol! I meant more because they are so into natural pain relief. The bath thing was definately in my handout. Also my friend had baby with MLU in drogheda and she definately stayed in pool until 10cm, then just got out to push

dustie1 · 24-04-2014 8:20am

At our antenatal class the midwife discussed this, she said bathing at home once your waters had gone was ok as likelihood for infection in your own home was low. However she didnt recommend using the communal hospital baths once waters were gone as you wouldnt know how regularly they were cleaned.

Penny Dreadful · 24-04-2014 10:44am

dustie1 wrote: »

At our antenatal class the midwife discussed this, she said bathing at home once your waters had gone was ok as likelihood for infection in your own home was low. However she didnt recommend using the communal hospital baths once waters were gone as you wouldnt know how regularly they were cleaned.

I assume this doesn't mean lots of women in labour in the one bath at the same time a la Saturday evening baths when we were kids:eek::D

lazygal · 24-04-2014 1:57pm

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

I assume this doesn't mean lots of women in labour in the one bath at the same time a la Saturday evening baths when we were kids:eek::D

Cutbacks!?!

Penny Dreadful · 24-04-2014 2:01pm

lazygal wrote: »

Cutbacks!?!

These days you just can't be too sure:D

lazygal · 24-04-2014 2:05pm

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

These days you just can't be too sure:D

I had a laugh in theatre second time. They forgot to gown me up until I pointed out I was wearing my own gear. There was a nice tension breaker (it was an emergency section) when we joked about cutbacks even for theatre gowns.

Flippyfloppy · 28-04-2014 9:03am

Hi guys, I'm not sure if this has been discussed/answered yet. I've been told it will cost 1,200 togo semi private in the coombe with my health insurance. I saw someone mention on a thread back in 2010 that you can claim some of this back on your MED1, and claim some more somewhere else? Does anyone have any experience of claiming back off the fees? I'm currently down as Public but might change if I can claim back. As a by note, does anyone know if you can change from public to semi private ?

Penny Dreadful · 28-04-2014 9:08am

Flippyfloppy wrote: »

Hi guys, I'm not sure if this has been discussed/answered yet. I've been told it will cost 1,200 togo semi private in the coombe with my health insurance. I saw someone mention on a thread back in 2010 that you can claim some of this back on your MED1, and claim some more somewhere else? Does anyone have any experience of claiming back off the fees? I'm currently down as Public but might change if I can claim back. As a by note, does anyone know if you can change from public to semi private ?

I'm semi private in the Coombe on my first. I've been charged €750 only and I can get some back on my health insurance (Laya- health manager starter) and my Med 1. I will also have to pay for my scans which range in price from €80-€120.

Flippyfloppy · 28-04-2014 9:27am

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

I'm semi private in the Coombe on my first. I've been charged €750 only and I can get some back on my health insurance (Laya- health manager starter) and my Med 1. I will also have to pay for my scans which range in price from €80-€120.

Thanks Penny. Have just looked into it a bit more. I'm with Glo Health, they have told me I can claim back 200 of those fees. Do you mind me asking what you're allowed claim back from Laya?

dizzymiss · 28-04-2014 11:14am

Im pretty sure once you've registered as public, you cant switch to private and vice versa. I may be wrong.

Penny Dreadful · 28-04-2014 11:31am

Flippyfloppy wrote: »

Thanks Penny. Have just looked into it a bit more. I'm with Glo Health, they have told me I can claim back 200 of those fees. Do you mind me asking what you're allowed claim back from Laya?

I can claim €250 back from Laya and the whole cost of the scans. I've registered for the ante natal and physio classes too. If you haven't done so yet I'd recommend you do that very soon. I'm due in the first week in October and only did that last week. As it happens I'll miss the first of three physio classes because I'll be on holidays in June and am too late to book for May. It's no big deal but if you leave booking too late you could find yourself missing out on things that are good to have.

Flippyfloppy · 28-04-2014 12:19pm

dizzymiss wrote: »

Im pretty sure once you've registered as public, you cant switch to private and vice versa. I may be wrong.

I was afraid of that! I'm actually in for my booking visit tomorrow, and having last minute jitters about going public! I feel I was very lucky last time, I went public and ended up with an emergency section and got a fairly quiet room with 3 other section ladies. The day I was leaving, about an hour before they moved about 4 other people into our room, so it was pretty packed. I think 3 days of that would be awful, so I'm having doubts about going public!

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

I can claim €250 back from Laya and the whole cost of the scans. I've registered for the ante natal and physio classes too. If you haven't done so yet I'd recommend you do that very soon. I'm due in the first week in October and only did that last week. As it happens I'll miss the first of three physio classes because I'll be on holidays in June and am too late to book for May. It's no big deal but if you leave booking too late you could find yourself missing out on things that are good to have.

Thanks Penny, Laya is miles better than Glohealth by the sounds of it! Still might give them a call and see if I can change, and claim the balance with my MED1! I have a toddler so the antenatal & physio is fresh in my mind, but ur dead right, they are great to have! Might need phsyio again because I had a touch of SPD last time!

lazygal · 28-04-2014 6:31pm

dizzymiss wrote: »

Im pretty sure once you've registered as public, you cant switch to private and vice versa. I may be wrong.

You can change. I've known of people who changed because they wanted a higher level of care than in the public system or who moved mid pregnancy and went from midwife led to consultant care. You might've a limited choice of consultants though as they have a limit on how many patients they'll take.
Eta I'm sure once you're going private you'll be liable for fees anyway if you switch to public.

Moonbeam · 28-04-2014 7:49pm

You can change anytime at all .

Flippyfloppy · 28-04-2014 8:37pm

I called up today, more or less enquiring. Was put through to a few different people, last woman was from Semi-Private. She went to check to see if they had room, was silent for a while then told me she cancelled my public appointments and put me in with a consultant! Not sure if I definetly want this.. but I'll see how it goes tomorrow!!

Moonbeam · 28-04-2014 10:38pm

Good Luck:)

SanFran07 · 05-05-2014 5:49pm

contrary_mary wrote: »

Well at my antenatal class on holles St 2 weeks ago we were told no baths once waters had broken.

The information provided by NMH isn't accurate. The evidence clearly shows no increased risk of infection if labouring in a bath/pool with waters released. Water immersion with waters released is an everyday occurrence in the midwife led units in Cavan and Drogheda as well as homebirths.

comongethappy · 05-05-2014 6:27pm

First timer in September.
Opted for Holles Street, Public.

I know it will be crowded & noisy, but the level of care there seems very good.

Fingers crossed it will all be fine.

first time private versus public care

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