GC Hospital Birthing Centre

[JorBai]

Im not pregnant but I had my last bub at Gold Coast Hospital and it was a relatively good experience.

Just curious to know if anyone has had thier bub in the new birth centre?? Or has it even opened yet??? Thinking that when we decide to have #2 I would like to try a birth centre.

[KathrynB]

My SIL is due in the next couple of weeks and is having her baby at the GC Birthing Centre. I will let you know once she has had the baby......

[mum2ryan]

I'm due in 7 weeks and i'm having my bub at the Gold Coast Hospital. I've passed on the birthing centre as it's a drug free environment. Going by my last birth, I know i'll be asking for the epidural. I'll try and poke my head in to have a look though. lol

[JorBai]

Yeah I had an epidureal last time too and I think I would want one again for the next birth. 22 hour labour with contractions on top of each other with 30secs break in between. Could not have done without the epi!

Just curious to know what its like!

Mum2Ryan- Good Luck on the birth of your lil girl!

[Angel]

BaileysMum, that sounds like an induction (your last birth). A spontaneous labour isn't usually like that for 22 hours! Our body's natural endorphins (pain relieving hormones) are 20 times more powerful than morphine. When there is not syntocinon or epidural to interfere with our body's production of endorphine and oxytocin the 'pain' experience is usually very different.

I had an epidural with my first DD - that was a labour over 31 hours. It was that long, and that painful because she was posterior. I knew nothing about optimum foetal positioning back then and the impact that mal presentation has on labour pain and duration.

I got educated before my second birth and achieved a well positioned baby. I had a two hour labour with only two paracetamol behind me! And honestly, I never felt her crown. I didn't feel the 'ring of fire' that I've heard others talk about. I even had a 2nd degree tear (one inch down and one inch across) but I didn't feel it :yelclap: I guess that's the power of endorphins. She was accidentally born at home though (labour being much quicker than first time, I had no idea I was in transition :D ) so the extremely comfortable environment would have impacted too. There's enough evidence that hospital environments stimulate the 'thinking cortex' of the brain which stimulates the production of adrenaline, which neutralises oxytocin and ultimately stalls labour. What a mouth full.... I'm trying to say that by having my daughter at home I stood the best possible chance of a smooth labour with no desire for narcotics.

On to the Gold Coast birth centre.... it is definitely open, and you are a VERY lucky lady if you have access to it! The World Health Organisation say that up to 80% of women should have that model of care available to them (one-to-one midwifery care) not least because it has the best outcomes for low risk mums AND their babies. Unfortunately, until the GCBC opened only 1% of Queensland women could access this luxury, 'gold standard' care. Make the most of it you lucky lady! I am envious!

[JorBai]

Wow! Angel thank heaps for your information!!:thumbsup:

Your also Spot on, I did have an induced labour!

Did you try sitting in different positions like on all fours rocking to move your baby to optimal position??? Am interested to know what sort of stuff you did different to make your labour a better experience 2nd time round?

[KathrynB]

Well, my SIL had her baby boy last Friday (only saw her today to find out what she thought) and she said that some of the midwives were great. The one she had was very stuck in her ways though and if you didn't agree with her way of doing things, then she wasn't happy. I guess you probably get that in most Maternity Hospitals.

SIL ended up asking for an epidural so was taken to the Birthing suite in the hospital itself, but in the end, the baby's head crowned so she didn't have the epidural.

She had bub at 2pm and was home by 5.30pm, which she was happy about.

Not much else I can tell you........