Redcliffe Hospital.

[jessi]

For a hospital of which I have only heard amazing things about- I am extremely dissapointed.
Since being there, I have been told that there are numerous things wrong with my baby, that my placenta is not in the right place and that I may have diabetes.
I have been for 4 scans. I have had MANY blood tests done. And what is the outcome at EVERY test/scan- EVERYTHING IS FINE!!
They tell me horrid things that make me think the worst, make me worry and upset me continuously. Everytime I try to ask questions about certain things, they skip lightly around the subject, not really giving me answers at all. Even when my DF called up the other day (after being told that my baby had grown 5weeks ahead in 2 weeks and there was obviously something severely wrong with her) and asked to be fully informed as I could hardley speak to him, they told him nothing!
Seems to me, the midwives have no fricken idea what they are on about. I am extremely ****ed off with them right at the moment... as they have sent me for so many tests and there is nothing wrong with her.
Also, I thought it would be good to sign up for some parenting/childbirth classes, so we signed up for 2. One was today... anyway, I asked a fairly reasonable question about giving birth in the shower (as I originally was going to have a water birth but then we moved, and this hospital doesnt have baths) and the midwife laughed at me (in front of the whole group) and goes "hows the midwife going to get in there? in her little raincoat?? with a little umbrella??" She was such a smart *** and I totally did not appreciate the way she spoke to me at all.
She then went on to tell me that maybe I should have booked in at the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast (which was where I was booked in, until we moved as it is a 2hr drive!!) if I wanted a water birth... and NO, why would anyone give birth in a shower anyway? Unless it was an accident.
and then! This couple asked about filming their birth and she said NO and gave no reason as to why they couldnt, so Nat asked her why? and she didnt give any reasons, just kept insisting that you CANT film a birth. or take photos of a birth- she basically argued with Nat because he was like "theres gotta be a reason for not allowing it".
Anyways, we both agreed we are NOT going back for the second class... and we are going to attempt a home birth instead... with him and his mum (who is a nurse/doula) there.
I do not want to have my baby at a place where they try to control everything you do, only tell you negative things and wont allow you to have the birthing experience you want... if I the homebirth thing doesnt go to plan, or I get abit anxious, we will go to the hospital- but I will not, and I repeat WILL NOT be having my next child there.
:mad:

[Verdi]

Omg that sounds horrific, can't imagine why you can't have the birth taped! and what horrible manners, even when asking questions!!! Can you switch hospitals? :confused:

[Jenko]

Oh Jessi that's awful sending you lots of :hugs: :hugs: , they sound like a bunch of monkeys!! Putting you through all that extra stress and all. Thank god your lil girl is doing fine. What a cow that midwife was! You could have had the shower head on your lower back or something while giving birth....maybe. Is the midwife not waterproof?

I wouldn't go back either, you should make a complaint about her. Her job is to answer parents-to-be questions, not humiliate them! :mad:

Could you maybe go to a hospital in Brisbane? Maybe one there has bath facilities for a water birth.

[Rach78]

We were told we can't tape the birth either for legal reasons. They said it is ok to take photos and videos once the baby is out.
Definitely sounds like there is a lack of communication at your hospital though.
Rach

[jessi]

Yeah, we figured it would be some sort of 'legal business' but she didnt even mention that- just kept saying "NO, you cant tape it. You just cant." Not that me and DF want to tape our birth, but for the sake of the other couple who sounded genuinely interested in doing this, we asked why?

I dont know if you can change hospitals this late in the pregnancy can you? Im 36weeks...

Yeah, definatly not impressed with the midwife who took the course... Ive got an appointment with the usual midwife who sees me on Monday(I dont particularly trust her or like her either, shes the one who has kept sending me for tests... and I have a sneaking suspician she hasnt been a midwife very long as she doesnt seem to know much) and I know she will ask about the weekend class... I think I will tell her very truthfully how my partner and I were very unimpressed with it all.

[MonkeyMum05]

Oh, you poor bugger!

Tell 'em to sick it up their bum and go for the home birth!
I wish you the best of luck, and hope that it all works out for you! :o

[Chub Chub]

Jessi.........I am not sure whether this would be reasonable but RedLANDS hospital is in Cleveland and is super fantastic. I had my DD at the private next door but ALL of my friends have had their kids there. You get a private room and only have to share a bathroom with the adjoining room. Maybe it is a reasonable distance from where you live??? My girlfriend had her bub in the shower and the middies just chuck on gumboots and assisted in the birth that way (she said that they got soaked!!) There are baths there but apparently they won't let you deliver in there. It may be an unreasonable distance to travel but I thought I'd recommend them!

Good luck with the delivery of your little pink whale!;)

[Fitmumma]

We were told we can't tape the birth either for legal reasons. They said it is ok to take photos and videos once the baby is out.
Definitely sounds like there is a lack of communication at your hospital though.

