Royal Women's

[jembelina]

I had my last bub at Monash (clayton) but we have sinced moved and it is way to far away. We are now living in greensborough. I'm thinking I will probably go to the Royal Womens as I'm not keen on The Mercy. I am going public.
Are there othere hospitals in this area-ish that are good??

Who has been to the womens?? what have your experiences been like? would you recommend it? etc

Any comments/opinions would be greatly appreciated:)

[mummy sam]

hey jem i had lochie at the mercy, and i had no problem i thought that were great. why do you have a problem with them? though i have also heard the one out in epping is good too, maybe a little far :rolleyes:

[Ana Gram]

I found Royal Women's to be absolutely horrible and I will never willingly go back there again! My main problem were with the staff most of whom were incredibly rude and generally unhelpful.

[my babyemmy]

I loved it in the birthing rooms:o the wards after you have the bubba are not too bad either! Most of the nurses were wonderful! i will definitely be going back again (well hopefully):o (i was obviously more lucky than poor chellegoth above me)

[Von]

Hi,

I had my first son at the (old) Mercy Hospital. I had a number of complications during the pregnancy and after the birth. I found the hospital and its staff to be very good - both in hospital and with their hospital in the home service. I would have gone back there again for number 2 if the hospital hadn't moved to Heidelberg.

My second son was born at the RWH. Overall I was happy with the hospital - but there were staffing issues while I was an in-patient and some issues with inconsistent messages been given re how to breast feed (my baby wouldn't feed properly). I think this would have been more of a problem if I was a first time mum. I used their breastfeeding support service (BESS) after I left and I was happy with them too.

From talking to my friends I think that it is a bit of 'luck of the draw' when it comes to public hospitals - the nature of the beast. You can have a really good experience or a really bad experience just as easily.

V.

[jembelina]

Hmmmm.... I think you're right von! Seems to depend who you talk to. Just so happens I seem to have heard mainly negative things about the mercy so it has kind of put me off. But I think i will go to both for that very first interview type appointment (can you do that??) nad see if I get a good feeling about one or the other!! and do the tour too. I have plent of time, but just as your thinking that next thing you know your holding the baby!!

[Snugglepot]

I loved the new Mercy in Heidelberg. I was in the family birth centre, we had a double room to ourselves and the midwives were great. The added bonus's of the mercy are: it close to you, it is brand new and they have great after care and lactation centre. I was not in the general birthing rooms, but I have heard they are good too. Good luck choosing Jem!

[Crazy Monkey]

Haven't been to any of the hospitals on that side of town (I live in the west) but have heard good things about Epping .. My cousin had both her girls there... Also heard the Womens is great..

As someone else said, its pot luck with public hospitals, you can have good and bad experiences..

Good luck

[MissBrightside]

I had both my boys at the Northern Hospital in Epping. Very good. The staff are great there.

[melbmum]

I had my son at the old Mercy and am having our next child there in April. I have found everything thus far to be great. There's a few different options of care you can have so depending on what you choose might affect your experiences, but i can't recommend the highly enuf.

All the best

Jess

[SonsAngel]

I went to the Northern hospital as a public patient in 2004 and have mixed feelings from that experience. One that has made me decide I will never go back there. My pregnancy care was pretty good, although it was shared care, their policy on an induced birth apparently was that I was not allowed off the bed. :mad: I was constantly monitored throughout and there were far more people in the room that really needed to be, as there were trainee's on that shift.
With that I ended up having an emergency C as two different dr's couldn't agree on which way the baby was presenting. I did get my own room for 6 days and the food was pretty good for hospital food. I asked the Ob at Northern about them, Dr Maxwell, pretty much shook his head and said 'not with me' :eek: Stuff him.


This time I am going to the Mercy in H'berg - much closer and they do support VBAC's. my new GP has also backed me 200% on this decision. Every little bit of support helps.

I would take hospital tours of each hospital and see which one you get the better feeling from. It's an individual thing, and I am sure you will decide on whats best for you.

Good Luck