RWH at Brisbane Birth Unit? Or Caboolture or Nambour?

Well, I'm not pregnant yet, but from what I've heard, I guess now would be he time to wonder about getting into the Birth Unit at Royal Womans Hospital at Brisbane...

I'm just wondering about how to go about trying to get in once I am pregnant. I've heard they do a ballot... so how early in the pregnancy should I approach them? And ow exactly do I approach them? Just call the RBH? Or do I need a referral that my pregnancy is low risk (If, indeed, it turns out to be).

I lvoe th idea of the Birth Centre. Does anyone have any experiences?

Failing the Birth Centre, i would be going to Caboolture or Nambour (public) as I'm up on the Sunshine Coast in the Glasshouse Hinterland. Any experiences with those as well?

The birth centre at the RBWH is a ballot system. I think you need to get a GP referral faxed to hospital. Don't let them tell you you can't go there because you're outside the catchment - that might be the case for birth suites, but not the birth centre. Do it as soon as you know you are pregnant, then that base is covered. Oh, and let the hospital decide whether you are high risk. They require that you have an ultrasound at 19 weeks to help them do so. But just because you have had fertility treatment, doesn't make you a high risk pregnancy. I know someone who birthed at the birth centre after fertility treatment.

I don't know much about the other two. I've heard good things about Caboolture and a midwifery program they have (it's called Holding Hands or something like that). They have baths there that you can use for pain relief in labour. I don't know anything about Nambour.

Don't give up on homebirth.....

Hehehe kaos, just covering all my bases.

I would love a homebith, but second to that the birth centre, and third to that a public hospital up here.

I have my doubts as to whether DP will ever like the idea of a home birth. She stresses majorly over it. Actually, her fear of me giving birth almost delayed our TTC, she would cry about something happening to me, and it took a while for her to be ok with it (during the months we had procedures etc done before we could start TTC).

For her, a birth centre feels medicalised (but its not really ;)), and is connected to the hospital for a 'just in case' scenario. I guess its just my compromise to her... at the birth I really don't want her worrying at a time that should be filled with excitement and joy.

Ok here is how I see it.....

If you do get a place in the birth centre, it is an awful long drive in labour to get down to the BC (because they'll want you to labour at home a little bit before you come in), but if you have a homebirth, a midwife, who lives close, will come to you. She can watch you and let you know if there is any reason for concern and accompany you to hospital if needed. I wonder which is safer? If you have a homebirth, a midwife will be there faster than you can get to the birth centre so you will have assistance quicker..... think on it, as should your partner.

i had my first at RBWH (didnt know the birth centre existed till too late)
i had booked into RBWH for my second even though i was living at palmview i knew i would be having a c-section due to size of first baby anyway changed half way through to nambour cause i got gestational diabetes - nambour were brilliant in every aspect of care - can't fault them on anything (baby had to go to special care & they were wonderful in there too) SIL lives at beerwah & had baby 9 days after me at nambour too & she loved it - well as much as you can love being in hospital