Hospital birth records, can we see them?

[moochymoo]

Just a question that i have been wondering about since the traumatic delivery of my DD 8 months ago and after reading some of the threads on here - are we allowed to read our history that is taken during the labour and the birth? Not a history that is re written for a referral, but the actual documents that they write in as you are labouring.
Quite a few things went wrong during my labour and birth, not through any fault of the hospital staff, just a scary birth! But i would love to be able to read through from when i was admitted, till when i was discharged.

[moonblossom]

Yes grace, they are your records and they have no right to keep them from you. I have obtained mine, and it was quite an eye opener.

Just go to your hospital and request them...a fee is involved but its not much, and they will send them to you

Good luck

[reAllytee]

Yep ring your hospy & ask for the Freedon Of Information Officer.

They will then tell you whether they need forms etc filled out as well as whether they charge. Every hospy is different im afraid ! This is for receiving your copy to keep.

You do also have the right to go in & view them for free but be careful with that as its common that they say a doctor needs to be with you & then they charge for the doctors time :mad:

Very very annoying !

Some are able to request theirs through their g.p but mine could only get the basic report like you get on discharge !

Good luck i hope you get some answers to help you heal :hugs:

[reAllytee]

Just go to your hospital and request them...a fee is involved but its not much, and they will send them to you

That depends on the hospital sadly !

For me i was going to have to pay $60 straight off the bat & then if it went over something like 5 pages they charged $1 for every page thereafter.

They also wanted me to pay an extra $60 because Boof was classed as an extra patient so his records couldnt be released at the same time .... I was furious !

Luckily for me i didnt actually go ahead with it because i later found out that my records arent even filled out properly :banghead:

[BeautifulBoys]

Just a question that i have been wondering about since the traumatic delivery of my DD 8 months ago and after reading some of the threads on here - are we allowed to read our history that is taken during the labour and the birth? Not a history that is re written for a referral, but the actual documents that they write in as you are labouring.
Quite a few things went wrong during my labour and birth, not through any fault of the hospital staff, just a scary birth! But i would love to be able to read through from when i was admitted, till when i was discharged.

Like the other girls said yes you can.
I have notes from all 3 hospitals as no-one would give me the full story of what actually went wrong which is appalling but they all try to cover there butts in the medical world..
I had a very traumatic time aswell.. my story is in here "i nearly died a week after my son was born" if it wasn't for requesting my notes i would be still wondering what went wrong..:no:

[~Emmylou~]

Yes I recently got my records for both of my children's births...very interesting reading! :detective:

You'll need to request both your records, and your baby's records. And tell them you want all records including your partogram (labour notes), medication charts and paediatricians notes. you have to be specific to get everything ;)

Good luck!

[preciousbabyboy]

ooooh intereesting, how much did you pay to get a copy???:detective:

[~Emmylou~]

ooooh intereesting, how much did you pay to get a copy???:detective:


I was told it was going to be $1 per page...and with everything I requested it ended up being about 50 pages. I was thorough...I wanted the works :o

But they didn't end up charging me for it - I requested them a few weeks before Christmas and the privacy officer went on leave...so it was nearly two months before I got them. So they just never worried about charging me for it which was cool.

[SorenLorensen]

a nurse left my folder on my bed when i was in pre-op (i think thats where i was:confused:) the other week waiting to have my c/s.

i don't know if she did it by accident or what but i had a flip through it, it was really quite a read. i got to read about my m/c i had in march last year, i never felt ready to find thing out about it but on that day i was prepared to read it....i guess since i was just about to have DD2 i felt ready.

i had no idea they could charge you to have it....now im happy i poked my nose in it

[punkbaby]

Each of my bubs they have given me a two page print out, just the medical side of labour, how long each stage was, if it was induced etc and follow up notes (pead referall, medication etc) They didnt offer it with my last bubs but i asked the middy and she quiet happily photocopied it for me.

Its kinda cool comparing how each stage went with them all

[Fuchsia!]

That depends on the hospital sadly !

For me i was going to have to pay $60 straight off the bat & then if it went over something like 5 pages they charged $1 for every page thereafter.

