Back-Up Hospital

[Ilithyia]

This is baby will be our first to be birthed at home and we've decided to birth with an IM. I had always planned to book into a hospital as a "precautionary".

Our local hopsital (Beaudesert) no longer offers birthing services so I was referred to the next hospital, Logan. I've never birthed at this hospital but have supported Doula clients and from these experiences refused to ever step foot back into it. But again, as a precautionary, I asked my GP to send a referral off to them.

Yesterday, I decdied to call them as I hadn't yet recieved any correspondence from them. I was advised that because I was intending to Homebirth, Logan Hospital does not offer shared care to Women choosing Homebirth. It doesnt really bother me as I didn't want to go there anyways, but I'm a little pi$$ed that I've been turned away because of my preferences.

Did you book into one?

Were you ever turned away? If so, what did you do from there?

Experiences/stories appreciated!

[onthefly]

They can't turn you away! As far as Im' aware, you just book in like anyone else so they have all your info, but don't do your ante-natal apts ther (and hopefully never set foot in there again at all). So it's not actually shared care, it's just a matter of them having you on record so if you do need to transfer you're already on their files.
All the best for your upcoming birth! Hope it goes wonderfully for you

[Jennifer13]

I'd say the person you spoke to got confused. My local hospital does not offer 'shared care' either, the IM is completely my own business and a private arrangement. You are not asking them to collaborate with your m/w, which it sounds like they think you are (you'll need a GP though if you intend on filling scripts or getting tests done).

I have booked into my hospital in case I need to transfer, so all of my details are on hand. I had no resistance or difficulty in them accommodating me as someone they hopefully will not see again! But it's purely to let them know who I am and so my m/w can contact them once I'm labouring in case I do need to transfer. My IM tells me that it makes it a lot easier to get what I want going into hospital if I've booked in beforehand.

You have plenty of time - I just had my booking in appt yesterday at 32 weeks!

[Ilithyia]

Thanks ladies.

I think what I'm gonna do is just leave it at that.

Logan are aware of me and my pregnancy so if in the unliklely event that we do need to transfer, I wont be a stranger to them.

I wasn't even asking them to do shared care with them. I guess I was just trying to do the right thing and make them aware of who I am incase we did need to transfer.

They know who I am now so I think i'll just leave it at that.

Thanks again!
x

[Tegam]

Ahhh Sara you won't need them anyway

[Heaven]

Hopefully you don't have to go their anyway! But how odd

[Jennifer13]

Logan are aware of me and my pregnancy so if in the unliklely event that we do need to transfer, I wont be a stranger to them.
x

Completely your call, but I thought I'd let you know that the HB group was talking about a lot more than simply giving them your name and the fact you are pg. It's more about having test results, your current health status, health of the baby, etc, on hand in case you are admitted. I've given them all the paperwork I have from both my m/w and all tests (u/s, blood, etc). Plus, I went through their admissions process to be allocated a patient number, same as every other maternity patient.

The HB m/ws recommended it to all of us HBing Mums as making any transfer process much easier. I am also handing over at this stage my birth plan, for them to keep on file. It potentially means a lot less hassle in the unlikely event that I do need to transfer. A little bit of hassle now is giving me peace of mind that we won't have to face extra dramas down the track. I can deal with it and then forget about it, if that makes sense.

Another point is that I'll be taking the baby up to the hospital to have its hearing test done after birth. So it will be handy to be registered there for that reason too.

If you're worried about the reception you'll get as a HBer, I was so pleasantly surprised yesterday at how nice everyone was. The admissions lady was busy telling me that her sister had two HBs and the m/w was very encouraging of my decision. Not a single raised eyebrow or suggestion that I was causing them any difficulty at all. Completely accommodating.

[HotI]

I am not registered with any hospital, and not planning to. If i transfer, my midwife will be coming with me and she has my notes. Not giving my information to a hospital i most likely will not need.

[LionsandBears]

As part of our HB arrangement, our IM automatically informed a tertiary hospital and registered us in case of transfer. With DS1, I also made an appointment for a HB backup with another hospital closer to us. It took hours, had to see a mw and an OB. It was a bit of a waste of time. We ended up transferring to the original hospital anyway. Our IM called them when we were on the way in.

When calling hospital 2 to make the appointment, I just said it was HB backup.

I'd ask your IM what normal practice is.

[Cassius2]

I'd ask your IM what normal practice is.

yep, this is what i would be doing too. she/he might have a system that they use and contacts to get in touch with regarding this.

From what you have said, it sounds like the person you spoke to was just a bit confused about the process. that's ok, HB is not on the radar for alot of people. I guess the best is to explain that this not a shared care arrangement (all your BTs and ultrasounds etc can be arranged with your GP and IM). what you are needing is a file and a patient number to make transfer easier. As they would be your closest hospital in need of transfer it is best if they can arrange that for you.

That said, if your IM has all the paperwork in order and all the results etc from any pathology/US etc then that will also speed up the process regardless.

[Ilithyia]

Thanks everyone for your POV's. I really appreciate it.

I've spoken with my Midwife about it and mentioned that I was thinking about leaving it as it was. She has asked that I do as it makes things a tad easier for her. Plus with all the drama's going on with IM etc at the moment, I'd hate to make things hard for her in the future. So i'm going to go back to my GP and get her to send a referral to the Mater.

I'm not overly phased at this point as it only early days.

Completely your call, but I thought I'd let you know that the HB group was talking about a lot more than simply giving them your name and the fact you are pg. It's more about having test results, your current health status, health of the baby, etc, on hand in case you are admitted. I've given them all the paperwork I have from both my m/w and all tests (u/s, blood, etc). Plus, I went through their admissions process to be allocated a patient number, same as every other maternity patient.

The HB m/ws recommended it to all of us HBing Mums as making any transfer process much easier. I am also handing over at this stage my birth plan, for them to keep on file. It potentially means a lot less hassle in the unlikely event that I do need to transfer. A little bit of hassle now is giving me peace of mind that we won't have to face extra dramas down the track. I can deal with it and then forget about it, if that makes sense.

Another point is that I'll be taking the baby up to the hospital to have its hearing test done after birth. So it will be handy to be registered there for that reason too.

If you're worried about the reception you'll get as a HBer, I was so pleasantly surprised yesterday at how nice everyone was. The admissions lady was busy telling me that her sister had two HBs and the m/w was very encouraging of my decision. Not a single raised eyebrow or suggestion that I was causing them any difficulty at all. Completely accommodating.

Whilst I do see your point, I dont see why I should go out of my way to make things easier for them when its obvious they are making things difficult for me.

Recently, I had to visit the local ED (this hospital no longer offers Maternity services) as I was bleeding. The Dr in ED called and spoke to the head OB at Logan who told the ED Dr to tell me that I wasn't allowed to HB as it was too risky and that I had to come their. This comment reflects the attitude of the OB and therefore the environment of the hospital.

As i said, they know who I am now. I've been to their ED for another bleeding incident this pregnancy so they have me on file with patiend ID etc. If for some reason during the pregnancy I need to transfer care to a hospital, I'll go to the Mater (hopefully) and if I need to transfer during labour then my Midwife will be able to pass on any relevant information that the dont already have.

Thank you again for all of your replies. Its nice to read of others experiences.

I'll let you all know the outcome :-)

[HotI]

I would be very wary of choosing a midwife who insisted that i book into a hospital.

Apart from my name, dob & blood group, there is very little information that they are going to *need* in order to help my baby be born.