I was told this too, its pretty standard procedure in public hospitals, I had my last 2 bubs at Caboolture & they were great, I am not sure why you thought Redcliffe was good though as I have heard nothing but negative things about it & would never go there, it has had a bad rep for years.
Hope you have a wonderful birth no matter where you choose to have your bub, I would have liked a home birth but my DH is a chicken!!!:)

[Goosie22]

Hi,
The Redcliffe district has a consumer survey called "have your say" its yellow. Ask for one next time you attend antenatal clinic. Write your complaint on the form and submit it to admin. Ask for a reply and how they intend to rectify the situation.

You are within your right to birth in the shower, its a perfectly normal request as is filming the birth (its your birth your body and your baby, you do what you like). And you can change hospital at any stage they just request a copy of your files from the original hospital when you present. Its not a very nice time for birthing in the Brisbane area at the moment there is a lot of turmol with in the ranks (in other words you need to be forthright in what you will and will not accept).

[faery]

hi jessi
:thumbsdown: about redcliffe. although not surprising (we lived up there for six months).
i hope your homebirth option works out. being so far along and not knowing where you will give birth is really stressful so try not to.

is going to the gold coast (with water births) still an option? cause i wanted a water birth and couldn't get into RBH birth centre so we went to mullumbimby (long story why). anyway, we drove from scarborough to mullum when i was in labour and it was okay. it was 3 hours but we made it in two (middle of the night, driving really fast!!:laughing: ) it wasn't bad being in the car, it just meant that almost all of the labouring was done at mullum.

something to think about if the homebirth option doesn't work out.
good luck with it, and good on you for standing up for how you want to birth your baby!

[mum23girls]

Oh that is a shame Jessi... I birthed all three of mine at Redcliffe and their actual maternity ward I thought was fantastic, especially my last middi!!! I also photographed birth from crowning and the Dr on duty even took some piccy's for us!!

I only went antinatal for the absolutly necessary times, but did shared care with my Doctor. If you would like her details, just let me know. She is at Kallangur.

[jessi]

I had another bad experience with them today... I had a check up with the doctor there because of all the tests etc that I have been having- was going to get the results.
I walked in, she said I dont have diabetes and baby is fine. And then told me she was going to do ANOTHER U/S while I was there to check baby. I started to say NO as this was my 5th U/S and DF and I had agreed NO MORE TESTS OR SCANS and she raised her voice over me and said "LIE DOWN". I felt so very intimidated.
I said "at the last scan (which was 4 days ago) they said there was nothing wrong with her at all" but she continued to go ahead with the U/S and then just say "OH, well you must just have a chubby baby.":banghead:

Anyways, DF has the ****s on with me big time now because I wasnt assertive and didnt tell her where to go. I hate being here- I dont know anyone, I have to give birth by myself pretty much now... everything is stuffing up!!:gloomy:

Where were you ladies when I originally asked about the Redcliffe hospital? that would have helped me so much!! :yes:

[jessi]

is going to the gold coast (with water births) still an option? cause i wanted a water birth and couldn't get into RBH birth centre so we went to mullumbimby (long story why). anyway, we drove from scarborough to mullum when i was in labour and it was okay. it was 3 hours but we made it in two (middle of the night, driving really fast!!:laughing: ) it wasn't bad being in the car, it just meant that almost all of the labouring was done at mullum.


We could still do the drive down there, but I just didnt want to be in the car for the labour... for an hour and a half!! (DF drives like a mental person) And then theres the drive all the way home again afterwards... I dont know if I can be bothered!

[Little Gorilla]

jessi, sorry to hear about all probs you are having at your hospital....however, if its any concellation, Gold Coast hospital IMO is pretty sh*t as well....I doubt the treatment would have been much better.:no:

[mum2ryan]

I gave birth to Ryan at the GC hospital in Dec 2004 and had no problems at all. I had to stay in for a week after having an unrelated operation right after birth, I was moved to a private room and was able to stay in the maternity ward with Ryan instead of being taken to a different ward away from him.
I'm having my next bub there in about three weeks too. I'd love to experience the new birthing suite, but I know i'll chicken out and ask for pain relief which from my understanding you can't have in the birthing suites.

[Little Gorilla]

I gave birth to Ryan at the GC hospital in Dec 2004 and had no problems at all. I had to stay in for a week after having an unrelated operation right after birth, I was moved to a private room and was able to stay in the maternity ward with Ryan instead of being taken to a different ward away from him.
I'm having my next bub there in about three weeks too. I'd love to experience the new birthing suite, but I know i'll chicken out and ask for pain relief which from my understanding you can't have in the birthing suites.

mum2ryan, would you believe you are the first person I have heard of that had a good experience at GC hos? Every mum that I have spoken to (playgroups etc) has had a bad experience there. I was there 2 months after you and the level of care was pretty terrible:thumbsdown:

[jessi]

yeah ive heard bad things about GC too... and didnt have a particularly nice visit to them a few months back when I lost my vision...

If we were to drive back, id be going to Tweed Hospital.

[BJelly]

Hi Sweetie,

I'm so sorry you are having to put up with such unprofessional care when you are so close to giving birth - really - they should be ashamed of themselves for scaring pregnant women and laughing at perfectly reasonable questions at antenatal classes.

I had a string of bad experiences at the RBH, sometimes we just luck out - I've heard lots of people with good things to say about the RBH, maybe you've just been unlucky too and have struck some of the few bad apples at Redcliffe.

If you have no luck organising an alternate hospital or homebirth, maybe you could find a doula to support you and your husband (they cost a few hundred dollars but they often will assist/visit/give support in the weeks after the birth too), or maybe even an independent midwife to help you at the hospital.

I personally got a really good friend who had had a natural birth act as a support person and knowing she'd be there to help us deal with the hospital made me feel like a weight had been lifted - I had no faith left in the hospital by that stage - they couldn't get the little things right when there was no time pressure, how was I supposed to trust they'd get the birth right??

BTW I gave birth in a shower, they just turn the water off when the baby gets close (duh ... hardly rocket science) They put some towels beneath me and they simply caught her and brought her up to my chest - I then sat down on a birthing stool, and I cuddled her as we waited for the cord to stop pulsating and then we cut the cord.

When you are ready, you should write a letter of complaint about how poor your care was - it's the only way things will get any better. Or you can even ask to see the patient liason officer if you have some spare time at your next hospital appointment - you might get to see them, you never know your luck. I got to see the one at the RBH while I was waiting for test results one day - I asked to see her on the off chance she was available - and she was - I kept calm and simply told her about the many, many mistakes the hospital had made during my perfectly straightforward pregnancy (well apart from the gestational diabetes).

[jessi]

I had no faith left in the hospital by that stage - they couldn't get the little things right when there was no time pressure, how was I supposed to trust they'd get the birth right??


Ahhh... this is how I feel completely!!

DF's mother is a Doula, and as much as I am uncomfortable with her being there, I know she will be the one who basically tells the middies to f&*% off and will be the best help for me...

I have a question- you dont NEED a midwife, do you? A doula can deliver the baby and handle all the bits and pieces by themselves cant they?

[kadownie]

Well- a doula is not medically trained- so shouldn't really do any medical procdures. Your Mother in Law may have attended many births- so she may have some lay experience. It's up to you whether you feel comfy or not having her as your 'support'- don't be pushed into anything!

You don't need a midwife- though I would encourage you to think about getting one if you birth at home- as they are the expert when it comes to birth- if there are any problems then she will know how to respond appropriately- in saying that though- there are many women who birth without a midwife- freebirth.

I have emailed you- cause my PM wouldn't go through

[jessi]

Thanks for your help Kylie :hugs: Has made some things a little clearer for me already... :)

[Ashleigh<3]

I still cannont believe she forced you to have another scan. Poor jessi hope things get better.:hugs:

[Tea Lady]

That sounds awful Jessi :thumbsdown: Don't forget about looking into hospitals further north too - Caboolture is meant to be ok and I've heard good things about Nambour (I think!). Good luck working out what to do....... you don't need the stress atm you poor thing :no:

[iamstephyc]

:eek: I've just stumbled accross this thread and am FREAKING OUT!!! :eek: I just had my first appointment there on friday and things were very different to what I had with my other PG's at caboolture. I did start a thread in the general chat section asking about Redcliffe and no one said anything, now I've found this and am stressing!!
I'm really sorry for your experience. :hugs: Pregnancy is supposed to be a wonerful and exciting time. Not a stress fest. With my first birth I was supposed to deliver at Redcliffe but ended up at caboolture 11 days overdue. Redcliffe couldn't fit me in at 10 days overdue (That should have been a giveaway...).
Anyway, I loved Caboolture. I had 4 babies there, you could give them a call and see what they have to say...
Maybe I'll go back there myself.

[jessi]

The Middie who has sent me for all the tests etc and made me stress that theres something wrong with my baby called me today and asked how my appointment on Monday went with the Doctor... I told her exactly what happened and that I was not impressed with having been sent for so many tests and scans and being put through so much stress- and theres nothing even wrong with her.
She apologized so much... I have another appointment with her in 2 weeks but I dont even know if I'll go back. I guess I'm the only one who knows if theres something definatly wrong with me or my baby right now- I dont need them to stress me anymore!

[KathrynB]

Sorry to hear you have had such a bad experience. Like the other girls have said, why not try Caboolture? My friend is due Mid Sept and lives in Redcliffe but is delivering in Caboolture hospital and she has been very happy with them....