Where do I begin?

[abouttime]

I just found out that I am pregnant (just 7 weeks so far). This is our first and we are both very excited.

What do we do next?

So far all we have done is take a home preg kit and enjoy the feelings of nausea.

Do we have to go see a doctor? We am concerned about making the OB the centre of the birth (shouldn't he just be a 'break in case of emergency' option?). Is there a birthing centre in Toowoomba?

We already know that we want a natural birth (maybe a doula) at a birthing centre or hospital. However we are both freaked out by the thought of battling wits with OBs who want to intervene.

[moonke]

First of all.. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I'd recommend going to your doctor and getting some blood taken. If you want a dating scan you can do that as well.

You're doc should also be able to refer you to an obgyn or a midwife/birthing centre. Do what is right for you of course.

Whatever you decide will be the right one.

and if you have any questions just ask away.

[~Emmylou~]

Congratulations! :) It's a bit overwhelming isn't it?

Next step if you want a hospital birth is to make an appointment with a GP. They will take some blood to check your immunity to various things and your blood type. They'll also either give you a referral to a private OB, or tell you how to book into the public hospital.

There's no birth centre in Toowoomba unfortunately. There are also no hands off OB's. I point that out because you specifically mentioned that's what you're looking for - all of the OB's working from St Vincent's are considered fairly interventive.

So your options are basically go to the Base (public hospital) and birth with midwives there, and if you develop any dramas you'll then go under the care of a public OB. Or get a referral to one of the above mentioned OB's and have your bub privately at St Vincents.

Or have a homebirth....but that's a whole different thread ;)

Good luck :)

[abouttime]

Are there any options in Brisbane?

Or is it unrealistic given the 2hr drive to get there?

[NibbleCurlynBun]

If you would like a 100% natural birth I would ditch the OB and go for midwives.

I will do some googling for birthing facilities in Toowoomba and will get back to you.

P.S. I was born there. :D


ETA: I have found this: http://www.fbc.org.au/ which is in Toowoomba. Check the left hand side, down a little and you will see it. I cannot find an address though.

I will keep going and see what else I can find.

[NibbleCurlynBun]

OK more research tells me that the birth centre is actually part of the Toowoomba hospital.

I am having trouble finding any real information about it though.

Have you tried having a tour of the hospital?

I have found this: Which mentions that it HAS a birthing centre and gives you an address and phone number.
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/workforus/pharmacy/docs/TOOWOOMBA.pdf

[NibbleCurlynBun]

I'm really sorry, that truly is all I can find. :(

Your best bet is to call the hospital I linked in the second post and ask to be put through to the birth centre and ask them anything you want to know.

[abouttime]

Thanks for all your efforts.

I have been googling for the last hour myself. I have found nothing in Toowoomba, and not really anything in Brisbane. Is it realistic to go out of state for a birth? Heck I would consider going out of country to get the birth that I want (I heard europe is quiet good!). I have relatives near Newcastle, so that might be an option.

The only thing i am certain about is that I want a natural birth. Exactly the type of thing you would have at home...except the option of trained staff in case of a life-threatening emergency.

I don't want my birth to be treated like a medical problem!!

[~Emmylou~]

Friends of the Birth Centre is a branch organisation set up to support the BC attached to the Royal Womens Hospital in Brisbane. There is no public BC in Toowoomba. The mention in the PDF nibble linked is a nice name for the maternity ward at the public hospital.

The BC here has been under attack from obstetricians for years and threatened with closure a number of times - FBC was set up in response to this.

about time - I'll be honest with you, you won't get into the birth centre in Brisbane - it's got a waiting list 5 miles long of women who are in Bris...getting in from toowoomba isn't going to happen.

