What Are the Benefits of Giving Birth at a Private Maternity Hospital?

Newborn without a crib in the maternity ward

Prenatal Care & Childbirth

The main difference between giving birth at a private maternity hospital and a public one is whether your OB-GYN will be present on the day of delivery. The midwives will support you throughout labor, but your OB-GYN will be there for the final pushes and the baby’s delivery. At a public maternity hospital, the process is different—find out how here.

Insurance Coverage

In order to give birth at a private maternity hospital, you must have private or semi-private supplemental insurance (for at least one year) that will cover the costs of the delivery and your hospital stay. You should therefore check with your insurance provider and obtain written confirmation before proceeding; otherwise, you will be fully responsible for the bill. If you do not have supplemental insurance but still wish to give birth at a private maternity hospital, this is possible. Feel free to contact the facility of your choice to inquire about their rates.

Some hospitals with maternity wards offer a semi-private option. If your supplemental insurance covers this, you can choose your own OB-GYN and enjoy hotel-style amenities during your stay.

Medical Staff & Facilities

It is important to note that not all maternity wards have a team of doctors, pediatricians, and anesthesiologists on call 24 hours a day. If your delivery is high-risk, it is important to take this information into account before choosing a maternity hospital. For a preterm delivery—at 34 weeks or less, or 37 weeks or less of amenorrhea (depending on the clinic)—you will not be able to give birth in the private sector because not all maternity hospitals have a neonatal unit.

Accommodations & Hotel Services

Hotel-style comfort is a major advantage of private clinics, which offer a level of service, meals, and comfort on par with luxury hotels! If you have private insurance, you’ll have a room all to yourself, or a shared room with a semi-private plan. Depending on the clinic, your spouse may stay with you for free the first night and receive a discounted rate for subsequent nights.

Birth Plan

Don’t forget to prepare a birth plan to give to the midwifery team, in which you’ll outline all your wishes for the big day. Examples: I would like a natural birth, without an epidural, using the self-hypnosis techniques I learned during my childbirth classes; I’d like to have skin-to-skin contact with my baby for as long as possible; I do not wish to breastfeed; I’d like the umbilical cord to be cut as late as possible; ideally, I’d like to give birth in water, etc.