Advice re Royal Prince Alfred Birthing cenre & water births

[Beth & Bubs]

Hi,

We're moving from the UK in mid Jan when I'll be 5 months pregnant with my first baby. We're anticipating living in the balmain/inner west area and I'd like a midwife run birthing centre (preferably with a water birth). I'll have medicare but not private health insurance.

I've figured out so far that the RPAH is the closest hospital, has a birthing centre and that they possibly do water births. Does anyone have experience of this? What's the centre like??? Help!!!!!!!!

Any info massively appreciated as it's kind of tricky and nerve wracking trying to sort this out from the other side of the world!!! :eek:

Beth

[dragonflyblu]

Grub0206 I havent been there for a birthing, however, the facilities are only a couple of years old, and have had a friend who birthed there and loved it. RPA used to be this awful old building and they have since built a whole new wing for mothers and babies. My closest friend is now going through the normal section (with an ob and midwives) and her care has been wonderful.

[lottiesmum]

Hi,

Both my babies were born at RPA - first in labour ward (I was too chicken to do the birth centre...) and second at the birth centre. they were both fantastic experiences - tghe birth centre particularly so. however - they book out really early (i booked in at 7 weeks and i've heard this is typical) so you should contact them asap.

the labour ward was also excellent. i wanted an active birth and was hoping not to use any drugs. they did push me to use the gas (which i did) but never suggested pethidene/epidural. i had a long first labour but no intervention used or needed. they were happy for me to have a waterbirth, as i spent a long time in the bath, but I reached a point where i felt waterlogged and wanted out.

birth centre are very encouraging of water birth - and the baths there are bigger & better. but again i decided to leave hte bqth to give birth.

facilities in both are excellent. feel free to ask if there's anything specific you want to know. good luck!

[lilpearl]

I had my second baby at the RPA, in the Birth Centre, and it was a VBAC. I had a water birth, and the midwives are lovely - very laid-back, and the bed wasn't even made up - they really encourage an active labour, which is fantastic. My only complaint - I decided to stay in the maternity ward for a couple of nights as I was very tired (and you can't stay in the birth centre), but even though they are only double rooms, midwives kept coming in to check on the woman I was sharing with, her baby cried lots, the lights kept going on for her, and it wasn't restful at all. The food there is horrible, too, so get someone to bring you some decent meals (there is a McCafe next to the RPA with better food, so that sort of says it all!). But the birth centre - fantastic! :yes: :)

[Beth & Bubs]

All that info is really useful & has made me reassured i'm going down the right route - phew! :smiliedance: So thanks! All i've got to do now is phone and see if i can somehow provisionally enroll even tho i'm not even in the country yet!!!

re the double room thingy, am i right in saying that most hospitals offer shared rooms unless you're a private patient or v lucky and hit the hospital at a time when v few private patients are in?!

Thanks again, beth x

[GeorgiaAnne]

Hi,
I went through rpa birth centre as well and found the pre-natal care excellent but it is good to know what you want and know the right questions to ask as they don't really tell you that much iykwim. The middies are great in birth centre and the rooms are really nice and big and not too hospital-y. I ended up having emergency caesar (you can read my birth story of Sophia if you want!) so i got my own room but they are few and far between and rpa is ALWAYS busy so don't count on that!
Good luck with your pregnancy and birth!!

[Beth & Bubs]

I managed to speak to the birth centre this morning (4am my time!) and am now booked in!! I did get one of the last slots and it feels so good to know I've not got to worry about this anymore!! Thanks for the advice all..! :yelclap: