What's birth like in Australia?

[Sweeties]

Hi all,

I'm a mum of 1 living in South East Asia at the moment and am becoming quite active in the gentle birth scene after an unnecesarean 3 years ago. I'm 4.5 months pregnant with my second. I'm interested and curious as to what birth is like in Australia in the public and private sectors. I witnessed my SIL's birth in 1999 in a private hospital and recall gym mats on the floor, a birth ball, intermittent fetal monitoring and usage of the shower for pain management. Are those tools/practices common in Australian hospitals? Is active birthing encouraged?

Thanks for your thoughts. I'm trying to flesh out my knowledge of what's available overseas in comparison to here - which is pretty dire to tell the truth!

[misty]

It really depends on where you give birth. Many hospitals are very encouraging of active labour and have all sorts of equipment and birthing pools. Others...not so much. There are quite a number of birthing centres popping up around the place too (both private and public) which are independant or complementary to the hospital birthing facilities. These are very much geared toward active natural birthing.

[trishalishous]

my dds birth was as active as it could have been, used the bath, drug free, no monitoring until I had complications and interventions

[Sweeties]

How about access to food and water, also heat packs for the bath etc? Are TENS machine common usage?

[trishalishous]

How about access to food and water, also heat packs for the bath etc? Are TENS machine common usage?

I had all of those things, in a regional WA hospital. More resources than in my husbands Malaysian village, but much the same in terms of support.
I had access to intervention, which I wouldnt have had in the village, and I definitely would have died in childbirth

[Sweeties]

Trish do you mind sharing what you know of what was available to mothers in your hubby's Malaysian village? Was a bidan there to assist the mothers? Was the potential for maternal mortality due to lack of access to a hospital?

[trishalishous]

There were two Bidans in the district, and I attended 3 ladies over the time we were there. Transfer to hospital wasnt possible, it was over an hour, so if there was complications the outcomes werent good. The ladies I attended were both 'experienced' mums, except for 1, who was a first timer, but also had her aunty as support. I went out with one Bidan to one of the births, the other I knew, but didnt follow.

[Novella]

I have gone through a midwifery group practice in a public hospital and have had a fantastic experience with both DD's and Im seeing the same midwife this time around too

I had premature rupture of membranes at around 36 weeks with both DD's and was technically change over to obstetric care, however both times I saw a Dr for about 5 minutes in total and had my midwife with me through out. Even though I had PROM with DD1 without labour I was able to go home on OAB ang given a chance to establish labour naturally which it did. With DD2 labour started when my waters broke. As I was preterm the hospital policy was to use fetal monitoring but I was able to use it wirelessly. I delined antibiotics with DD2 and my decision was respected. With DD I did have a registrar ask me to stop walking so much as the monitor wasn't working well when I was doing laps of the ward but my midwife stepped in and suggested we monitor a couple of contractions while I was standing still, everything was fine so I continued my walking.

I could have had a water birth if I was at term. I could not deliver in the birth centre due to being only 36 weeks however there was a shower, fit ball, mat, bean bag, heat packs and my midwife got some clary sage oil to help progress labour when it slowed down. As the model of care I had chosen is based upon a more natural view off childbirth analgesia wasn't offered but I knew if I requested it it would be available.

I also liked the pre and post natal care I had. The midwife visited me at home or I went to her in a local community centre prior to the birth which was great when I was pregnant with DD2 as no long drives to the hospital or huge waiting lines. The post natal care was fantastic. I think I had visits the 4 times the first week with DD2 (we went home the day after she was born) then weekly for a few weeks which is much more frequently than the regular maternity care follow up

I honestly think in Australia it depends on your carer as to whether they listen to your needs and seek permission for interventions, they all 'should' legally and ethically but that doesn't always happen. I think wherever you are getting a chance to learn about your caregiver and their practices and building a trusting relationship is the most important thing. I cant imagine going through birth woth a complete stranger caring for me

I hope you get the birth you want

[onthefly]

Wow Sweeties. As much as I can complain about the lack of choice here, we certainly seem to have a lot better than over there!
All the best with your advocacy work. You probably need a two-pronged approach: working to change attitudes & approaches on the medical side, but also supporting parents to demand better care.
Good luck!