Advice on hospital tours please

[pixietrix]

Hi all :wave:
I figure it's about time I went on my hospital tour and am keen to get advice from mums and mums to be in Canberra about the kind of questions to ask.
My first (16 yrs ago) was a shuffle through of about 30 people with no time for questions and my second son wasn't born in a hospital so I'm pretty clueless. I figure in Canberra it will all be a lot smaller with more opportunities to ask stuff - so- what do I ask? :confused: I figured maybe pain relief options and what to bring but what else?
I've heard all the hopitals here are really good. I'm going to John James because thats where my Dr delivers- anyone have an opinion on them? (probably not too late to change if its awful)
Anyway- any help is greatly appreciated.

[mummybunny]

Hello there :wave:
Im not sure of what John James is like as I have never been there before, but I am going through a shared care public system through the Canberra hospital but my current doctor has just left for Germany. If i could go back to my first weeks and had the money, I would prob go through someone else rather than Canberra hospital...
Hubby and I have not been completely satisfied with the treatment we have received... most hospitals, you would think, would at least know how to answer their phones, but not this one... If your doctor is going to deliver for you, I say stick with someone you know rather than dealing with complete strangers in the latter stage of your pregnancy...
Good luck with it all..
:)

[Ashi]

I had my daughter at canberra hospital.. for the pregnancy they where pretty good.. but for the delivery we ended up filing a complaint about one of the doctors.. id never go there again if i had another.. lol
ive heard john james is good
if i was you id just want to see where i was going to be so i didnt feel lost when i got there.. in the state ur in when u get to the hospital feeling lost wouldnt be nice lol
i think if u do pre natal classes at the hospital they tend to give you alot of advice and information also.. maybe try ask if they have those
hope that helps a bit at least hehe :)

[HoopDeeDoo]

I had both my boys through Canberra hospital. They are extreemly busy thats why they don't always answer thier phones right away. I don't think I ever actually saw a doctor when I was in labour first time round, except the peadeatricians for the bubs. And second time I saw the same Dr pretty much, although I had a couple of shift changes in the 30 hrs of start stopping labour, and the week I had gastro. The midwives there are great, and to be honest you don't really care who is there or not there when you're in labour :yes:

For me and my bubs that needed extra attension there is no other hospital I'd rather be delivering in, they have the best NICU around, and like I said their midwives are pretty fantastic :thumbsup:

I've heard John James is OK, the rooms are nice, the food is probably nicer. If you've got private cover you might as well use it.

They will probably answer all your questions, but maybe ask what would happen in an emergency, if you would be transferred to Canberra hospital, or if the baby needed extra care do they have the facilities for that, pain relief options, thier policy on epesiotomies (sp?). How many days you can stay, if they do home visits after you come home. Can't think of anything else, do they have a birth class refresher? Thats the other thing about Canberra hospy free birth classes :yes:

[lovingmotheract]

i know when i went to the hospital on the north side they said that they don't like you to have the baby in the bath so i would ask if u are in the bath do they let u stay there. and do u have to share with someone in a room. how many ppl u can have in the delivery room just think up more stuff u want to ask. i can't think of any more.:thumbsup: and good luck