Brisbane Royal Womens Hospital Birthing Centre...

[SmileyBJ]

Is it true that they have zoning restrictions about who is alloud to give birth here??

What are the rooms like?
Can you opt for a private room?
Can the lights be dimmed and music played etc?
Do they have bathrooms close or down a corridor?

Are there shower or bath restrictions and time limits while you are in labour?

Are the widwifes helpful and caring?

Do I need to be booked in quite early in my pregnancy to be able to give birth there?

Sorry for all the question but im really quite interested to attend the birthing centre to give birth... just worried about whether the travel will be worth it, I may even move into Brisbane in my later weeks. :fingerscrossed:

[34me]

I would take a guess and say you need to have booked already or very soon. I have already booked into my hospital and put my ballot in(which they usually do at 12 weeks im only 6) they only take 7 women per month. I think they do a ballot there too and you may or may not get in. I dont know anything else sorry.

[SmileyBJ]

Aww... that will not be good news for me... lol :no:

[34me]

You could try calling them in the morning and asking. Im not sure how the different hospitals work but I think I read on bubhub that you need to do a ballot for the birthing centre?

[TwoBoysOnly]

Is it true that they have zoning restrictions about who is alloud to give birth here?? No not for the birth centre but yes for the hospital but they can't refuse you they just encourage you to go to your closest hospital first otherwise we get really really full.

What are the rooms like? In the birth centre they are like motel rooms, double bed, spa bath, shower, fridge, table with two chairs, little kitchenette thing.

Can you opt for a private room? You stay in the birth centre room you gave birth in and then go home the next day otherwise you are transferred to the ward only if there is a problem - the whole idea of the birth centre is early discharge because you are NORMAL.

Can the lights be dimmed and music played etc? Yes and Yes

Do they have bathrooms close or down a corridor? In your room.

Are there shower or bath restrictions and time limits while you are in labour? No

Are the widwifes helpful and caring? The midwives are yes very

Do I need to be booked in quite early in my pregnancy to be able to give birth there? Yes they do the ballot at 16 weeks so it is best to get in asap once you know you are pregnant

[SmileyBJ]

Thanks for this info :)

I may ring them 2morrow morning and see how things go...

[TwoBoysOnly]

No point ringing them really you need to get your GP to send in a referral stating that you want BIRTH CENTRE CARE....trust me I work in antenatal clinic......actually I'm working there today :laughing:

[SmileyBJ]

No point ringing them really you need to get your GP to send in a referral stating that you want BIRTH CENTRE CARE....trust me I work in antenatal clinic......actually I'm working there today :laughing:

Yeah, I ment I would ring them to find out some more information, as I've got some other issues to discuss. As I may not be going there afterall... Keeping my options open at this stage as I may be having twins and needing extra care, in which case I'll choose somewhere else.

Thanks anyways.

[TwoBoysOnly]

Ok then... :)

[dragonflyblu]

I couldnt get into the birth centre. They say its a ballot but then a midwife said to me that because its my first baby and I booked into hospital so late (at 5 months) it was unlikely i would get into birth centre. But I had a good natural (no drugs, no gas) birth in the hospital. The only bit that was unfortunate was that I would have loved a bath and after the birth I had to go into a ward with another women and all I wanted to do was go home!

In the main hospital I could dim lights, play music, burn oil, I even stuck up birthing mandalas around the room. The midwives were wonderful.

[ShadyCharacter]

I couldnt get into the birth centre. They say its a ballot but then a midwife said to me that because its my first baby and I booked into hospital so late (at 5 months) it was unlikely i would get into birth centre. As someone said above, the ballot at the BC is done at 16 weeks, and names are drawn out of a hat. If you hadn't booked in before 5 months, you would go on the waiting list behind the people who are already there from missing out in the ballot.

I got in with my first son, and missed out this time - its just the luck of the draw unfortunately.

