Epidural at government hospital

Cara is right, epidural and any other form of pain relief/medical proceedure/intervention is included in the nominal fee. C-section is only performed if deemed medically necessary (prior) or becomes necessary as labour progresses (which is then called an emergency c-section). You cannot 'elect' to have a c-section in the public system, even if you wish to pay for it.


You will only be considered for a c-section if your pregnancy is deemed 'high risk' - which there can be a number of reasons i.e. placenta previa, breech birth, hypertension etc. The clinic doctors will monitor your pregnancy and the decision may not even be made until the last minute. For example, I am 37 weeks along and have a slight placenta previa - they are still making up their minds to see if they will allow a natural birth!


I am giving birth at QMH this month and have heard a few stories about being 'refused' an epidural. QMH told me this is ridiculous, although at times if there is only one anethetist available, you may have to wait a while. i.e. if someone on the ward needs a general anesthetic, the anethestist cannot leave the operating theatre during the surgery.

So if you end up having to wait, there is a chance your labour will progress too far to let an epidural be effective, which is when they may tell you that you can't have one.


Another factor is visiting hours, which I personally feel is the worst part of the public system, although I understand their reasoning. Many people get very upset learning that the husbands cannot be in the main ward with their wives apart from visiting hours, and the fact that visiting hours have been cut back to 6pm-8pm. The reason for this is that they are trying to minimise the risk of flu being spread. And, to be honest, with 8 beds in each ward, privacy is an issue for all concerned if husbands were allowed in at any hour.


But I have to say, for less than $500 you can't really argue - you still get top notch health care, just BYO bedside manner!

Everything Rachrobin said is right! I gave birth to my son last year in Public and C was performed because the baby was breech. I was also thankful that the visiting hours was not so long as we have more than eight beds in my ward, i would not be really comfortable nursing my baby when the other husbands were around. I was too busy nursing and caring the wound and chatting with other moms so hubby came in for two hours a day was also good :) I had a good time in the hospital with other moms, some really dont speak english at all and some speaks a little and some, well enough to crack jokes! We still keep in touch and bringing our boys (yes, all boys) out once every few months. Oh, I paid $600 for everything compare to $70K in private.