Private together with Public??

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This is my first time pregnancy. I have a private OB taking care of me and my baby. Recently, a lot of friends suggest me to make appointment with the public hosipitals as well. Is it common?? And should I do so as well??
 
Congratulations!

It will probably depend on whether you plan on using the private system for the whole pregnancy and birth or not. If you are then there is no point registering with the public hospitals. Some people see a private ob for check ups but deliver at public hospital due to cost / other reasons. Even so you do not need to register until 32 weeks.
 
I used private for my whole pregnancy, but at the same time, I also registered at the public hospital. I went to public for a few times and then stopped. I did so because it was recommended by a friend who had complication before, and at that time she only went to private and thus she had no record at the public. When she was brought to the operating theatre which was an emergency case, she was asked to provide all her perosnal data.....and it took ages for the staff to complete the registration form!!

Even though if you don't plan to use public, it is no harm to get registered with them because you'll never know what happens (touch wood!)! Anyway, congratulations and all the best to you and yor baby!
 
My first ObyGn suggested that I may not be able to carry my baby full term. The next week I registered at Tsan Yuk. I was around 22 weeks at the time. Like Gigi I did a combo of public/private tll about 33 weeks and then continued with my private Dr.
 
Thanks gals for all the advice. The reason why my friends suggest to register at public hospital is to make it as a back up for any unexpected complications or emergency.

It's a bit time consuming to check with 2 docs (1 private and 1 public). But I think it's worthwhile to make it more safe, right :D

Again, many thanks!!
 
Does anyone know how long the public hospital will keep our record on file? I'm at my 2nd pregnancy now but I'm a bit lazy to register with public this time. Just wondering if they still have my previous record?
 
It's not you that needs to be on file but your pregnancy and how the baby is developing. Of course if you show up in labour without having registered, they will not turn you away, but things will be a lot smoother if they have your pregnancy on file.
 
Public hospital will keep your file for 2 years. Not sure whether or not you have to go through the blood tests again for your 2nd pregnancy.
 
Public facilities is definitely a necessary backup.

I had all my check ups at private practice but delivered at public hospital. I only registered at public facilities when I was over 30 weeks. Glad that I did as I had an emergency C-section which would have costed me over $70K at St Paul's Hospital, which was not covered by insurance.

Another new mum in my ward had high fever when she delivered and had to have an emergency c-section. Both the baby girl and the mum had to stay for almost 2 weeks for tests and observation. Had she been in a private hospital, she'd be thrown out after a week tops then referred to public facilities for those tests on the baby.

However, not all public hospitals receive good reviews. I used Pamela Youde in Chai Wan which I am quite happy with (I had c-section and I could walk the next day. It wasn't even painful for me, I only took painkiller for the first 2 days). I heard Queen Mary is also good. And it appears that hospitals in Kowloon and NT are not popular.
 
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