Moving to Sydney at 26-28 weeks. Seeking hospital.

[twee]

Hi. I'm 9-week pregnant with my first child:smiliedance:. My husband has just moved to Sydney to work (yes, right before I knew I was pregnant!). Due to my current work commitment I can't move to Sydney right away, and planning to move around 26-28 weeks. My GP and OB here in Adelaide
warn me that hospitals and OB are booked out very quickly in Sydney, and I need to arrange them as soon as possible. However, they do not know anyone in Sydney and I need to look after that issue myself. They can write a recommendation letter once I have decided where to go. I try to search the internet but just feel very confused about everything. We are thinking about staying near the city area, so I have found Royal Women Hospital and RPA. Are there any other hospitals you would recommend? Does anyone know of good OB who work with those hospital? Please advise. Thank you very much.

p.s. This is my first time in this community so I'm not totally sure where to go. I post the same message to the "Seeking OB" thread. I'm sorry for the cross-posting.

[doulacara]

The Birth Centre at RPA is very good. I had one of my children there and couldn't have been happier. You do not need a private OB as it is public, and you would be cared for by midwives. If you have private heath insurance, you can use it to get a private room in the post-natal ward, I think, but not sure.

Can't help with OB's.

[twee]

Thank you very much for your information. This is my first time so a bit clueless of what to do. If I book hospital do I just call the hospital, or do I need a referral letter from my GP/OB? We were thinking about going private because of the relocation, just in case something happened…, but I don’t mind public system. I have looked back at my calendar and it seems that I will be 30 weeks already by the time of the move. Do I miss out all of the important antenatal classes offered by hospitals? Is that a danger to move? I’m so worried because GP/OB here don’t have a linked system with NSW, so they can’t offer any help in searching for hospitals or OB. I know you can’t help with OB, just wonder whether they will accept patient in her late pregnancy.

[reAllytee]

Yes some Obs are booked out as are birthing centres but that can happen even if you were here now as in they have too many births happening at that time so cant take you on.

I cant offer any major advice but to tell you i changed hospitals when i was 30wks or so & had no dramas. Your best bet is to give the hospitals a call & see whether they can take you on etc especially if you are after a birth centre birth.

Others are sure to give you more info especially on the Ob front if thats what you are after !

Good luck !

[MissSookyLaLa]

whereabouts in sydney are you moving too? the traffic can be horrendous here so make sure you arent too far away from the hospital if you go into labour during peak hour!

im going to the san in wahroonga, on the north shore *about 30 min north of the city* and i have had nothing but rave reviews about it

[kiwibird27]

I used the public system and it was fantastic however they book out quickly, Would recommend calling the public maternity hospital close to where u will b living as they are very strict on living in their catchment area, Book at a few hospital if u aren't sure where exactly u will b, ( don't tell them ) this way if u don't get a private ob, or a place at a private hospital u will still b covered. I don't know the hospitals in the city well but I have heard RPA and the Royal hospital for wowen at Randwick are fantastic.

I can highly recommend bankstown hospital but thats out west.

I too moved when i was 30 weeks pg, all it takes is a bit of organising and u will b fine. The hospitals are very supportive so call them and they are sure to help!!!

[MoonstoneMumma]

If you are moving out west there is a good birth centre at blacktown hospital.

if not, then rpa has a good team and a very friendly environment.

best if luck!

[twee]

Thank you very much for all of your encouragement. My DH called hospitals during the weekend and effectively got no information from them but few other numbers for me (no, not him) to call later. Oh DH! LOL. He says the hospitals don't seem to be concerned about being booked out at all, which is so contrary to what I hear from this forum. They even seems to suggest that (if DH could understand them correctly) you need to come, then got GP referral, then you can book hospitals.

Kiwibird27 suggestion about booking more than 1 is great. We are not sure where we will live so it's a very good way to go. I only hope that won't cause trouble for other women who're trying to book the same hospitals. But I guess most people would book before me already. How did you organize all of these? Seems to be so confusing to me. Nevertheless, I'm sure things will work out one way or others.

[trina2]

The RPA is a great hospital i had my first there the midwives were all so friendly and answered all my questions (there were alot):) it does get quite busy so you do have to book ahead i remember booking my bed when i was about 20 weeks so i could give birth there anyway good luck with everything.

[lavenderpegasus]

i went to RPA as a private patient, was supposed to go to the birth centre but it was full when i went into labour... I had a private ob and she was amazing... iwould recomend 3 different ob's but it really depends what you are after...

Sue jacobs (ob during preg, but was on holidays when bub was born...she was a little quiet for my personality)
Karuna Raja (senstional... ob for a few weeks b4 bubs was due and there for the birth )
Paul Southerland (i think that was his name...(amazing and the reason the birth centre was developed at RPA)

the above ob's are usually booked out at around 12 weeks but they are def worth calling...if you want phone numbers pm me


lp now in wa

[LicoriceMonti]

I went to the Mater, North Sydney ( Private) . Awesome and very happy with the whole situation.

Most private hospitals have the OBs listed on the websites.

You will have to ring around.

Good luck.

I saw Dr Hunter who does the Mater and Royal North Shore Private.

[Pixie]

I had my daughter in Randwick in Sydney at the Royal Womens Hospital...the after care was fantastic faultless. I went to the Birth centre for all my appts Again Excellent care.