They also wanted me to pay an extra $60 because Boof was classed as an extra patient so his records couldnt be released at the same time .... I was furious !

Luckily for me i didnt actually go ahead with it because i later found out that my records arent even filled out properly :banghead:

Yep charged me too, they wanted another fee for the kids, so i haven't got them ones yet. Mine cost $29 But it was only a smallish file.

If you want them, i would get them. Get someone you know, that is a nurse or something to read through them for you, they are pretty hard to read.

[moochymoo]

Thanks everyone, thats great to know. I will be giving birth in a different hospital with baby number 2, so it will be handy to have all the notes, as im not sure whether they will let me have a vaginal birth again next time. :(

[sunnyflower]

Yes i got mine and it didn't cost me anything as i went to a public hospital.

You will probably have to get someone with a medical background to help you understand it all as medical staff use a lot of terminology and abbreviations.Lucky for me i am a nurse:p

[0BleSseD0]

I got copies of both of mine! :yelclap:

[Noodles79]

I'm interested on what basis they can charge you such a substantial sum to get hold of your own medical records?
Surely a person has a right and a responsibility to know all they can about their own health.

OT I realise. Just wondering.

[Lissbee]

Hi - I'm from Birthtalk in Brisbane - we run a free support group for women who have had a disappointing, difficult or traumatic birth.

We have written an article called "Retrieving Your Notes - a Healing Step", that includes everything to ask for when you request your notes.

It is at http://www.birthtalk.org/Articles.html.

There are also other articles on this page, including 'Feelings After a Caesarean", and "Birth Trauma".

HTH, and take care,
Melissa
birthtalk.org
makes birth betterTM

[moochymoo]

Thats great Lissbee, thankyou very much. I still havent managed to get hold of anyone to get my notes, keep leaving messages, will perservere!

[Mischief]

Im going to sticky this thread, because there is so much useful information in it on how to obtain your records.

Thank you everyone for your contributions! :)

[HarvestMoon]

After i had my DS the midwives left my record book in the room so i had a read through it. The doctor that came in to check DS out caught me reading it and had a go at me. She told me i had no right to be reading it and i need to ask permission and be given an ok before i could . I ponted out that it was my record.. all about me but she said it was irrelevant. I just though WTF? and ignored her and continued reading..lol. There were rather nasty comments and alot of it was written in a real derogatory way. I guess that may have been why they didn't want me to see it? but still makes no sense seeing as you can obtain a copy of your records. I never actually knew that until i read this thread..lol

[nats]

Mine cost about $40 and that was incl the extra 50c a page for over 80 pg.
That's down from $180. They must have changed there policy (so glad i waited)
That was Westmead, Sydney

[happytobehere]

im soo glad i found this thread. I have been wondering about this.

[Sarahg]

The hospital legally has to keep your records for a minimum of 7 years. The babies records are kept for 7 years after it turns 18 (ie 25).

Your new hospital should do the request for your records if you are requiring a c/sec as they need to base their case on something. This way you won't have to pay any costs.

They are a useful thing to have though if you have any on going problems - like I do.
good luck

[trin_007]

Thanks again to Bubhub, and especially this thread! :yelclap:

I had a pretty traumatic birth experience with DS1 and even today I get emotional talking about. Now that I am getting ready for #2, I am doing everything I can to be better prepared this time around. Thanks to this thread (and Birthtalk) I was able to (confidently) get in touch with the hospital and today I received a copy of my first birth notes - what an emotional experience reading back through :crying:. So many things I didn't know (like how long I was actually in labour for :thumbsdown:) and a few things I'd forgotten.

There are still some pieces of information missing, but I will be going through these notes with my new midwife, who will be assisting me with this birth, to fill in the final pieces. I feel so much more confident and relaxed now having this information available.

Thanks again!!!! :goodvibes:

[AM]

Wow, am I the only one who got my notes for free?

I just filled out a form at the hospy, and they posted them out free of charge a few weeks later, by registered post!