[allsgood]

I'm going through the birth centre at the moment, my baby's due in March 08. They do have restrictions on using the birthing pool, and that is if you are over 100kgs you are not allowed. I guess it's a safety thing if they need to get you out quickly. Unfortunately I fit this category and being nearly 6ft I guess if I passed out or something I might get stuck and of course risk to baby!
I put my name in a ballot prior to being 16wks, however the ballot is drawn at 16wks and they advise you in writing.
They appear to only take very straightforward pregnancies ... for example I was told that as I was over 100kgs that is enough reason to be excluded, also I have a long history of depression and that too can be a reason. However I am working with the midwife, who is a bit scarey verging on bully, but things are going good so far!

[allsgood]

I am 30 weeks pregnant and up until last week I was undergoing all my antenatal care with the birth centre. Now I've been told that my midwife has left and there is no one else available to look after my pregnancy. I was told I could go on their waiting list. So I phoned the Mater and they cant give me an appointment when I will be 38 weeks pregnant. The Royal doesnt want to take me as I am not in there catchment area. Went back to my GP who didnt want to see me due to me 'officially' going through the birth centre and not shared care. Reluctantly he did a referral to the Logan hospital .... geesshhh what a pain and very stressful. Thanks birth centre!

[Roseythorn]

I am 30 weeks pregnant and up until last week I was undergoing all my antenatal care with the birth centre. Now I've been told that my midwife has left and there is no one else available to look after my pregnancy. I was told I could go on their waiting list. So I phoned the Mater and they cant give me an appointment when I will be 38 weeks pregnant. The Royal doesnt want to take me as I am not in there catchment area. Went back to my GP who didnt want to see me due to me 'officially' going through the birth centre and not shared care. Reluctantly he did a referral to the Logan hospital .... geesshhh what a pain and very stressful. Thanks birth centre!


Did this happen at the Royal Brisbane Birth Centre?
I am booked into the Birth centre to have my baby in April. Who is your midwife? Can't they just transfer you to another midwife?

[allsgood]

My midwife was Tricia Stewart. When I last saw her, just before Christmas, she said to phone just after New Years Day and book in with one of the two midwives names she gave me. However a couple of days after seeing Tricia I got a call from someone at the Birth Centre who said that they do not have any available midwives. I told her the names of the midwives Tricia had given me and she said no they had no available space at all and that my best option available would be to go on their waiting list. Last night I had really bad backache/stomach ache and cramping .... I googled to try and get some info or advice and all sites said to phone your midwife! I figured if it was labour I would soon know and call an ambulance, as I am now no longer with my partner. I have no ante natal carer at present which is not a good feeling at all. Logan Hospital said that they will not see me for a few weeks as an obs needs to assess my referral! However the woman I spoke to their was very supportive, considering I was balling my eyes out!

[ShadyCharacter]

Thats awful :( I am not big on antenatal care anyway, but if you don't feel good not having it, find a GOOD GP who will take care of your antenatal care. That way you can still have your regular appointments and someone to go to if you have any worries or concerns.

Have you considered a homebirth?

[LivinOnAPrayer]

:hugs: Im so sorry your not being helped. Its not fair. I can imagin how stressed out your feeling. :hugs:

[allsgood]

Thanks for your comments. Yes it has been very stressful and I wish that I hadnt bothered with the Birth Centre. Another Dr that I saw right at the beginning of my pregnancy recommended that if I can go to NZ to have my baby she would suggest strongly that I do! That's a great picture to paint of the Qld Maternity system. Anyway not to bleet on .... Logan hospital have been great, very supportive and on-to-it, and thorough. The only little whinge (of course there had to be 1!) is that I am not able to receive any at home afterbirth care due to living on the wrong side of a road! True, that is what they said. They had to draw a cut off line for service delivery due to funding and I chose a house on the wrong side of that line. I just looked at the midwife and had a chuckle! Anyway enough :ecomcity: :ecomcity: :ecomcity: