Birthing Centre or Redcliffe Hospital

[Roseythorn]

Hi,

I just found today I have been accepted into the Birthing Centre at Royal Brisbane Hospital. I have also started my antenatal clinic appointments at Redcliffe Hospital (incase I missed out on the birthing centre).

Now, I'm in a dilemma, which one do I choose. I like Redcliffe Hospital, because I have all my appointments and ultrasounds there. Unlike, when I had my last bub at the Royal (not in the birth centre) I did shared care with the gp. (which I'm not a big fan on)

Does anyone know if you go thru the birthing centre program do you still do share care with the gp or do you have all your appointments with the midwifes.

Also after you give birth in the birth centre, how long can you stay afterwards? I'm not too keen on being kicked out after a few hours of the birth.

Does anyone have any pros and cons of either hospital/birth centre. I would love to hear your opinion.

Thanks

[prideNJoy]

I was in the same situation as you, but originally at Caboolture.
I was doing share care with DS and then found out at about 18 weeks that i got into the Birth Centre.
I know heaps of people that have had bubs at Redcliffe and honestly you can't compare Redcliffe and Birth Centre becasue they are worlds apart in the type of care you receive.

If i was you, id be going BIRTH CENTRE all the way!!!!!
You do all of your bloods, check-ups etc with your assigned middie at Birth Centre and you have her right throughout your pregnancy.
And then Birth.
The stay post-birth is usually 24 hours. If they need the beds they will move you to the other ward, no big deal really.

[ShadyCharacter]

Everything Mel said. I had my first at the BC and missed out on a spot this time :(

You have all of your appointments with your midwife, the idea being continuity of care.

The standard stay at the BC is approximately 24 hours. My son was born in the middle of the night, so we stayed the remainder of that night and the next, so more than 24 hours.

If you want to stay longer you can request being transferred to the maternity hospital, but frankly, I would prefer to go home. The idea of a BC is to have a birth in a homelike setting, but have medical attention close by if required. At home, you don't need nurses and midwives to care for you, so why stay in hospital?

I would go BC all the way. But I guess you need to look at what sort of birth you want.... if you are after a natural birth with no intervention, the BC is the way to go.

If you decide against the BC, then let them know ASAP and give someone who missed out a chance to get in.

[Roseythorn]

If i choose the birth centre I don't see the midwife till after the 18 week scan.

I'm already booked in at Redcliffe, do you think it would be ok to have the scan done there and ask them to send the results to the BC, or to collect myself. Or would I have to go private for the scan?

I'm going to make my final decision on the weekend.

[mum23girls]

Redcliffe now have midwife program like the birth centres special ones...

[Ffrenchstar]

YES, GO THE BIRTH CENTRE!! IT IS WONDERFUL!!! You are lucky to get a spot....I have had two out of three babies there and wouldnt go anywhere else now:D

[prideNJoy]

If i choose the birth centre I don't see the midwife till after the 18 week scan.

I'm already booked in at Redcliffe, do you think it would be ok to have the scan done there and ask them to send the results to the BC, or to collect myself. Or would I have to go private for the scan?

I'm going to make my final decision on the weekend.

It shouldn't be a problem to have you results moved over from Redcliffe to BC, I just rang Caboolture and told them i will be going to the BC and can they fax my history though to the BC asap, and they did.

[stellarella]

Go to the BC.

You wont be kicked out after a few hours! :laughing:
You can stay for 24 hours and daddy can stay in the same bed too. Its luffly.

[Tea Lady]

I'd choose the BC too if I were you, maybe depending on how far you are from each place.

The only problem with the BC is that their walls aren't thick enough to drown out the sounds of the person giving birth next door... I didn't enjoy re-living my birth all through the next evening!! :eek: :)

[sasa]

I am birthing at the RBH Birth centre in the next few weeks sometime and so far would def reccomend that over the redcliffe hosp.

Again it depends what kind of care and birth you want but it is a great opportunity I would grab it with both hands!

I had my scan done - (organised through my GP) and then when I went to my first appointment at 18-20 weeks at the birth centre I just took along my scan results. As mentioned they just transfer your history etc without a hassle.
I did shared care with my gp at RBH with my first and this time have relaly enjoyed seeing the same middie all the way through. You dont see them as many times throughout the preg when you are a second time mother but they are always there for you to call etc if you think there may be a problem or have a question.

Best of luck!

[Roseythorn]

Thanks for all of your replies.
Everyone has nothing but positive things to say about the Birth Centre.

I have decided to go to the birth centre, I'm sure I will enjoy the experience.