WA mums? Waterbirth at Kaleeya or KEMH family birth centre?

[ChloeAnne]

Hi there perth mums!

I am having my first baby in january and would really like to have a waterbirth, as I don't have private health I am looking at either Kaleeya or KEMH FBC and would like to get some info and hear peoples experience.

I had a tour at Kaleeya, the place is very nice and the midwifes are wonderful :) I was a little concerned about the tub, the placement that the door is not attached to a birthing room and opens right up to a high traffic area, I imagined being in the tub giving birth and onlookers being able to see me naked in the bath as people enter and exit the room :eek:. Also the tub is not in the ground, it's quite high up, I see they have a hoist to 'hoist' pregnant women into the bath, I don't know how I feel about this. :confused:

There is only one bath for the 4 birthing suites, however I believe this is the same at the FBC??? Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I am currently booked at the main KEMH but really didn't like it when I did the tour and they said no waterbirth there. I felt it was a stressful atmosphere, the rooms where worn clinical and depressing, I wasn't feeling it :( I have been trying to get into the FBC for a tour for a while but it seems really hard to book a tour and the lady at reception is really mean to me, I've called about 3 times asking for a tour, first I didn't call far enough in advance, then I called on saturday and they said call back monday, then I called at the wrong time (you call only call to book tour 8-9am and 2-3pm) agh!

The main thing I wanted to look at, is what is the waterbirthing/bath facility like at FBC? Is it indeed one bath for the centre? What is the room and bath like? inground? jets? etc...

I have not been able to find any information with all my searching, this is probably because waterbirth has not been done for that long in perth. Would really appreciate any information you might have ladies! :D

[wildfire]

Yep your spot on, apart from homebirth, those are your only 2 public hospital options for homebirth in Perth. As far as I'm aware, there are only a small number of midwives officially trained in water birth at Kaleeya, and I believe one of those specific midwives have to be on shift there for you to be able to water birth there, whereas at the birth centre at KEMH, they pretty much all have water birth experience, so I think the birth centre is your best bet. Good luck!

[katw]

Hi,
I had a waterbirth at the KEMH FBC and couldnt recommend it enough.

There are four suites each with their own ensuite and courtyard. The rooms are large with queen bed, bassinet, changing area, couch etc and all medical equipment 'hidden' in cupboards. The ensuites are large with toilet and a very large shower (double shower head if I remember correctly). The rooms are a little date (who cares!) but lovely warm adn clean. There is a small private courtyard off each room too. Not that i used it but it was nice.

THere is only one tub for the four rooms to share which you access from a corridor in the middle of the centre. It is private enough to get too. I just wore a robe from my room to the tub.

The tub is like a large deep spa. No jets (i think) but there was a shower head on a hose which was wonderful and my husband hosed my back during contractions. The room was large enough for my husband and two midwives to move around in. It also had dimming lights and you could plug in a cd player etc if you wished. I believe they also have gas available in each room if you wanted it.

I found the FBC very accomodating and supportive during my birth of my second little girl. They offered much support and followed all my wishes. I felt very safe and comfortable there and was reasuured that it was only a 3 minute waltz into KEMH through a private corridor/path if I needed to transfer.

I wouldnt worry to much about accessing the birthing tub as I was told there were less than 400 births in the centre last year - the chances of you getting it are high. When I was there I was teh only one until just after I had my little girl and then another couple came in .

If you have any questions. Just ask. Hope this helps.

Kat:)

[studentmum]

You can waterbirth at any hospital that has tubs - By this I mean, all you have to do is refuse to get out of the tub. :D

[wildfire]

Studentmum, I think you'd find many midwives would simply pull out the plug.

[NibbleCurlynBub]

Studentmum, I think you'd find many midwives would simply pull out the plug.
Yeah.

Pathetic, but true.

[headoverfeet]

If you want a 'guaranteed waterbirth' (nothing in life is guaranteed 100%) your best at home with the community midwives program, it's publicly funded so basically free, I had DS2 using them in 08 :) The chance you take with a public hospital is that when you do go into labour you may not get a MW trained in waterbirth.

[ChloeAnne]

Thanks for your advice ladies, I did a tour at Armadale Hospital the other day and they now offer waterbirth in the public wing :smiliedance: This is great because Armadale is so much closer for me.

Only like a few of you ladies said, there must be a midwife on that is comfortable with waterbirth.

I spoke to a few midwives there and they said chances are there will be as most of the midwives are now trained however there is no guarantee :(

Seems like the surest way would be to go to FBC however I am trying to way up the pros and cons, I'm SOR so KEMH is about an hour away from me and the drive may be stressful while in labour, also the parking issue around there, Armadale is 10 mins away however I may not be guaranteed what I want :confused:

This will probably come across real sooky but if I arrive in labour and they tell me I am not going to be allowed to have the waterbirth I dreamed of I can see myself getting so dissapointed and crying, maybe not, but I don't know the state I will be in, how sensitive I'll be, I guess any woman about to give birth just has to accept things may not turn out how she planned so I should prepare myself.

Unfortunatley homebirth would not be appropriate for me as I house share although I would love to do that one day.

[JenH]

Hiya,

I am due in November and having my first at the Family Birh Centre. Hoping it will be a waterbirth. I too was concerned about there only being the one bath between 4 but it's not an issue.

They have 2 or 3 inflatable pools available and all you have to so is buy your own liner, which is about $40. You get it online, but the lady is in Perth. I will be ordering mine soon, so will post the link once I find out - otherwise the FBC can tell you.

The midwife also told me that despite there only being one bath, it's very rare that 2 women will be at the same stage of labour, so the bath will usually be available.

I'm still going to get the pool liner and then resell it if I get to birth in the bath.

I'd recommend the birth centre on what Ive experienced so far. Happy to touch base with you after I deliver, to let you know how it went. All things going to plan, of course :)

[MelandBen]

Good luck!! I hope you get the water birth you are wanting!!

I too want a water birth, after being in the bath for 90% of my DD's birth and then having to get out to give birth at SJOG- I have decided on Kaleeya to water birth.

If you can- get yourself 2 pieces of thick foam from clark rubber. Mine are about 50cmx50cm and about 15mm thick. It was a lifesaver for my knees and forehead whilst in the bath!! (You submerge one and kneel on it and the other you can have over the side of the bath which was great because I found myself pushing my head into the edge of the bath when bearing down)