so my book-in at Bendigo is 7 days away....

[~*Niadalla*~]

I went to the Bendigo hospital twice and had 2 pretty fantastic experiences both times. The midwives up there are fantastic!

Your first appt will take about 45mins to an hour. They will ask you questions about your history etc, weigh you, ask what type of care you are looking at having (shared care, Midwives, etc).
If you are highrisk for any reason, they will get you to attend the Womens health clinic for all of your appointments with Registrar Obs. They have a program called the MAMPTA program, where you are seen by the one team of midwives, with a main mdiwife who will attend all of your AN appts and your birth. I didn't make it into this program because of where I live, and seeing where you are located, you may not be eligable for that either.
If your GP is near you, I'd take the shared care option. It will mean you don't have to drive to the hospital for every appt (which will be every single week from 36 weeks onwards and being heavily pregnant and having to drive so far is not all that great). With shared care, you will have to attend the hospital clinic every so often, but not for every appt.

When you give birth, you will have your own labour room. The BH also has 3 48 hour rooms, which have a double bed in each and Your Husband/partner can stay with you the entire time.
If not, you will probably share a room with one other person. I didn't mind sharing a room at all, as it meant that I wasn't alone when Hubs had to go home. ALways had someone to talk to

99% of the midwives are fantastic!! You will no doubt come across one or 2 that you don't gel with. They are in every single hospital.

Anyway.... good luck. If you'd like to know anything at any time, feel free to harass me

[phynna]

Awesome girls thankyou all so much! You've helped to calm down one very nervous girly! I will have to let you all know how I go now! I don't quite know what I'll do with the shared care, I really don't want to see the local's here in St Arnaud at all, they the reason I was so scared in the first place, so I might have to check out Maryborough or Charlton doctors instead, hmm. I'll ask the hospital for their advice on that one. Thankyou all so much ladies!!!!!!