Good Canberra OB's Or Birth Centres

[Mum-of-Preston]

Hi I'm Donna,
This is my first pregnacy but I will unfortunately be moving states when I'm about 6 months pregnant. I will be moving from Brisbane to Canberra due to my husbands work. I have no idea of where to deliver in Canberra or which Doctors to try and book into now? I would prefer to deliver in a birthing centre with midwives, does anyone have any advice?
Thanks
Donz

[draught]

The birthing centre at the Canberra hospital has a very good reputation. If you decide to go private, I saw Dr Hehir at Calvary Hospital and loved him and LOVED the hospital. I had absolutely no complaints about the standard of care I received (especially when compared to the standard at the Mater in Brisbane for DD2).

[min]

Hi, Donna

I don't have any experience in the field (yet), but I do know you need to book into the birthing centre at The Canberra Hospital asap! It's really hard to get in, so maybe check their website today and give 'em a call now!

Best of luck with the move! It's a nice town - esp for families.

Min

[bigbubbamama]

Hi there!
I had my son five weeks early out of the blue no reason to be found.
I was a public patient being looked after by my GP doing share care with the canberra hospital. The midwifes there are great! And heaven forbid if anything should go wrong they have the best newborn intensive care unit there. They were great. My son is now 11 months old and you would never believe he started out so small ( 5 pound 4). He's now over 10 kg. So good luck, and the Canberra Hospital is really good.

Em :p

[Mum-of-Preston]

Thanks for the advice Em,
I got intouch with the Canberra birthing centre and I am now on their waiting list. I can't believe that I am only 5wks and 5 days and yet I'm already far down the list. I will have to remember that for my next one, to make them the first call I make when I get a possitive home pregnancy test! Even before I call my mum! LOL
It's now just a waiting game.
Donz

[min]

Donz

It's a funny thing - it all depends on how many bubs are due at what time of the month. I rang the Birth Centre this week, as soon as I knew I was pregnant, and - very suprisingly - got in. Even the receptionist sounded surprised, and said, "You're in luck - we don't have many due at the end of the month". So it's just fortunate that 26 May isn't such a popular due date! But all sorts of things could change the list for you - people moving away from Canberra (there's a lot of to-ing and fro-ing here) or deciding to go private. I'm going in for an "information session" and tour at the Birth Centre on 4 October, so I'll make sure I let you know what it was like.

I hope all's well with you and bub!

Min

[Mum-of-Preston]

Thanks for the update Min,
I'm very happy for you that you got into the birth centre, and I look forward to hearing about your visit.
They were very helpful when I spoke to them on the phone and I think because I will be moving to a new state and don't have any family support other than my husband, it seems it will go in my favour to be on their target list so to speak, so fingers crossed.

It's all a bit worrying about moving states at 6-7 months pregnant but theres not much I can do about it now, but deal with it I guess. I'll just have to not let it stress me out. It's just I don't want to be delivered by a doctor as I have worked on a maternity ward in the UK and I did a years training to become a midwife, so I know how the Doctors work compared to the Midwife. But I also know theres no guarentee of getting the type of delivery we want anyway.
All the best to you and your baby, Best of luck with an excellent delivery at the birthing centre.
Donna

[nanny87]

Hi i'm amber and I work as a nanny in Canberra for two of the best OB's around. They are both very caring people and Anne herself gave birth to her children at the Canberra Hospital birthing centre. God forbid if something should go wrong i also know the head neonatologist and some of the NICU staff and your baby would be in the best hands posssible.

[min]

Just back from my tour of the Birth Centre at the Canberra Hospital. And it was exactly what I'd hoped for! Donna - I think it'll be worth staying on the list. Very nice staff, lovely private environment and they've even convinced me that going home only 24 hours after the birth won't be too difficult. It was very reassuring and I really feel that I'm in good hands. Can't wait for my first appointment with the midwife at 14 weeks!

Min

[Mum-of-Preston]

Thanks for the update Min, it has really made me want to persue the Birthing Centre further and I will keep calling them to check my list progression each month to show them how keen I am (as suggested by the midwife who put me on the list).

If you deliver early or I deliver late maybe I'll see you there. Take care.
Donna
8w5d