Mitcham Private vs Knox Private - Melbourne

[inka2980]

I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences (good or bad) in either of these hospitals?
I was wondering about things like:
Which obstetrician did you use?
Quality of care?
Were the midwives nice?
Food?
Did you get a private room?
Did you get pain relief when you asked for it?
etc, etc.

Thanks.

[sare]

Hi Inka - I had dd at Mitcham and am having #2 there in October. I had a great experience there and would highly recommend it.


Which obstetrician did you use? Peter Tang. I can't rave about him enough. He's just lovely and really listens to your concerns. He didn't make dd's birth as he was delivering another baby in one of the other birthing suites, but dd's was a really uncomplicated birth and he came to check on her (and me) within 20 minutes of her being born.

Quality of care? Excellent. The midwives were all excellent (bar one who had me stressed about having high blood pressure) I had trouble b/f dd and one of the midwives could see that I wasn't ready to be discharged. I deperately wanted to go home, so she spent about 3 hours looking after me, teaching me how to express, organising the hire of an electric breast pump, writing up a feeding plan, teaching me how to bottle feed dd, organising for dd to come back for a weigh in 2 days later (as she had lost about 10% of her body weight) and organised for me to meet 1-on-1 with a midwife 3 days after I had been discharged for more assistance in getting dd to latch on. It all helped because I b/f dd for 14 months. So I'd say their level of care is A+

Were the midwives nice? Think I've already answered this. Some were a bit business-like, but the majority we're friendly, extremely helpful and very affirming.

Food? Delicious. I'm even looking forward to it this time around.

Did you get a private room? Yes. I hope I do this time too.

Did you get pain relief when you asked for it?I asked for an epidural when I was about 7cms dialated. The midwife organised for an anaethesist (sp?) to come in but it would take over 30mins. Basically I didn't have enough time. I was offered gas straight away, but did not want a pethadine shot.

Hopefully that answers your questions. I have heard good things about Knox too, but I know of far more people who have had their babies at Mitcham and all of them have been really happy with the hospital.

I visited my SIL at a private hospital in the city last week and was surprised by how poorly she had been treated (long waits to see midwives, really abrupt and abrasive midwives, continual interruptions during visiting hours and while she was trying to rest) and by some of the things that we overheard staff saying. Needless to say, that totally reaffirmed my choice to have my baby at Mitcham. :thumbsup:

[Mikeswifey]

I had 1st baby at knox, having 2nd baby at Mitcham. I hear the care is better.

My ob was Dr Jason Clark. He was FANTASTIC and did everything he could to make my baby come out alive (she was stuck). I hear his not taking new patients on.

With the care day nurses were great, night nurses sucked bad. Old matron type ladies. Wont go into it to much, will be here all night.

Food was fantastic. Everytime I finished one meal it was time for the next. Muffins, cake, desserts it was great.

I got my pain relief. Tried to do it without an epidural but the nurses told me I needed one and I agreed.

My DD was in the nursery too coz she was sick. Hated the nursery nurse. She shouldnt even be working. The lady with the short hair.

But otherwise we got a double bed so Michael slept the 7 night its was lovely that he could be there with us. They also let my mum come in whenever she wanted. Whatever visiting hours she wanted.