When and how do i book into hospital for our birth??

[ubba82]

My GP writes me a referal to the hospital I want to attend. I then need to ring my hospital and they send me out the booking in forms which I need to send back with my referal.
Hospitals do book out very quickly, however, if you show up in labour they wont send you away :-)

[Catherine]

You can choose where you'd like to go, and book yourself in. You can 'shop around'. There are 4 hospitals in our area, all with varying services. One has a birth centre - but you need to book in early. It depends on your vision for birth. You can visit maternity wards to ask questions (ring first, you might need to have an appointment). Some hospitals are baby friendly BFHI AUSTRALIA HOME PAGE if that is important. You don't need to wait for permission. It is your birth. You need to go where you are most comfortable.

[MissM]

I just got my referral @ 13 weeks.

Mind you - I have an idiot of a dr and the hospital told me if i left it much longer they wouldnt have been able to fit me in.

If you are going private I'd probably get the ball rolling asap, also would for public (we're going public)

ETA - I just realised I didnt answer ur question LOL - The dr gave me a referral

[LizLemon]

I have an OB for a private hospital and I filled in the paperwork for the hospital at my first appointment at 9 weeks. In my OB/hospital case once you are in with the OB a bed at the hospital is automatic. If you are using an OB I would ring the receptionist and check with them.

[Sav2011]

Thank you so much everyone this is really helpful info ... I will call my OB's office tomorrow as I suspect when I see him it will hopefully mean I have a bed at either RPA Randwick or RHW as his name Is listed with these hospitals? If not I will call them myself and book in
Many thanks

[nic]

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[MrsBexie]

Is it a private Ob? Don't they have an allocated hospital or something you have to go to?

I called the hospital myself and got myself onto the birth centre list the week I found out I was pg (4 weeks)