[trin_007]

It didn't cost me anything for my records, but they were only the basics (12 pages) and they scanned them and emailed them to me. I was warned that if there was a lot of information (like if I'd had lots of drugs or c/s or something) that there would be a charge of something like 50c per page. I can't imagine what must have gone on in labour for some women where their reports were 50+ pages :eek:

[IndigoJ]

Hi everyone, i hope someone finds this post, i got my birth records today from the hospital, there is only one page!!! is this normal or are they hiding things from me??

The page says: Fetal heart rate in second stage - chart (filled out from 250am - 445am) i got to hospital at 10pm where are the rest of the notes???
post partum obs 1 blood pressure check
2nd stage time start and finish and 3rd stage time finished
Fully dilated at X am pushing for X amount of hours with no decent
Living male infant delivered by vaccum Episiotomy repaired under General A Blood loss 300mls Placenta complete

Delivery doctor: x
Delivery miwife: x
Witness : x

And thats it. i was in hospital for five days. i dont know how many stitches i received, i got to hospital at 10pm and baby was born at 4:53am

What did you recieve in your records???

[trin_007]

Hi IJ - (Again !!:laughing: twice in one day, thats weird?)

Anyho - I got my birth records and I think it depends what information you ask for, but it does sound strange that you only received one page which only represents part of the time you were there!!

Here is a summary of the info I received:

Progress Notes: (1/2 page) covering from my arrival at 12.45pm through to 15:00 when I "commenced"

Labour & Birth Record: - a preprinted form with Gestation, Blood Group, Risk Factors, Birth Plan, Admission info, Abdo Palp, Vaginal Exam, Galders Score - none of which was filled out, and two lines of Early Labour observations.

Maternal Observations: 2 pages of strange charts covering about 3 hours of contractions, Foetal Heart rate, pulse, temp, & BP, VE's, Drugs & IV Fluids.

"Management in Labour" (this one makes me laugh - what management - even my current midwife was appalled at the lack of information here). 6 scrawled entries from 15:00 to 18:15 - fully dilated, end of Stage 1.

Summary of Labour - pre printed form listing Foetal Heart rate in second stage (I don't remember it being monitored hat much!!), duration of each stage, onset of labour, delivery, placenta delivery, sponge count, description of delivery, perineum report, Neonatal details & Apgars etc.

Another 3 pages of "Progress notes" commencing from transfer to the Maternity Ward to discharge 3 days later - I had a bit of counselling because the birth was difficult (not that that was reflected in the Labour Notes!!) but quite comprehensive notes of all discussions held with various nursing staff, physio, middie etc until discharge.

I hope that gives you some idea of what information you could potentially receive- although I would ring up and ask the person who sent it out "where's the rest of it" - after reading your birth story, even the section you have sounds like it should be more than one page.

Good luck and I hope you find the information you are looking for.

[IndigoJ]

Hi IJ - (Again !!:laughing: twice in one day, thats weird?)

Anyho - I got my birth records and I think it depends what information you ask for, but it does sound strange that you only received one page which only represents part of the time you were there!!

Here is a summary of the info I received:

Progress Notes: (1/2 page) covering from my arrival at 12.45pm through to 15:00 when I "commenced"

Labour & Birth Record: - a preprinted form with Gestation, Blood Group, Risk Factors, Birth Plan, Admission info, Abdo Palp, Vaginal Exam, Galders Score - none of which was filled out, and two lines of Early Labour observations.

Maternal Observations: 2 pages of strange charts covering about 3 hours of contractions, Foetal Heart rate, pulse, temp, & BP, VE's, Drugs & IV Fluids.

"Management in Labour" (this one makes me laugh - what management - even my current midwife was appalled at the lack of information here). 6 scrawled entries from 15:00 to 18:15 - fully dilated, end of Stage 1.

Summary of Labour - pre printed form listing Foetal Heart rate in second stage (I don't remember it being monitored hat much!!), duration of each stage, onset of labour, delivery, placenta delivery, sponge count, description of delivery, perineum report, Neonatal details & Apgars etc.

