Have you had your baby at a birthing centre?

[hales83]

Hi,

I am interested to hear about ppl's experiences at birthing centres. Particularly those who went to The Angliss BC, or Mitcham BC. I think Knox have one too?

Is there an added cost or is it the same as having a baby in a public hospital? :confused:

[LizzardLover]

I was supposed to have DD at the birth centre, but DD had other ideas and when I went 2 weeks overdue and needed an induction they said I had to go to the normal maternity ward :(

I was never told of any extra costs though :)

[MelissafromSyd]

Hi there,

I can't speak for the BCs you mentioned, but BCs are free under the public health system. Some BCs take private patients: in this case, you'd have a private OB but you'd birth in the birth centre. They have strict criteria for getting in and staying in, and if you deviate from normal in any way, you are transferred to the delivery suite. You don't have much say in this as the midwives are bound by hospital policy. If you have a home birth, you have control over transfers and anything else that happens in your pregnancy and birth (well, apart from the things that no-one has control over!).

Melissa.

[carlafida]

Hi there,

I'm new to this site and the world of pregnancy. I'm quickly discovering that there is so much to know in order to choose what 'option' suits you best.

I am also interested about hearing people's experiences of the birthing centre at the Angliss. I will probably go there for a tour and info session but it would be good to hear from people who have first hand experience. What have people's experiences at Box Hill Hospital been?
Thanks :)

[sweetsugardumplin']

I had DD at the Angliss BC. I booked in before I had even seen the place (the waiting list is huge...but the feedback was positive)

Some of the middies at my ante-natal visits really needed to upskill but overall they were good.

My actual birthing experience was wonderful, although I did nearly have DD in the car, my middie Helen was beautiful. We left five hours after the birth (that's what I wanted) and had home visits for up to four days afterwards (a G-d-send in regard to breastfeeding)

Go the BC :smiliedance: I say

Good Luck

[mummato3]

Ok, Mitcham is a private hospital, so you would go there under the care of a private obstetrician. It is not so much a 'birth centre' there as a birth suite, it is lovely though and the care is wonderful.
Knox again, is a private hospital, and you would be under the care of your chosen obstetrician. Again, a birth suite as opposed to centre.
You need to have private health insurance, otherwise if you pay for the private care out of your own pocket it is VERY expensive.

The Angliss is a public hospital, and they have both a birth suite (like the private) or the birth 'centre'. The birth centre is more like a home environment with no intervention ( eg: induction, epidural) and you have the ability to tailor your birth plan and it will be fully respected. If you had any complications or needed an epidural, you would be transferred 'across the hall' to the primary birth suite.

Public hospital is covered by Medicare, so no out of pocket costs. Its a huge choice I know. Important to know the pros and cons of each model of care and which one suits you the best.
:flowerz:

[Michelle2807]

I had my 1st at the Angliss FBC & it was a fnatastic experience. My midwife was nothing short of Fantastic & she helped me achieve the birth that I wanted.
I did want to have my son in the bath, but I decided that it wasnt the best option , due to me feeling too hot & wanting to get out, but she would have been happy for me to birth in the spa.

I had attatchment issues with BFing & they offered me to stay in the FBC for an extra night, they didnt want to discharge me because if the feeding issues.

I am due in September for number 2 and I am going back to the FBC at the Angliss