“If you’ve got good trust in your caregiver, your communication is going to be better, and it often means that you’ll have a smoother and less stressful experience during the pregnancy.”—Dr Lauren De Luca, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Women’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialists
Key points
- Pregnancy is an exciting—and sometimes overwhelming—time for parents-to-be, which is why many people choose private health insurance to support them during the journey.
- Some of the benefits of private health cover during pregnancy include continuity of care and the ability to choose your own obstetrician.
- Private health cover also involves additional services, such as breastfeeding support and access to specialists.
Pregnancy is one of life’s most transformative journeys—a time filled with anticipation, joy, and, let’s be honest, its fair share of apprehension. For new parents-to-be, the journey can feel overwhelming, especially when navigating the healthcare system and pregnancy appointments for the first time.
“Pregnancy is a vulnerable time,” says Dr Lauren De Luca, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Women’s Obstetrics and Gynaecology Specialists, who has more than 10 years’ experience in both public and private healthcare settings. “Women are growing another little human, and they are concerned about doing the right things and making sure that they’re providing a good environment for their baby to grow.”
It’s this natural desire for reassurance that makes having the right team looking after you and your baby so crucial. As Lauren explains, private health insurance for pregnancy can make all the difference between a stressful pregnancy experience and an empowering one.
The power of pregnancy health cover
For many women, pregnancy brings both a whirlwind of new experiences and the fear of the unknown.
“Women don’t know what to expect, so there’s lots of uncertainty, especially if it’s their first baby,” says Lauren.
Private health insurance policy cover, she says, can make a significant difference, offering parents-to-be the ability to choose their own obstetrician and maintain continuity of care throughout the pregnancy and beyond into the first few months of caring for your little one.
“The benefits of private continuity include having access to an obstetrician who gets to know you, understands your history, and knows what’s happening with your pregnancy. They can tailor care, depending on what you and your family need,” she says.
The doctor–patient relationship creates a foundation of trust that carries through the pregnancy, labour and birth. Building this relationship, says Lauren, means you don’t need to repeat your story at every visit.
This trust becomes particularly crucial during labour and delivery, when control often needs to be handed over to your care team.
“If you’ve got good trust in your caregiver, your communication is going to be better, and it often means that you’ll have a smoother and less stressful experience during the pregnancy,” says Lauren.
“Particularly with labour and birth, there is an element of not being able to control the situation, and so you do have to put trust in the people that are looking after you, and that’s both the midwives and the doctors.”
For those considering starting a family, try to start planning early to ensure you have the right level of private health insurance and can secure your preferred obstetrician. Lauren advises seeing your GP as soon as you find out and asking for a referral to be sent to your obstetrician of choice.
“Do it as early as possible,” says Lauren. “A lot of obstetricians book out very quickly. And the majority of obstetricians do cap their numbers.”
Access to personalised and comprehensive services
Beyond standard appointments, private health insurance for pregnancy opens the door to additional services that can significantly enhance the pregnancy experience and a woman’s wellbeing.
“The knowledge that someone can ring and speak to an obstetrician 24 hours a day is very important,” says Lauren. “If there’s anything they’re concerned about, whether it’s during the day or after hours or on a weekend, they know that they can always talk to a clinician.”
In Lauren’s practice, support extends beyond obstetric care. “We also work very closely with midwives who can provide additional education and breastfeeding support,” she says. “For women having their first baby, there are often lots of questions around that.”
Private health insurance cover also provides access to allied health services and the flexibility for personalised care. Generally, there are shorter wait times and “if a woman needs to come in for an extra scan for reassurance, then we can absolutely make that happen”.
Lauren believes being able to refer women to other specialists who will benefit them is a positive too. “We have contacts with physios or psychologists,” she says by way of example. “With private care, there’s no need to stick to a strict schedule. The care can be individualised for that woman and her pregnancy, and it’s much easier to do that than in a public hospital setting.”
Care doesn’t end when your baby arrives, either. The postnatal period brings its own challenges, and having the right support can make all the difference to new mums and dads.
“The other post-birth benefits include the ability to have a private room and also a longer stay in hospital,” says Lauren. “For women who want to breastfeed, to establish breastfeeding and to recover from the birth experience, that’s a huge positive.”
Making the decision that's right for you
Deciding whether private health insurance for pregnancy is worth it for you is a personal decision that depends on your circumstances, preferences and priorities. While Australia’s public health system provides excellent care, private health insurance offers additional choices and control that many women find invaluable.
Whether it’s the reassurance of 24-hour access to your obstetrician, the comfort of individualised care, or comprehensive post-birth support, these benefits can make all the difference to your Real Wellbeing and how you experience your pregnancy.