Another 3 pages of "Progress notes" commencing from transfer to the Maternity Ward to discharge 3 days later - I had a bit of counselling because the birth was difficult (not that that was reflected in the Labour Notes!!) but quite comprehensive notes of all discussions held with various nursing staff, physio, middie etc until discharge.

I hope that gives you some idea of what information you could potentially receive- although I would ring up and ask the person who sent it out "where's the rest of it" - after reading your birth story, even the section you have sounds like it should be more than one page.

Good luck and I hope you find the information you are looking for.

Thats all the stuff i wanted, I went in there and asked for "all the notes and pages pertaining to my pregnancy, labour and birth"

and i only got one page, i am very confused and really really cranky as i want to study exactly what happened so i can be prepared before i start TTC #2 :( i was looking forward to reading it all too and reliving it from a different and maybe not so scary perception"

[reAllytee]

Aaaah yes this is often the problem !

Most hospitals assume that when you ask for your records they think all you want is the discharge sheet which is what you have recieved .... They often dont like to hand over the full file & so try to put you off as best they can !

You need to contact the Freedom Of Information Officer ... If you call then thats who you ask to speak with & you then ask for the forms etc that you need to get copies of your FULL file & ALL records in regards to your birth ....

You will usually then be told costs etc & they will then send out a form which usually means you have to fill out a load of garbage to make sure you get all you want.

Good luck !

[Lunhatikk]

The hospital legally has to keep your records for a minimum of 7 years. The babies records are kept for 7 years after it turns 18 (ie 25).


I never even realised you could request this until now. I had a rough time with my first born but he turns 10 this year, does that mean I won't be able to request anything from the labour with him? Will his records have any information about the labour? Is it still worth trying to get the records? I would be very interested to see the records.

[katieinwa]

i recently requested copies of my records. i just wrote that i want a copy of all records i and my daughter incurred whilst a patient during x and x dates.

i posted in the letter to the media and liasion unit (can't remember exact name) at KEMH and a few weeks later they said it was ok for me to come in and sign for and collect. free of charge (public hospital)

[mum2tarliandjesse]

Thanks so much for your information, i 've been dying to read mine as i too had a traumatic birth of my first in which i had a c section for my second, i rang my local hospital and for a fee of only $22 i can get my notes, i cant wait to receive them as it might clear up some issues. I didnt even know you could do it until your post so thanks again.

Donna

[Jaysmummy]

Hi, I have a very traumatic birth with my first and have suffered stress and anxiety, It had to do with the hospital itself and there staff, i nearly was taken into an emergency c section with an epidural that hadnt been properly put into my back, long story short, no one believed me and were going to take me into operation with no epidural ...WIDE AWAKE!

I sent a letter to the manager of maternity ward saying only that i wanted my record because i couldnt remember my experience.

a week later i was send a bundle of papers atleast 200 pages for admission to discharge at no cost to me.

[Theophania]

Hi All

I am currently in the progress of requesting my hospital records at the moment from the Royal Brisbane Hospital. I was hoping someone with experience would be able to help me draft a letter to them to ensure that they send me everything and not just what they want to.

I actually phoned them the other day and was put through to this really mean lady who told me to send a request off to them and the legal services department will chat amongst themselves about it and decided whether or not to send you your records.... They can't do that can they????

[trin_007]

Aaaaah - no - I don't think they can refuse to supply them to you. I'm not sure what 'reason' you have for requesting them, but if for example, you are considering taking legal action - don't mention that - say you want it to debrief for your next (tell them 'current') pregnancy, or that you are writing your birth story and just want to check some details.

The information you might want to ask for is listed in my earlier reply, but here it is again:



Progress Notes covering arrival to onset of labour.

Labour & Birth Record

Maternal Observations:

Management in Labour

Summary of Labour

Progress notes post delivery/in ward.

There may also be a separate chart for any medications administered.

And of course - this was for a normal vaginal delivery - if you went C/S it could be totally different.

Good luck!