You sound very passionate about having a normal birth. I work with birthing women, and I'll tell you straight out that your best chance of getting of the birth you want is with a independent midwife at home. Hospital is always there as a back up and lets face it , in T'ba you're never more than 20 minutes from the base ;) An experienced homebirth midwife will see problems coming like a train down a track - in plenty of time for you transfer. If that doesn't appeal, the next best option is going public, hiring an experienced doula or independent midwife who can act as a doula, and staying at home until your labour is either very well established (ie. about 6-7cm) or even better, until you feel a bit pushy. Go into hospital and have an intervention free birth.

But I can guarantee you, you won't have a hope of getting the birth you're after if you go to St V's and go in there as soon labour starts.

All the best.

[abouttime]

Thanks for that response. My husband and I have read it with care.

We are certain about hiring a private midwife, regardless of what option we choose to do.

Any recommendations are welcome.

[sweetperfectchild]

There's no need to see a doctor or have blood taken. I just did a home pregnancy test and then rang up the local midwives and booked in. The only time I had to see my GP was when I needed a form to have my nuchal fold scan and the midwives couldn't sign it. He looked at my size 10 frame at 12 weeks pregnant and said, 'are you about 28 weeks pregnant?'!!. I hurried back to my lovely birth centre and have no intention of seeing him again.
You should be able to give your local midwives a ring and they should be able to tell you what the best options are for you locally. They will know who are the local independent midwives and doulas. Good luck and congratulations.

[abouttime]

An update:

We went to visit our GP yesterday, and booked into to see a private midwife afterwards (a busy evening).

We were sitting in the GP waiting room for 45minutes as she was running late, but it was a relief to talk to her. I said I needed to 'confirm my pregnancy'. She asked when my last period was and if I had taken a home preg test. I answered and she said 'well you are pregnant'. It was a relief to have a GP who relied on my responses, not on a blood test.

She explained the medical scans/bloods I could have done (ante-natal blood tests, Nuchal Fold, Glucose @ 28wks), she gave me forms to have them done, and told me to ask for copies when they came back to give to my midwife.

She never once mentioned an OB or asked about a hospital. I told her I was seeing a private midwife that afternoon and she said something like "A private midwife will see any complications coming in plenty of time", my husband and I left her office feeling like she had basically said to us "have a home birth, birth are natural not medical, your body will know what to do".

We were both very impressed by her, and it makes us feel very confident being able to interact with her while getting the bloods done and scans taken.

Both my husband and I have taken a huge turn around in the last few days, from 'wanting a natural birth at a centre' (see my first post), to looking at our downstairs area and saying "plenty of room to give birth there".

We met with the midwife that afternoon, and she made us feel very confident. A homebirth does not have to replicate the dark ages, we can take advantage of modern medical understanding (blood tests & scans) while still putting the mother at the front of the birth process. The hospital is literally at 3 minute drive from our house.

The stigma is that a homebirths was for weird people, people with ten kids, people who are members of cults (with apologies to any of the above who are reading this *grin*).

We are still in alot of shock that we are considering (have decided upon) a home birth, in fact we still word it as 'thinking about it', even though we are sure. We aren't those type of people... However the overwhelming evidence makes me think a home birth is the only way to do things...why would you do it any other way? Again, still in shock that I am going to do this.

I think this is an end to this thread, I imagine I will have more questions in other threads later on.

Thanks for all your help pointing me to the right people, and anyone wanting a GP in Toowoomba, let me know...I know a good one.

[~Emmylou~]

that's great, I'm glad you've managed to explore all your options and find some possibilities that sit well with what you want.

There is definitely a perception out there that when things go wrong during birth it is a catastrophic and life threatening emergency that must be dealt with in seconds/minutes....in actual fact problems of that nature are exceedingly rare when you're being cared for by someone who is with you constantly, and consistently (like a private midwife). In the vast majority of cases, when things don't go to plan with a birth it happens with plenty of time to get yourself to a hospital - especially if you're only three minutes away ;)

Good luck with your decision I'm sure you'll have a fantastic birth no matter what you end up doing...you're very proactive, open minded and informed and honestly, that is half the battle if you have definite ideas about the kind of birth you want.