Choosing an Ob/Hospital

[spense]

Hi there,

I'm newly pregnant and in a dilemma about choosing an Ob/hospital.
I have private health insurance and would prefer to go to a private hospital for the birth, but that means travelling to Adelaide, which is an hour away from where I live. Will that be too far?

My other option is Murray Bridge hospital which is about 25 mins away.

Any advice?
:confused:

[doin'mybest]

I don't know what Murray Bridge hosp. is like, but my experience is that you often get better attention in country hospitals and quite often get your own room. Also depends on whether you have any complications in pregnancy, as you may like the security of being in the city with all the facilities right there.

[M O P]

Hi Spense,
I don't really have an opinion on what you should do but thought I'd just tell you a few things that might help.

I'm going to Adelaide (Burnside Hosp) to have my baby, and I'm 4 and a half hours away! My obs understands how far away we are so as many appts as possible I've had with the RFDS clinic here to cut down on trips to Adelaide. She's also been very good about getting me squeezed in when we are around, like when I had 19 week scan it was quite ok for us to see her straight away afterwards as she knows we're not just around the corner.

Our obs's rooms , x-ray centre and lab for the blood tests are all in the hospital grounds so we don't have to run all over Adelaide getting things done which is very helpful.

And when I have the baby we'll hopefully have a queensize bed hospital room- apparently they are reserved for country people- if not my husband will have a bed in our room so he can stay with me.

Good luck with it all, pm me if you want the name of our obs, she's very nice and has another 2 obs with her. I've met one and she was lovely too. But if this is the option you take get on to it asap as the private hospitals fill pretty quickly.

[Squiggles]

I have the same situaton as you... I live just out of the Adelaide Hills, about an hour from town. We have chosen Burnside. The facilities look really good and there are a list of really good Ob's that deliver there. OUr second choice was to travel to Ashford but that would simply be too far.

One of the other decising factors for Burnside was the fact that it is close to the Womens and childrens should anything go wrong (I feel sick even typing that). If you are going to Murray Bridge you will need to check that they have adequate facilities if there was a complication otherwise they would have to send you down to the womens and childrens anyway.

Hope this helps.

I also have a great Female Ob if you need details PM me also

[anak]

Murray Bridge is a fantastic hospital and has just been voted best hospital in S.A.Plus it has just been upgraded and looks amazing!!
If you are at mannum then MB would be your best choice.It is more personable and homely than alot of the other "bigger" hopsitals and alot of the midwives that are there have been practising for years thus have much more experience than many of those on the wards at suburban hospitals.
In terms of complications they have both telemed and helipad and they have all the vital info on hand immediately.
Helipad transfer is usually 7mins from callout to setdown(from memory) and you would be immediately prepped and transferred to FMC.
Good Luck with your decison.

[M O P]

We have chosen Burnside. The facilities look really good and there are a list of really good Ob's that deliver there.

We had Hugh at Burnside as I wrote earlier and the whole experience was fantastic. We had one of the honeymoon suites with the double bed and a court yard, which was nice. The staff were great, a couple were extremely helpful and went beyond their duties in trying to get us feeding right. The food was beautiful, not like hospital food at all.
I hope you have a great stay there as we did! I really couldn't fault them at all and were so glad we went there.

Anak, that's great to hear about MB hospital as we've a friend delivering there later this year.

[anak]

Anak, that's great to hear about MB hospital as we've a friend delivering there later this year.
Excellent!:thumbsup: They will be very well looked after.
My best friend use to be the clinical midwife there until he sadly passed away recently and him and his team are just the best.
I hope your friends have a lovely birth at this hospital.

I have a bit of a soft spot for Burnside as well.... as I to was born there.