Any community birthing centres in Perth, WA?

[flower gal]

Hi ladies

Are there any community birthing centres or midwife-run birthing centres in Perth, WA??

I don't know much about these.

How do they compare to private hospitals?

[wildfire]

Hi there :) The birth centre in Perth is run by midwives, but it does still operate under the guidelines of our major women's hospital here, so there are lots of rules and regulations (ie no VBAC, no post dates after 14 days, no high risk etc). However, I would birth there over a private hospital if you are looking for a natural birth with a known midwife.

In Perth we are also really lucky in that we have a community homebirth program which is funded by medicare and is pretty darn wonderful!

What kind of birth are you after exactly?

[flower gal]

Hi wildfire

Thanks for the info. I'm actually not even pregnant yet (have had some problems getting pregnant) so have had two operations and will be starting on Clomid (fertility drug) in a few weeks which will hopefully make me ovulate and then get pregnant! My sister got pregnant on the first month of taking Clomid so I am hoping it works the same for me. i am just being really organised and looking in to things now, as my sister suggested that she wished that she had started looking around she got pregnant. If there are no problems with the pregnancy, I would like to have a natural birth with no epi or anything. I would like to sit in a bath beforehand, or even have a water birth if it's an option. I am thinking about going to Mercy Hospital but would like to find out more about midwife run centres :flowerz:

[wildfire]

Good luck TTC. I'm pretty sure you have next to no chance of having a water birth at Mercy, but at Mercy, as with every private hospital in Perth, you have a very good chance of having intervention in your birth, and I'm not sure about there c-section rate, but I think it's be over 50% of all women ending up with surgery. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

If natural birth is what you are after, the family birth centre are slowly changing there policy and letting women birth in water, so if you aren't into homebirth, that is probably your best bet.

All the best.

[0BleSseD0]

I had my DD at KEMH's Family Birth Centre.

I would definetly reccommend it. It was a great experience.

It is run by midwives, but is also part of the hospital (sort-of). I am sure they would be okay with a water birth.
I was looking into having a water birth, but found that the impulse to move around took over and I felt better pushing out of the bath.

Good Luck!

Feel free to PM me if you like, I'm in Perth too. :wave:

[wildfire]

Sounds like it was a beautiful instinctive birth for you!

[flower gal]

hey

If you go to KEMH family birthing centre, who looks after you during your pregnancy instead of an Obs? Midwives? Or a GP?

Someone I know said they contacted Mercy Hospital about water births and they said they are not supposed to allow them but still water births happen there as it is too hard to get the women to move from the bath once they are in there sometimes.

I also heard that KEMH will actually have a proper water birth centre/facility in a few months time. Anyone know anything about this?

[wildfire]

At the birth you mostly see midwives, but there may be one or two appointments with an obstetrician.

Re Mercy, that may have happened once or twice, but your chances are pretty slim.

[wildfire]

I meant at the Birth Centre.

[flower gal]

Cheers wildfire

I will keep weighing up my options

[camcat]

Not 100% sure about programs etc.

had both my bubbas @ Mercy though and very happy with them. I think the intervention rates often depend more on who your ob is. The middies @ Mercy where more than happy to let me go and do what I wanted throughout (although both labours pretty short) and my ob (Dr Gubbay) was very natural preference so he was happy to let that go too.

I had planned on going into the bath but found the shower better 1st time round and 2nd time was so quick I could barely move and was happier at the bed. A middie that my MIL knows who works @ mercy said "If you want to birth in the bath just get in there and then if/when they ask you to get out tell them you can't do it" :laughing:

Hope you find what your looking for for your birthing experience though :D

[flower gal]

thanks camcat!

Yeah...that's what i've heard about Mercy too...that if you say you can't get out of the bath, they usually leave you in there.

how have you found Dr Gubbay? I have heard people rave about Dr Gubbay and also Dr Gannon. have heard fabulous reviews about both of them and apparently both of them are extremely pro vaginal birth so that's good!

[camcat]

Sorry it took me so long to reply. been super busy and haven't had time to get on :(

Dr Gubbay. He was awesome! Will def be going back to him for #3. Very friendly and polite. His staff are great to and he's happy to let you do what you want for pg and birth providing it's safe for you and bubs. Would recommend him a 1000 times over :D

[flower gal]

Thanks for your advice Camcat!!

[0BleSseD0]

In regards to your Q before about the FBC, I only saw midwives. For everything excepting the emergency monitoring I needed (other reasons).

I dont think they would mind about having a water birth.
The facilities there when I had DD were just fine for a water birth. The bath is big and comfortable and it is definetly big enough for it.

I would say great for a water birth. :yes:

Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions or want to talk. :thumbsup: I dont always check this spot so I missed your question. :o Sorry!

[jarrahsmumma]

the only way to ensure a waterbirth, is to birth at home (in WA)

waterbirth reduces tearing and reduces the 'need' for drugs

at home you are far away from any intervention that might come in hospital

CMP is free

happy birthing