[Theophania]

Yes sorry probably should have mentioned it. My last labor was what I would call traumatic (some might just say I am a baby :rolleyes:). It ended in what I think was an unnecessary emergency cesarean. I am pregnant again and due in May so I am hoping to get it to prepare for my VBAC and I think it is important for me to know what incision was made etc. I suppose I will just write exactly that to them maybe. I can't believe how long it is going to take as well 13 weeks to get them back I will be almost 30 weeks by the time I get them :confused:

[trin_007]

I'm sure you're not 'just a baby' - especially if you ended up with invasive surgery you did not want or expect, or even understand why!!

Good luck for your VBAC!!! Do you have a middie or another professional who is helping prepare for this birth - maybe they would know the 'technical details' of what to ask for in regards to the 'surgical' reports? Otherwise, the rest should be basically the same and it sounds like it is what went on in the birth suite that you need to know the most (other than what sort of incision was made - but can't your current HCP tell from your scar?)

Also, I have no idea why they say it would take 13 weeks!! My turnaround from Mater Public was about 3 days - and that was after nearly 4 years. Try ringing up again and tell them you have to make an appointment with your middie/ob to discuss your history and that you would like to have the info from the last birth available for that appointment - see if you can go in and pick it up? Remember, you get more flies with honey :cool:

[AM]

Three words...

Freedom Of Information.

They can't refuse you.

[Lissbee]

Hi - Melissa from Birthtalk here.

Another Bub Hubber just let me know that our link no longer works.

Sorry - we changed our entire website last year, and the link address is now different.

So - to see our article called "Retrieving Your Birth Records, A Healing Step", which includes details on exactly what to ask for, here is the link :

http://www.birthtalk.org/Art1Birthrecords.html

I apologise for not changing this earlier :)

Best wishes,
Melissa
Birthtalk.org

[TillyBun]

Hi everyone

Like Melissa says above, check out the article at Birthtalk for info about how to get your records.
I requested mine and they arrived in less than 2 weeks (shocked at how quick it was). Didnt cost me a thing. They provided the full record...all 238 pages of it.
DONT FORGET to include 2 or 3 forms of photocopied identification witnessed and signed by a justice of the peace. I initially requested my records without these but they responded with a letter asking for identification so that depayed the process a bit.
I addressed it to Medical Records at X Hospital and asked for a full copy of my records including:

Progress notes
CTG Chart
Partogram
Theatre notes
Anaesthetic record
Medication chart
Antenatal notes
Any baby notes
Any other notes or records pertaining to my pregnancy, birth and postpartum period

[Tatiana28]

I just filled out the form requesting mine yesterday. We'll see if they try and charge me...?:thumbsdown:

[moochymoo]

Seeing as i started this thread, thought i might add that i never did request my records from the hospital i gave birth in (I gave birth to DD almost 3 years ago). I have however managed to read my notes direct as i am now a midwife and work at the hospital i gave birth in! (I was a neonatal nurse studying post grad midwifery when i fell pregnant).
My notes were not nearly as exciting as i thought they would be :laughing:.
I am pregnant with my second baby now I have definately recovered from my birth trauma, but hope to have a very different birth this time. Good luck to all those recovering and healing and i hope your notes help you in that process. Mine certainly helped me understand. Its funny how you forget time frames and details too! :o

[Shellen]

OMG. I have having trouble dealing with the birth of my son. It was sudden and I was lied too through out the process. Knowing the truth might help.

[AM]

OMG. I have having trouble dealing with the birth of my son. It was sudden and I was lied too through out the process. Knowing the truth might help.

I'm really sorry for that. A lot of people do feel better knowing exactly what DID happen, it sounds as though you need to debrief. Is there a Birthtalks group near you? They are really helpful with this stuff, and also the Maternity Coalition. :hugs:

[mummahoot]

hi there im currently in the process of recieving mine(hospitals stuffing me about) not sure which state you are from but i recieved mine free of charge just sent a letter to freedom of information officer at the hospiatl they have a 45 day response period and if not responded in that time need to contact you and discuss an appropriate time frame(eg. if you files been archived off site)
good luck :-D:fingerscrossed:

[mummahoot]

hi there what is birth talks? and maternity coalition?