How to get into Bris Birth Centre?

[Tracie]

Hi Ladies,
Could someone enlighten me on the process involved in being accepted into
the RBWH Birth Centre? I know it can be difficult and there could be a waiting period...can anyone give me the details of what you have to do?
Cheers
Tracie

[kadownie]

All I know is that you have to contact them the moment that you are pregnant- and it is a ballot system- sorry, not much help.

[Tea Lady]

Hi Tracie,

You have to go to your GP and get them to write a letter to the hosp. saying your preg. is low risk and that you would like BC care. They fax this to the hospital and then you go in a ballot (as kadownie said) which they draw when you're around 16 weeks, so it's not quite as much of a rush to apply as it used to be. If you ring the Maternity Outpatients people, they could tell you the fax number and other details in case I've forgotten some. :)

[ZubDub]

I rang them at 12 weeks and missed the ballot - this was in August last year - so it may have changed.

THB honest, I have heard some not fantastic things about the Bris Birht Centre (I know that's not what you want to hear!) - just the usual - some bad mw etc - but if you don't get in - there are options - I got a doula and went to a midwife run public hospital - and had a wonderful birth. If you are going to do that though - you need to know what questions to ask - or you could go a homebirth? good luck.

[Angel]

The RBWH birth centre has fantastic outcomes compared to all other hospitals in Brisbane. There can be personality clashes with m/w, sure, but that can happen anywhere and you could ask to change m/w if it was that bad.

Only 1/3 of applicants get a place at the BC - the demand is enormous and with good reason. You stand a better chance if you have had a baby before. 3/5 of woman accepted are multiparous, only 2/5 primiparous.

Complete acceptance to the BC depends on a u/s at 18-20. At this point some ladies are deemed to high risk and are forced to reconsider their options. Consequently spaces become available so even if you don't get in at the ballot stage you may get a call later on. This call could come when you are 32 weeks however (for example) when someone else has dropped out (or become too high risk later on). You are not obligued to accept the offer and at that stage in your pg you may prefer to stick with your alternative arrangements and that is fine too.

[Yasmeena]

You can't ask to change midwives in labour!
I have also heard of a bad experience at the RBWH birth centre, mainly unnecessary intervention rather than a 'bad' midwife. I know they have great stats compared with most birth suites but that can reflect how bad birth suites are rather than how great the birth centre is - also take into account those who apply for birth centre are probably less likely to agree to intervention, and are all low risk.
I think the birth centre has a rate of 8% c/s (but I'm not sure, I was looking at a chart of their stats on the wall in there last week) which isn't that impressive (to me anyway).
anyway check out www.fbc.org.au will probably have all the information you need:thumbsup: