Hi im 17 weeks pregnant suffering from all day sickness still but not complaining as im thinking of the end result!! My partner and I are relocating to townsville for her work committments 6 weeks prior to our due date and wondered if anyone has advice on the townsville hospitals, we are in private health but have heard the public hospital is just as good. We where lucky enough to fall pregnant using a known donor at home after 6 months of trying.
thanks
Kyls and Mel
Hi and welcome to BB. Congratulations on your pregnancy.
I moved to Townsville in Dec last year with DH. I can't tell you about the hospitals yet, you need to give me a couple of weeks and I will tell about the public!
From what I have heard, the Mater Hospital maternity unit is now in the old Wesley Hospital here. This is the private hospital. I have heard they have a very high c-section rate but don't know if that is emergency or elective c-sections. The staff are very good apparently but as I said, I'm not sure. I believe that if there is any concern about bubs etc, you will end up in the public hospital as they have the specialist facilities for bubs.
Regarding the public hospital, I'm due on Friday (08/08/08) so can't give you a birth experience but the midwives were awesome when we had a scare at about 28 weeks. Very supportive and helpful. Talked me through everything and let me take things at my own pace. Only problem is they triple-book antenatal visits (I'm doing shared care with a GP so if you do the care with the midwives then this may not apply to you!) as a lot of people don't turn up to their appointments. Sometimes though they all turn up so appointments can run very late. This shouldn't worry you too much as you will only need them for 6 weeks or so.
A number of people I have spoken to said both hospitals are great. There are obviously good and bad experiences but overwhelmingly the comments from people have been good for both.
Not much help so sorry. There are a couple of locals who have given birth in Townsville so they should be able to give you their experiences.
Oh and if you want some local ladies to chat with, we have a thread going in the Mothers Group forum called Townsville mums. Feel free to join in!
First of all congrats on your pregnancy and I hope the nausea gives u a rest soon!
I am currently a student midwife working at the townsville hospital (public)(only 6 months before i'm a midwife!) and I wouldn't go past the care we give. I have had a lot of people ask me about which to go to and all I can say is that I wouldn't go to the mater myself. Many of the women who have dealt with them in their first pregnancy go public for their 2nd. It is very....how should i say this.... old fashioned in the way care is delivered. The obstetricians way is the only way and midwives are not given independence as they should. This gives rise to a high percentage of c-sections and instrumental deliveries and the support with breastfeeding is very different. They do offer to look after your baby every night and for you and your 'husband' to go out to dinner! I couldn't think of anything worse myself...the time u have in hospital is when you and bub are getting to know each other and learning how to breastfeed but everyone to their own. You do stay in for about 5 days too so if you like that kind of thing go for it! lol My partner and I also have private health but once our bub comes along we will definitely be going with TTH even tho my work mates will be seeing my bits lol...not a good thought!I have also done a bit of research for myself asking girls who work there how lesbian couples are treated in a 'catholic' hospital and lets just say we will be going public.
The TTH offers more of a woman centred approach. Midwives care for low risk women almost totally with you seeing the obstetrician once through your whole pregnancy unless there is something to worry about. The best option is the WOMBAT team at the moment. its a group of 10 midwives who care for low risk women and u will see them throughout your pregnancy and one of them will deliver your baby, they are all very lovely. They run their own antenatal classes and will follow you up at home to see how you are doing if you wish. Its just a bit more support. The docs usually leave these deliveries alone unless complications come up. Another option is the birth centre, it is opening up in December. Its run by midwives for low risk women and your partner can stay with you overnight but your stay is for only 24 hrs. I think its very popular so you will have to be quick if you like the sounds of it. Ask to contact the Midwife Dawn who will be the teamleader there, only 3 other midwives will be working there and they are very highly skilled. When are you due? I think the biggest downfall of going with the TTH is the long waits for antenatal appointments, this is why alot of women share care with their GP so the hospital visits are not as often but you would have to make sure you have a good GP and they are hard to come by. Maggie Mackay is an awesome GP/obstetrician who has been doing obstetrics all over the world for over 30 years so she is the best but i think shes highly booked. Anyway, I just think there is way more support at TTH, the average stay is 2 nights if you have no probs but you are also able to do the 6 hr discharge but I would strongly not recommend it if its your first bub and you are breastfeeding.
Wow, I probably gave you too much info there! I do hope you choose the TTH, I might get to see you or deliver your baby, you never know! We never get to see same sex couples so would love to see you there!
as a student midwife working over at the townsville mater for the past 6 weeks, I would like to relinquish some of the advice given in my previous post some time ago. As previously mentioned I have the utmost respect and confidence in the public hospital where I normally work and would still choose this avenue of antenatal and birthing care for myself personally. However, after working at the mater more recently I have come across a new positive view. Sure, there are the negatives but I thoroughly enjoyed working at the mater and feel the quality of care given during labour and postnatally to be great. Most of the obstetricians do give you a fair go at giving birth vaginally before recommending a c-section and there is even one or two who I would consider woman centred and work in a great partnership with midwives. I was disappointed that the bath tubs built are not to be used but on the most part the birth suites are not too bad. I believe that taking a deep bath during labour is very important for pain relief in the earlier stages of labour. I understand that it is policy not to allow water births but taking a bath during earlier stages of labour helps a great deal.
Anyway, I really like the postnatal care given to women at the mater. The family rooms allow participation of partners and allows them the benefit of bonding with their baby from the beginning and also being a support to the mum. They provide double beds for those who have straight forward vaginal births and a few days following a c-section. Having the choice of the extra length of stay also allows time for the 'milk to come in' and women go home confident to breastfeed if that is their chosen method of feeding.
I thought that I would add my little bit about my experience since my previous post was not very positive. The way they work has changed substantially, especially following merging with the wesley private hospital. The mater is now the only private hospital in Townsville but they do a pretty good job I think.
mums on the move
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks