Rpa birth centre and delivery ward

[studentmidwife0810]

hello,
im a student midwife placed at RPA, and i just wanted to ask if anyone had any questions about RPA, after being present and catching many babies at both the birth centre and delivery ward. working in the antenatal clinic of BC and DW and the private and public postnatal ward im able to answer a few of your questions if wanted.

:)

[boordinda]

Hi, I'm thinking of going to rpa as private. I have no idea about ob. Is there anyone u would recommend? Wat would the benefit be private over public?would u recommend private at rpa?

[studentmidwife0810]

Hi, I'm thinking of going to rpa as private. I have no idea about ob. Is there anyone u would recommend? Wat would the benefit be private over public?would u recommend private at rpa?

ok im going to be brutually honest, IN MY OPINON [please dont get on me, this is MY OPINON and what I PERSONALLY have witnessed] i believe that private obstetricians are a waste of money.

if you go private you dont have to be in area which is a positive if you wanted to come to RPA and lived outside of our catchment area. however to be brutually honest i believe that is the only benefit.

if you go public in the antenatal clinic there about an average of 15-30 min wait or if you see the obstetrician (for a problem, or your second visit) there is a 1 hour wait, but private obstetricans are just as bad, as they are on call 24/7 they may be very behind.

alot of people say they love their obstetrician because they feel ilke they will know a face in labour, IF YOU HAVE AN OBSTETRICIAN UNTIL YOU ARE PUSHING, IN SECOND STAGE you are looked after by an unknown midwife, as a student midwife i have caught a baby of a private obstetrician because he didnt make it in time, literally we call them when your ready to push and they come in, they may visit but yes.

i truthfully recommend going with midwives, you can still be a private patient and have your own room with private health insurance. Most of the midwives are lovely and while there is no continutiy of care model you can arrange to have all your appointments with the same midwife, though in the delivery ward you will not know you midwife.

If you see the benefits of having a natural labour and you think it is something you would like (as a student midwife i obviously think this is the best option) then GO BIRTH CENTRE! if you are not too pregnant, try an book in, the midwives are beautiful an since there is onl about 10 midwives you will most likely (though not guranteed) know you midwive in labour, there is no waiting time at the clinics, it is a beautiful beautiful place with a homelike feel and a beeautiful garden balcony for each room.

so yes that would be my decision, and i have written this as what i would do, it would be my first decision to go birth centre then antenatal clinic then private obstetrican.

but it depends where you live if you can go there, if your around the ryde area or any other area i would go to the ryde midwifery group practice as they have continiuty of care and its lovely to know your midwife and she would look after you completly in labour.

im sure this is a rambling post, if you have any more questions feel free to ask me them here, ill give you HONEST answers :P

[good luck for your labour and birth whatever you decide :D] xx

[boordinda]

Thank you for your honest response. I really appreciate it as I am very confused. I am only 5 weeks so it is early but I need to make the choice now.

I do not live in the area. I like in Wakeley which would be either Fairfield or Liverpool hospital, thinking Im closer to fairfiels and to be honest I would not want to go to either of them.

I had complications with my DD and it was an horrific expereince so I am a bit nervous with which way to go this time round.

[studentmidwife0810]

Thank you for your honest response. I really appreciate it as I am very confused. I am only 5 weeks so it is early but I need to make the choice now.

I do not live in the area. I like in Wakeley which would be either Fairfield or Liverpool hospital, thinking Im closer to fairfiels and to be honest I would not want to go to either of them.

I had complications with my DD and it was an horrific expereince so I am a bit nervous with which way to go this time round.

well if you wanted to go to RPA you would have to have a private obstetrician,

and its a difficult decision, i cannot tell you that going with midwives or an obstetrician will stop you having a traumatic birth, what did you go with last time? private obs? or midwives?

im sorry im not being very helpful, i guess if you have the money to spend go with a private obstetrican to get into RPA but i would really recommend going to the birth centre with a private ob because i think you feel better supported, but then again ive never been the women in a birth situation.

i just hope that whatever you choose you can avoid the situation you had last night, have you talked with someone a profesional to debreif? or just discuss your feelings?


:hugs:

[Baldie's Mum]

It is so worth going through the birth centre! I have had nothing but amazing experiences with the BC!!!! :D

Middies in there are gorgeous, and they never make you feel like they are over-worked, underpaid and run off their feet! (even though they are!!!)

:thumbsup:

Can you use an address of someone in the area?? :cool:

[bun in the oven]

I'm glad I'm not the only person confused about the whole thing! I'm in the area for rpa, so that would be where we intend to have the baby, but shared care/ob/midwife public/private etc is what's got me confused!!! I'm happy to stick with my gp but what happens later in the pregnancy or when I go into labour? Can I get a private room at rpa if I'm a public patient (obviously would pay for this if it was possible)? Or do I have to be a private patient? I just want to go and have my baby as safely as possible and if anything did go wrong I would want to know help would be right there on hand. Reason I'd want a private room is because we've got a big family and would have a lot of (constant!) visitors. I'd hate them to upset another poor woman who has just had a baby! Are hubbies allowed to stay around? Goodness me, I have so many questions! Sorry darl...

[studentmidwife0810]

I'm glad I'm not the only person confused about the whole thing! I'm in the area for rpa, so that would be where we intend to have the baby, but shared care/ob/midwife public/private etc is what's got me confused!!! I'm happy to stick with my gp but what happens later in the pregnancy or when I go into labour?
Types of care;
-private obstetrician; there are a few that do RPA, raja, frumar, hill, morris, huang. But really your visits will be 15 minutes, cost you 70 bucks each, and they only come when your pushing, and they may not make it. 4500 dollars? Hmmm?
-Shared care; I guess if you like your GP you should stay with this model of care, but soe GP have no idea what there doing, and you have to come to the hospital if anything goes wrong, or if there not sure about something anyways. I feel that in labour you will have a midwife anyways so why not just stay with the midwives?
-Midwives I would chose, cause you get to know the midwives, and its lovely to get used to the hospital, parking is annoying, get early morning appointments, less wait.
Can I get a private room at rpa if I'm a public patient (obviously would pay for this if it was possible)? Or do I have to be a private patient? Yes if you have private health insurance they pay for it, other wise its upwards of 400 dollars.

I just want to go and have my baby as safely as possible and if anything did go wrong I would want to know help would be right there on hand. – obstetricians are ALWAYS THERE, the midwives are experienced and know what to do until they get there, which is supremely quick. There is no worry that if something goes wrong we will always be able to do everything possible!
Reason I'd want a private room is because we've got a big family and would have a lot of (constant!) visitors. I'd hate them to upset another poor woman who has just had a baby!- visiting hours at 2-8pm, aside from that there is NO visiting, there are locked doors and the midwives are strict.
Are hubbies allowed to stay around? Goodness me, I have so many questions! Sorry darl...- in a private room hubbies are allowed to sleep on a fold out couch
Any more questions let me know.. J

[bun in the oven]

Thank you for all that info! DH and I have decided that we're going to stick with public. As for the GP/midwives, my only issue with that is getting appointments with midwives. I work 9-5.30 so there go most appointments. I have my first appointment at RPA next month. According to the letter they sent me, I'm meeting with a midwife who will explain the process and options for antenatal care, so I will get a good chance to find out whether I stick with GP or midwives then.

DH is super excited to find out that he can stay if we get a private room. Do you know if that is roughly per night or per stay? Either way, it's something I'll ask about at my first appointment as we'd really like to go this option.

Are the midwives there particularly strict about how many people can be in the room at once? It would be a comfort to know someone would kick everyone out if it all got a bit too much for me lol... I do love them but sometimes the family can just get a bit too excited and full on!

[beebs]

After my first experience at RPA as a public patient I chose to go for a private ob for my next at RPA. I felt for me it was a much better choice. But only because I had a bad experience the first time. I know others who had a good experience on the birth ward.

I went with Dr Huang - and he was great.

[GeorgiaAnne]

I loved the BC middies at RPA but had an appalling incident with a dog of an ob reg in the clinic I went to upstairs when I was overdue. Got into a massive argument about booking c/sec as I was vbac and then she wanted to do a s & s!! As if i'd let her lol!
I'm actually still a bit angry about a few things that happened there so my question is, to whom would I address a complaint letter?

[Lucy in the Sky]

I don't know if this is something you'd know...

I was at RPA for my last baby and ended up going from the Birth Centre to an emergency C-section.
Not sure what to do for the next pregnancy, but a big priority is choosing a hospital that can facilitate a positive experience even if I end up with another c-section.
Do you know, does RPA have rules about breastfeeding in the operating theatre after c-section, and keeping the baby with you in recovery? Last time I just did what ever I was told, but in hindsight, not sure if I could have insisted on breastfeeding DS straight away, or keeping him with me.

[studentmidwife0810]

wonderful, did you go birth centre? they have monday night appointments and saturday appointments, if you choose one of these days try and book ALL of your appoinments on those days up to term, they book out quickly :)

i think its 526 per night?

yes yes, we are more than happy to be the bad guys for you, we can kick people out if needs be.

i wish you the best with your pregnancy and birth :)
xx

[studentmidwife0810]

I loved the BC middies at RPA but had an appalling incident with a dog of an ob reg in the clinic I went to upstairs when I was overdue. Got into a massive argument about booking c/sec as I was vbac and then she wanted to do a s & s!! As if i'd let her lol!
I'm actually still a bit angry about a few things that happened there so my question is, to whom would I address a complaint letter?

hello,
i cannot remember the exact address, but call the birth centre and ask them.
its really important to send a letter, otherwise someone else might get that awful experience.

im sorry i hope you had a good birth experience otherwise?
xx

[studentmidwife0810]

I don't know if this is something you'd know...

I was at RPA for my last baby and ended up going from the Birth Centre to an emergency C-section.
Not sure what to do for the next pregnancy, but a big priority is choosing a hospital that can facilitate a positive experience even if I end up with another c-section.
Do you know, does RPA have rules about breastfeeding in the operating theatre after c-section, and keeping the baby with you in recovery? Last time I just did what ever I was told, but in hindsight, not sure if I could have insisted on breastfeeding DS straight away, or keeping him with me.

ok so basically, now RPA do the "follow-through" which means that you get to keep the baby skin to skin with you in recovery and try a breastfeed.

its hard to think in hindsight, you did the best you could and its hard, first baby, first time in the environment im sure it was the right thing to do just to go with the midwives.

if you want to insist, INSIST, seriously, its important to get what you want.

hope this time everything goes well, and birth centre do VBACS :)
xx

[beebs]

I wish all the midwives were like you - you sound like you are doing a great job!

[Lucy in the Sky]

ok so basically, now RPA do the "follow-through" which means that you get to keep the baby skin to skin with you in recovery and try a breastfeed.

its hard to think in hindsight, you did the best you could and its hard, first baby, first time in the environment im sure it was the right thing to do just to go with the midwives.

if you want to insist, INSIST, seriously, its important to get what you want.

hope this time everything goes well, and birth centre do VBACS :)
xx

Thanks, that is good to know. I'm not even pregnant again yet, I just like planning ahead. :)

I was under the impression that the RPA birth centre was going to be forced to give up vbac's within the next 12 months (so that they'd only be available in the maternity ward). Is there any truth to this?

[GeorgiaAnne]

hello,
i cannot remember the exact address, but call the birth centre and ask them.
its really important to send a letter, otherwise someone else might get that awful experience.

im sorry i hope you had a good birth experience otherwise?
xx

No unfortunately, I had quite an awful cat 1 c-sec. I ended up bleeding a lot at about 5cm, got taken across to delivery and prepped for c-sec. In that time while signing forms etc I was having back to back cx and was begging for epi as I knew I had to have a c-sec and didn't want general anaesthetic. Apparently there was no anaesthetist available. On the way down to theatre, I felt an urge to push, mw checked cervix in corridor, found I was 10. Taken to op theatre to push which is a really amazing environment to relax and push with people readying themselves for surgery (!) Ventouse applied unsuccessfully, concern about cervix rupturing and fetal hb, FINALLY anaesthetist arrives. Dr pushes baby up my vagina while i'm still awake with no pain relief i'm told "this will hurt". Given general anaesthetic. Thank god (and i'm an atheist :p) Gorgeous wonderful son safely delivered, though i'm still prone to be upset 2 years on when I think about it.

[studentmidwife0810]

I wish all the midwives were like you - you sound like you are doing a great job!

this made me smile so much right now, thankyou :)
i hope you had a lovely midwive, and i hope all my ladies in labour think im just as good as you think i am.
xx

[studentmidwife0810]

No unfortunately, I had quite an awful cat 1 c-sec. I ended up bleeding a lot at about 5cm, got taken across to delivery and prepped for c-sec. In that time while signing forms etc I was having back to back cx and was begging for epi as I knew I had to have a c-sec and didn't want general anaesthetic. Apparently there was no anaesthetist available. On the way down to theatre, I felt an urge to push, mw checked cervix in corridor, found I was 10. Taken to op theatre to push which is a really amazing environment to relax and push with people readying themselves for surgery (!) Ventouse applied unsuccessfully, concern about cervix rupturing and fetal hb, FINALLY anaesthetist arrives. Dr pushes baby up my vagina while i'm still awake with no pain relief i'm told "this will hurt". Given general anaesthetic. Thank god (and i'm an atheist :p) Gorgeous wonderful son safely delivered, though i'm still prone to be upset 2 years on when I think about it.

this sounds like an awful experience, and im truely sorry you had this, i recommend calling the birth centre and asking them for a debrief, they can bring your notes and discuss everything with you, im not sure about labour ward and if they do this but call the birth centre.

its understandable that you upset about your experience, but doing this will hopefully make you feel better, no one can give you back your birth experience, but you can hopefully gain back some closure and control.

xx

[studentmidwife0810]

Thanks, that is good to know. I'm not even pregnant again yet, I just like planning ahead. :)

I was under the impression that the RPA birth centre was going to be forced to give up vbac's within the next 12 months (so that they'd only be available in the maternity ward). Is there any truth to this?

there already available in the LW, however much difference experience in LW, i havent heard anything. :) xx