Mater OR Ipswich

[korryn123]

Hi, I have just found out I am going to have my second child. I had my duaghter, now 4 in the Mater Mothers Private Hospital. Unfortunatly My husband and I are no longer in Private Health insurance and have been told the Ipswich Public hospital is great. I originaly was going to have this bub in the Mater Public but am now confsed. Can anyone tell me what the Ipswich hospital is like?
:idea:

[tickle]

Sorry I can't tell you what Ipswich is like but I loved the Mater Public. If you live the same distance to both I would go to the Mater. Mainly because they are so well equipped to deal with complications etc.
I've heard Ipswich is good though.:)

[SassyMummy]

I had DD at Ipswich hospital in July 2005.

I'd heard good things about it - it's meant to have a good rep as far as maternity care goes.

I think it was good - I enjoyed my time there (I spent about 8 days there - a few BEFORE DD while I being induced, and a few after my c-section). I enjoyed sharing a room - it meant I wasn't lonely.

The food is a bit gross and boring, but that's easy to fix - get your guests to bring food in with them, or head to the kiosk when you can. Dinner was gross - lunch and breakfast were okay.

If all I can complain about is the food - it's got to be pretty good otherwise, right? :D

They're also pretty open when it comes to birth and stuff I think - they have all sorts of devices to help you birth a variety of different ways. They DO have baths to labour in, but you're not supposed to birth in them (though some women HAVE given birth in them). The birthing suites were pretty big...

[LotusMum]

I had DD there 3 years ago and am now (over)due to have my next baby there.
I honestly cannot complain about the hospital at all. the care they show there is fantastic and the midwives are wonderful. There is one unfortunatly Ob there, but I was lucky enough to come accross a lovely one (Dr Green). Yes, the food is not great, but it is hospital food after all and if that is the one complaint we have then that is pretty darn good hey?
My sister also had her DS there just over a year ago, and another friend just had her baby there the other day. Not one complaint.
Id choose Ippy over Mater any day.

[cheezelkat]

Another happy Ipswich birther here :wave:

They really are great there.

[werdxela]

Loved the care at Ippy. I had a terrible first birth at another hospital and was really scared about giving birth again. The lovely midwives at Ippy where full of encouragement and very supportive! I cant till feb to give birth there again.

[Strawberry_Shortcake]

I'm due to have my 1st bub in early Jan and have also been at Ipswich hospital for my whole pregnancy. The midwives and obs are fantastic.

A couple of my friends have had there babies there and raved about the experience.

:thumbsup: to Ippy Hospital

[Crazyfamily]

I have had my last 4 children at Ipswich and it is great. I don't have a complaint about it. With my now 5 year old I was admitted early to the Mater due to a possible premmie and I didn't like it at all We were squashed into rooms and it was dingy. I can't complain about staff there tho. also the food at the mater was no better than Ipswich either. I won't be having more but if I did I would go to Ipswich again.

[Pobblebonk]

Hi! When had DS I was living 1 min from the RBWH so I had him there, but I've since moved to the Ipswich area and just about everyone in my Mothers Group had their bubs at Ipswich and there were no complaints, except for SharonU who went into labour and because she was early the Ipswich staff didn't believe her!

But I've heard that Ipswich is quite good for maternity.

Now that I live here, if I had another one, I'd have to consider having it at Ipswich (although I'm with private health insurance so I'd go private) or back at the RBWH. I would never consider St Andrews, their maternity is just not good enough for emergencies.

ETA: And I agree - the hills are a bloody pain!

[korryn123]

Thank you all for your feedback can anyone tell me if the Ipswich hosiptal has single rooms or if you share with other patients, and how many there normaly are to a room. what kind of facilities do the Delivery rooms have.

:idea: :idea: :idea:

[Crazyfamily]

Ipswich has single rooms double rooms and rooms with 4 people. there is a bathroom per room so you don't need to go somewhere else to shower or go to the loo like the mater.
I found the birth suites to have everything you could want. the bathrooms are large, a couple have a bath but not all. I don't know everything they have but I believe they are very well equipped.

[korryn123]

I know the Mater offer a Midwife clinic where you see a few Midwifes during your pregnancy and then one of them are there for the Delivery. Does the Ipswich Hospital offe this servce. Can someone please let me know What the Process is when going Public. I have only been Private before and am confussed. I guess I would like it if who ever I saw through the Pregnancy was there at the birth too. Is there a way this can be done?
:idea: :fingerscrossed:
Confussed

[SassyMummy]

I never actually BIRTHED at the Ipswich Hospital, I had a caesarean. However, my antenatal classes took us through the birth suites, and I remember a few of the things they had.

They had light dimmers, a place to play music, a birthing stool, a gym ball, a removable showerhead in the shower and a spa bath (which isn't allowed to be birthed in, but can be used for labour). They also had a bed with electronically controlled head-rest, and a big couch at the end (so your partner/support person etc, can have a little sleep or whatever).

There were rooms with 2 or 4 women in them. Babies sleep in your room with you, and (as far as I know) they don't offer a nursery where you can just flog your babies off to if you want to get some rest. You get the whole hog in one hit - baby is with you straight away (unless he/she has to go to special care of course).

In my room, there was myself and another woman. We shared a bathroom which had a toilet, basin and shower in it. There's a chair in there so you can sit on that and shower if you need to (I did because of my c-sec).

There's TVs which you can hire for about $8 a day (I think). They have basic cable (Fox 8, Discovery Channel etc).

As for continuity of care (where you get the same midwife at your birth as you do at your antenatal appointments), I don't think they offer this for public patients. It's all a matter of who's rostered on. I saw different people all the time...

