Joondalup hospital

[lovinmum]

Hi,
i was wondering if anyone has delivered at joondalup hospital as a public patient and what your experience was like? I am due in just under 3 weeks and gave birth at OPH with my first child....they were brilliant. I have not even seen the maternity ward because my partner has been working 7 days a week and when i asked if i could just have a quick look they said there too busy. What i have heard about this hospital have not been the best stories so it would be nice to hear some positive ones!!:)

[Caseylee_13]

Hi

I hope your birth went well. I know it is prob a bit late now but I would NEVER recommend this hospital to anyone. I had a horrendous experience there. I was basically forced into having my first baby as an elective caesar. They told me my baby could die and I would feel guilty if I didnt have the c/s. I was so scared I thought I had to sign the consent form (of which I never got a copy). I was also told DD would be over 11 pounds and I was not "allowed" to have a trial of labour. DD was 9lb 61/2 ozs and there were no complications etc. I was peed off.
I had to share a room which was filthy and tiny - DDs crib had to go at foot of bed coz room was so small - no aircon or privacy and nursing staff were rude cows. I didnt even get pain meds after c/s for 2 days. I eventually checked myself out on Day 3 and noone even noticed. I then got an infection coz they stuffed up the stitching and they gave me tablets which dried my milk up.
I cant believe I didnt end up with PND after being at this horrible place. I am now 7 weeks preggers with Number 2 and will be going to Mercy for a VBAC. Have heard nothing but great stuff about this hospital UNLIKE Joondalup.

[justmyluck]

I was in the delivery room, waiting for my second child to arrive, laughing with family members when my waters broke and second stage labour went into full swing (my baby boy was born 10 minutes later!) and it caught both me and the nurses off guard. During those 10 minutes I was snapped at to be quiet, scolded to pant (I couldn't stop the pushing!!), my family members were spoken to rudely, I was looked at with utter disgust when accidentally poo'd while pushing, the nurses panicked when the baby's head emergerged along with heaps of blood (I needed two stitches for a shallow tear) and to top it off, when all was said and done the student midwife appologised to me with a really nasty attitude afterwards "I hope what happened didn't affect your birth experience in a negative way." The sandwich which the hospital made for me for after the labour was gone and they wouldn't make me a new one even though I hadn't eaten for over 14 hours and was just about crawling up the walls with hunger!! The breastfeeding nurse was a total cow and so were some of the nurses - I didn't realise 5 gms of lanolin for my tender nipples came with a condescending story about how ladies like her 30 years ago had to just bare the pain. My story isn't the worst, but I didn't expect to be treated like a naughty child who wasn't doing what they were told, I didn't expect to be made to feel ashamed of myself at a time when I felt the most vulnerable and helpless.

I'm going there again to have my third baby as it's the closest hospital which is best for the surpising nature of my last birth! My attitude will be one of not relying on the nurses to give me a good experience but to look to my husband who was my rock during my first labour. And I will get into what ever bloody birthing position I want, I will pack my own god damn feast for after the labour and I will leave when ever the bloody hell I want which will be as soon as I feel well enough to get my stuff together and walk out! Preferably within 12 hours of having the bub. Peace out!! :smiliedance: