Mercy Heidelberg- Family Birth Centre

[bookwormmum]

Has anyone been there? What was it like? Were the midwives nice? Is it hard to get accepted, do you pretty much have to have a perfectly healthy pregnancy? Are they very busy, when should I ring to make an appointment? I'm 4 weeks 1 day, thinking about ringing tomorrow but just wanted some more info beforehand! :)

[TickTock]

Hi chloeandme,

I'm going to the Mercy FBC for this pregnancy - I'm currently 30 weeks. I'll answer as best I can!

Has anyone been there?
I haven't birthed there yet (obviously), but have so far had 3 appointments there, plus the tour.

What was it like?
I find it has a very homey feel. You walk into a waiting room which has a lounge room feel about it, with a kitchenette and a reception desk. Then there are offices and birthing rooms and bathrooms off a hallway from there. Through a swing door at the end is the regular (non FBC) birthing suites, which I find comforting in case of any unforseen emergency, etc.

Were the midwives nice?
I've had contact with 4 midwives so far, and they have all been really lovely. I would be happy to have any one of them at the birth. Much nicer 'vibe' than when I had a private OB last time, and felt like he was doing me a favour by seeing me each time!

Is it hard to get accepted, do you pretty much have to have a perfectly healthy pregnancy?

To book in, you need 1) a referral from a doctor; and 2) to have already been on their tour. When I phoned to book in, they ran through a bunch of questions with me regarding my previous labour/birth, and my pregnancy thus far. I hadn't had any issues with either really, so aren't sure how particular they would be, but suspect that certain criteria would have to be met.

Are they very busy, when should I ring to make an appointment?
I believe the FBC is quite hard to get into, and has quite limited places each month, however, I had just moved to Melbourne about halfway through my pregnancy and was still lucky enough to get in. I would recommend arranging it as early as possible though if you are really keen to get in... start with booking in a tour and go from there.

Also, re how busy they are... as a patient of the FBC, I haven't had any issues at all with waiting to get into my appointments - waiting only 5-10 mins at most, and are usually the only person waiting. I did walk past the regular maternity area the other day, and there were people everywhere, and felt very glad that I wasn't having to wait there!

Overall, thus far I am very happy with my choice to go there. Hopefully I'll feel the same way after the birth!

Hope that helps!

[yanyi]

has anyone been there? What was it like? Were the midwives nice? Is it hard to get accepted, do you pretty much have to have a perfectly healthy pregnancy? Are they very busy, when should i ring to make an appointment? I'm 4 weeks 1 day, thinking about ringing tomorrow but just wanted some more info beforehand! :)

hi choleandme, i met same problem. I have not decided to deliver in st. Vincent or mercy. I hope to do a tour first. But i ring twice today. Noboday answer the call. So i leave the message.

How is ur going now? Booked the tour already?

[TickTock]

I had another appointment at the FBC this week and noticed that there is a sign requesting that phone calls to the FBC (other than for those in labour/emergency situations obviously) be made between 2 and 4pm. So perhaps you'll have more luck getting through if you call then?? Maybe they have extra staff on then for taking calls??

[bookwormmum]

Thankyou so much TickTock, that was pretty much everything I wanted to know :) It sounds so much better there than the regular hospital clinics, I had to go every week for a check up with DD and I waited at least an hour and a half every time. Once I waited for four hours, kept getting ignored by the receptionists and the clinic closed and the doctors left - they forgot about me :no: I really want to avoid hospital this time.

Yanyi, I only rang once but it was quite early in the morning so maybe they weren't that busy? I ended up ringing the day after I posted and they told me to come to an information session/tour this saturday and then we'd talk about getting a referral and booking in.

I've got my fingers crossed it all goes well :fingerscrossed: My only real health issue is low iron levels, my BP was high when I was pregnant with DD because I was so terrified of hospitals and the doctors made me so nervous, so I'm really hoping I get to have this baby there.