[poshBecks]

I had both my babies at Ipswich Hospital.

They single rooms are generally left free for Mum who really need privacy (eg. their baby died), or Private paying patients or if you know people :rolleyes: .

With no.1 I stayed in a 2 bed room but had it all to myself :yelclap: No 2. was in a 4 bed room I only stayed 1 night as I couldn't stand all the noise. It was easier to rest at home.

In saying that, I thought Ippy hospital was great but...



The food is a bit gross and boring, but that's easy to fix - get your guests to bring food in with them, or head to the kiosk when you can. Dinner was gross - lunch and breakfast were okay.


I have to agree ;) :p

[Ryan&RileysMum]

Hi, I have just found out I am going to have my second child. I had my duaghter, now 4 in the Mater Mothers Private Hospital. Unfortunatly My husband and I are no longer in Private Health insurance and have been told the Ipswich Public hospital is great. I originaly was going to have this bub in the Mater Public but am now confsed. Can anyone tell me what the Ipswich hospital is like?
:idea:

hi
i had all my antenatal appointments at ipswich
i ended up having gd and had to go for c/sec (also at ipswich)
he had to go to icu to check his blood sugar levels he was only in there a couple of hours
then he was fine
they brought him into my room and helped me with him and when i had to go for my shower the next morning they helped me in the shower too
i found the midwives so friendly
while they were putting my epidural in my back my heart stopped for a second and i felt really sick the midwife was really comforting and reasuring
i would definately go back

[Hector]

Geez - you've reminded me about those hills! I used to hate it as I felt like such a fat, sweaty slob by the time I arrived at the midwives and felt sorry for them having to examine me!

I was distraught at having to have my baby at Ipswich last year as I grew up in a nearby town where Ipwich is synonomous with "Dump". However the maternity section has a good reputation and I found the midwives quite good, most of the doctors/obs good and the care I received quite good.

However I don't have experience anywhere else so can't really compare. I did feel a bit like a cow being herded through when I was attending antenatal appointments - the waiting room was often overflowing and I often felt rushed through (including once having to get a needle they'd forgotten quickly jabbed in my arm whilst I stood in the nurse station. Bloody hurt!)

I also felt like the info I wanted wasn't being passed on - even during the actual birth. I am thinking about private for future kids as I would like to be able to see one midwife/obs. Although I'd still consider Ippy if they ever got a program where you could see the same midwife every time. This was the same after the birth as well. I was really bungled with breastfeeding - leaving me distraught and confused and I've heard a lot of other mums coming out of Ipswich often give up breastfeeding straight away. However you can opt to see a lactation consultant which I would have done (had I been told they were available).

[cheezelkat]

Hector, I had trouble breastfeeding and the amount of support I received from the hospital and further care was outstanding.

They were happy for me to stay in the hospital until breastfeeding was established - I was only discharged at my insistence after 3 days from a natural, no complications VB. I was booked in with the local breastfeeding clinic beforer discharge as well and got lots of information on where to go for support.

At our local mothers group, there is only one mother group FF and thats only due to a medical condition. We have all received great support with BF.

[taragirl]

I had my 2nd son at Ipswich and found them fantastic. I was admitted because my waters broke, but did not go into labour. They were happy to support my request to wait 48hours to see if my labour started naturally before looking at induction.

I found them fantastic. They even let me return during the day several days later when I was having problems feeding to give me some help and lent me an electric breast pump for a week or so.

I would not hesitate to recommend them to everyone.

[marcy30]

Hi Girls

I had both my boys @ the Mater i loved it although i did have a few problems after DS 1 was born but my experience was wonderful, After DS 2 was born ( i had a emergency c/s ) i was given help all day monday as i couldnt get out of bed all day on the tuesday i was up out of bed the nurses and the doctors where wonderful and very helpful.

I heard some wonderful stories about the Ippy hospital but unfortunatly i'll be having my next one @ the mater also.

Marcy30

[westhook]

I had my 1st and 2nd babies at private hospitals and the 3rd at Ipswich public. All 3 were c sections. I was extremely happy with the birth and my stay at Ips. The staff and Doctors were by far more friendly, helpfull and informative. I dont have any complaints,,,, even the food was good.
From a extremely happy Ipswich Patient.

[Jazzed]

Hi:wave:
Sounds like IPPY hospital has really improved their birthing suites since i was thier.I had my three girls thier 18,15 and 14 years ago ,my new bub is due on 25th dec . i have yet to go in for antenatal visits yet but when i do ill find out all the info i can if they have and other new services and post it back here for you. I wont comment on some of my experiences with my past births as it was so long ago it probably isnt relevant.

[MandieA]

I'm living in ipswich too and also looking into hospitals and before I had only heard bad things about Ipswich emergency and other departments but nothing about maternity, now you have all given me alot to think about thankyou :)

[MandaMommy]

I didn't read all the post so i,m not sure if anyone has mentioned it... but you need to be in the catchment area to go to the Mater. I tried to book in there and I was refused due to been out of the catchment area and now i will be going to logan hospital :( I'm sure it will be fine but it was not my first choice

[Mel Taylor]

Ipswich Hospital has mostly 2 bed rooms. They have 7 single bed rooms and one 4 bed room. Its basically just the luck of the draw what room is available after you birth your baby.

[Mel Taylor]

Sorry I forgot to let you know about the fantastic Midwifery Group Practice that is available at the Ipswich Hospital.

This option is available to all low risk pregnancies to women.

You will see the same midwife each antenatal visit, and will have them for the birth also, they work on an on call basis. You will only see midwives unless something indicates you need to see a doctor.

Epidurals are not available and basically it is the natural birthing approach. However Gas and Pethidine are available.