giving birth in a rural area

a few months ago we moved to rural QLD, we have a public hospital that services a larger area.

DD and I required a visit to the emergency department not long after moving here and I already don't like it. The nurses were lovely but the whole process you have to go through before they even ask "why are you here/what's wrong" is frankly disgusting.

I've searched and searched and search for info about birthing at the hospital and was hoping to find some first hand accounts but so far no luck. I did however find a research paper (which is now a could of years old) where they interviewed 20 women from the area who had giving birth in the previous couple of years. The research was very limited and didn't at all indicate what kind of birth they had (spontaneous/induction/etc) but 30% opted to travel away from the area to birth (I assume this was Brisbane or Toowoomba as these are our closet major cities). It was also noted all those with a medical back ground choose not to birth at the local hospital which for me seems worrying.

Anyway as a public patient can you book in and birth in a hospital 6 hours away? What about as a private patient in and private hospital?

Anyone have any experience with traveling 6hours with a new born who is a week or so old?

I was really hoping to avoid a 3rd induction (when and if we have another) but can't really spend 1, 2, 3 months waiting in Brisbane a baby to be born.

This has all thrown a bit of a spanner in the works as I have no idea how or where I would be able to birth. I'm kinda getting ahead of myself but I don't want to get to the point in a pregnancy where its viable and THEN start stressing over it.

There are also no IM's out here. If we can get a pregnancy to stick I kind of thought the birthing part would be the easiest but it all seems rather complicated at the moment. The thought of birthing in a hospital which no one has said anything nice about terrifies me.

Gosh this sounds like our local! I had to go there recently to get an anti-D shot and it was just a nightmare, it reminded me not to birth there EVER! I think if (I hope) we fall pregnant again that we will be either HB'ing (there is a midwife based on the sunshine coast that will travel to our area) or I will be taking the hour long drive to the closest other hospy where I have seen my sister give birth and was fairly happy with her treatment. Apparently that is where the local hospy sends you too if you are deemed high risk anyway. But traveling in labour sounds none too attractive!

If I was in labour traveling wouldn't be an option as the next major hospital is 5-6hrs away and thats with no accidents, floods, fires, road works etc!

I don't see how I can birth somewhere else and avoid induction, would they even take me, would they even give me an induction for those kinds of reasons? I don't want an induction but what other choices are there?

Can I ask which hospital it is?

Roma Hospital

Ah ok.

Sorry I can't help with that :(

Perhaps you should try and find some mothers groups and gather feedback that way.

I'll ask around my network to see if I can get any other info :)

This is very common in my home district (regional SA), there are 2 regional public hospitals 2-3 each hours away but I would say a high percentage (75% or more??) of my family and friends travel the 6-8 hours trip to Adelaide for either public or private hospitals. So many women are doing the whole weeks away from home, extra expense, being away from family (including older siblings), friends and support networks, then travelling long distances home.
The regional hospitals only take from 36 weeks so many women get airlifted as soon as they get a contraction before 36 weeks. The regional hospitals have ummmm mixed reputations.
Unfortunately this is very much the reality for lots of women in regional areas and it is very very unfair on them. But what you have described is basically how it stacks up.

So far I havent found any mothers groups and getting info out of locals is next to impossible as well.. well any useful info!

I kind of want to call the hospital and ask some questions but feel silly doing it. Might chat to the GP when I go back to see him.

My hospital only takes deliveries from 37 weeks, 34 weeks to 37 is transferred to a hospital an hour away by road ambulance, prior to 34 weeks its air transfer to John hunter or a Sydney hospital. I find it very scary that my local hospital don't have facilities for prem babies nor do they do on demand pain relief. However the only options you have are to use your local hospital or go and stay in the city by yourself! As worried as I am, I'd still prefer to say with my family and pray to God that everything works out. Best wishes for what you decide to do xx

When I had DS I was 2 hours from the nearest birthing hospital. I did stay with family 30 minutes away for the last 2 weeks, but only because our plans changed when our car failed.
The general rule there was, you go into labour & show up at the hospital. If you're comfortable, you head the 2 hours. If uncomfortable they transfer you by ambo. Only in a full blown emergency would you give birth in the local hospital.

As a public patient, you can book into/rock up to any hospital you please. I chose the bigger hospital for DD2, just coz DD1 was born there. Then had DD3 in the smaller hospital (DS was born in a different area).

People here generally go stay away for the birth. Nearest hospital here to birth in is also 2 hours. Most though will choose Perth (4 hours) or Albany (3 hours).

Thanks clover.

This has all become more of a reality now so it's freaking me out slightly, have another 8 weeks to see what happens and if all going well will speak to the GP to find what exactly what the hospital can handle etc.

Honestly I would just ring the hospital and ask them the questions you have. That way your also going to get to judge them on how helpful they are just answering a few questions. Goodluck too:)

Who would I ask to speak to? Because when we went there in an emergency situation the girl on the front desk was completely useless!

Our smaller hospital only opened the maternity ward when someone was admitted. But they always had a midwife up in the general ward. So they were always prepared for someone coming in or calling. Any chance of that there?
Maybe your GP would know? Or can give you the name of someone in the hospital to ask?