RBWH

[~Belinda~]

Hi All

I missed out on the Birthing Centre I was so hoping I would get in so disappointed a little. We are in private health cover for hospital but it kicks in on January 18 so it seems I got pregnant too early as Bub is due on 31 December.

Has anyone had any experiences with Royal Womens in Brisbane going public? Would love to hear about them.

xx

[Inanna]

Like Jelvie I had my first child at the RWH - that was 12 years ago now and we transfered from a homebirth... I did't have a great experience. The midwives in my labour were absolutely top notch but I didn't enjoy the after care. But, as I said that was 12 years ago.

I am not sure but 3 years ago they were running the Pegasus programme at RWBH. Is that still going Jelvie? If so, this is where there is team midwifery. So, you hvae one of 4 midwives at each antenatal visit and one of those four will be at your birth in LW. This means you CANNOT have a water birth. But, you can have access to the showers etc just not water immersion. It may be an option for you.

Second to that you can pay to go to a private hospital. Selangor hospital at Nambour routinely uses water to labour/birth. It's a great service. You can birth and stay a night. Your maternity allowance would probably cover the cost. It's an option. Or, of course there are other private hospitals in Brisbane. Unfortunately I don't believe any have water births...

Good luck with your decision. It's a hard one hey?

[~kaos~]

Yes they are still going but they are teams of 8 midwives so the chances of actually meeting the midwife you labour and birth with is pretty small.

Sorry you hear that you missed out on the birth centre. If you are really that disappointed, write a letter to the health minister or your local MP and tell them you are disappointed that such an oversubscribed service had not been given more support to expand.

And keep your fingers crossed, you may be called up to the BC. I was as a first time mum and I was 4th on the waiting list at the time the ballot was drawn. However, if you haven't been called by 30-32 weeks, really focus on your birth being elsewhere as a first time mum it will be unlikely that you get called (the late call ins are generally 2nd time mums).

Hiring a doula would be your best option of having a wonderful birth through any public or private hospital