ok back from my visit, oh what a relief...much nicer than the USA..

Very happy, met a lovely midwife who was so relaxing to talk to I felt I could ask her anything - completely different attitude to USA. They are more abrupt and are always in a rush... they made my hubby and I feel like we were in the way. So another reason I why I wanted to come home.

Was lovely and EzyMay you are correct with the water births, some rooms have corner tubs and others have extra long and wider ones, and the midwife was even supportive of the water birth said everyone she has had turned out fantastic.

I was there for 2 hrs answering questions and then my mum and I had a load of questions too and she was only too happy to answer them, didnt feel like she couldnt be bothered etc it was truly a wonderful experience, its actually changed me and my train of thought as I'm now starting to get excited!!!

I have lots of tests next week to catch up on the Australian side as its different in USA, but I feel confident about them!

I am definitely very keen on a waterbirth and she is very positive that I can achieve this unless obviously there are health risks for either the baby or I. or if the baby is in destress etc,

She talked about pain medications etc as the only thing I have heard about is an epidural and I will almost pass out at the thought of that, so I'm currently going to look further into the gas and the pen.... something something lol!!! I havent heard of any of these before and I hope at the time I dont need it, but I'm really bad on pain so we will see how it goes lol.

Sutherland sounds sooo nice since its been done up and the midwife I was with had previously worked at St George so she gave us some info about there too. I'm more keen to birth at Sutherland now, plus they have double bed rooms with recliners or single rooms with recliners etc... sounds relaxing!... Anyways I'm going to be attending the tour next saturday.

Now the other thing she has mentioned to me - Antenatal classes for about 156 dollars, any advice on these? I know its my first but I have a lot of support around me and I dont really want to attend these without my husband... soo are they really necessary?

I've got to do alot more reading so that I'm not so scared !! and that I knwo what I'm feeling etc is normal and OK.

I'm very excited and I will be posting here regularly thanks so much all for your help.

Kizzie