Blacktown Hospital Birth Centre

[joy2me]

Hi
Just wondering if anyone has had their baby at the birth centre at Blacktown Hospital??
I'm booked in there for my baby girl next month and I've heard they're really nice.
I was at Westmead but decided to transfer especially with all their renovations happening at the moment.
When i went on a tour of the blacktown birth centre i just found it a place where i could relax when birthing.
So yeah just wondering, anyone??:idea:

[Abi'smum]

Hi there

I had my daughter there in '05. I thought the actual birthing centre was fantastic. We had midwife Sonia, she was also great (I also had a doula as well). We organised to have our visits on a saturday so we could meet all the midwives and they all seemed really nice. But I didn't find the postnatal unit that great, every nurse had a different idea on what was the right way to do things. I am planning to go to birth centre again this time around. Hope this helps

[Widget]

Oh let me know how it goes!! I'm getting booked into Blacktown for Jan... Not sure if it's for the Hospital or Birthing Centre - didn't know they had one to be honest...

Have to book in for Early Pregnancy stuff at the hospital so will ask about Birthing Center while there...

In the meantime... PLEASE let me know how you go!!

[Kizmet]

im booking in there :fingerscrossed: I have been for my first appointment and am going on a tour of the birthing centre this weekend and if DH and I like it then we will book in! I am a bit nervous as I fell in love with my epidural last time :o but didnt try the gas so im optimistic that everything will be ok :laughing:

If anyone has birth stories from the birthing centre or from the hospital can you share them?

[joy2me]

Actually I recently heard the same thing about the postnatal ward there - that the nurses have varying opinions and that came from someone who works there......
I'm booked in for the birth centre and I want to have an early discharge within 24 hrs providing everything goes well so hopefully I won't have to go up to postnatal ward.
Kizmet tell me what you think of it when you get back - I'm booked in to do my birth plan there this sunday.
The good thing is the labour ward is right next door so if you need the epidural you don't have to go far.
The rooms are lovely, big and comfortable as opposed to a small hospital room you know.
Of course Widget will keep in touch and let you know how it goes.

[Kizmet]

joy2me when are you due?

[~J'dore~]

I had DS2 and DS3 at Blacktown birth centre:yes:

They were great! Let me just do my own thing, not pushy or in your face.

I loved the flexibility of the weekend appointments too so that hubby could come with me.

I had the early discharge too so that I could go home and have the midwife come out and visit.

I loved it, I hope you all have a good experience too:thumbsup:

[joy2me]

joy2me when are you due?

Hi - we are due for dd June 26th but I think it will be earlier than that :fingerscrossed: because I am huge and getting BH alot now. Actually i went to had a look at carseats today and the lady serving me asked if i was having twins:shame: lol
Considering she's working in a baby shop i would have just said this is a good car seat if you're having twins but not ask me straight out because i already feel big enough as it is!
:thumbsdown: for the sales lady - no sale here.:laughing:

[joy2me]

joy2me when are you due?

When are you due Kizmet? - Im at the end of this month.

[Kizmet]

not until november! Am just 17 weeks now :yes: I went on the tour and my husband and I are quite happy so we will be hopefully going to the birth centre. At my next appt at the hospital they will either clear me or not with the doctors but :fingerscrossed: they do! The rooms are just so lovely and bright and sunny! The people seem nice too. The only thing i was a bit iffy with is I cant have a water birth which is what I previously thought I could do but oh well i'm still happy!

[joy2me]

not until november! Am just 17 weeks now :yes: I went on the tour and my husband and I are quite happy so we will be hopefully going to the birth centre. At my next appt at the hospital they will either clear me or not with the doctors but :fingerscrossed: they do! The rooms are just so lovely and bright and sunny! The people seem nice too. The only thing i was a bit iffy with is I cant have a water birth which is what I previously thought I could do but oh well i'm still happy!

Yeah i know that was the only thing that I was upset about however they have showers with two heads so you can have them on different parts of your body and use a birthing stool to have baby. A midwife there told me they have had quite a few babies born in the shower.
and they have the spa bath which you can stay in for as long as you like - but i know it's not quite the same is it.
They told me it's too expensive to purchase birthing pools however I'm happy.
Had my check up yesterday and the midwife was lovely so I know i've made the right choice to go there and cant wait.:smiliedance:

[Kizmet]

Ah so thats the reason! The middie I saw just said that she could drain the water from the bath and i could give birth in it but no water allowed which i thought was odd but funny at the same time :laughing:

[joy2me]

Ah so thats the reason! The middie I saw just said that she could drain the water from the bath and i could give birth in it but no water allowed which i thought was odd but funny at the same time :laughing:

That is strange isn't it? I called the birth centre and asked about giving birth in the bath but i can't remember for the life of me what she said - insurance? perhaps I could give them a call and ask again.

Does anyone else know why they won't let you have baby in the bath with water?

[nats]

So, did you ring about the water birth? :detective:

I was wondering if vbac would be allowed at the birth centre.
Don't suppose anyone could shed some light :o

[Kez872]

Sorry but i have nothing good to say about blacktown hospital.:no: Ive lived in the area for 14years.

I watched my mother-inlaw have her baby in blacktown and i said i would NEVER have a baby in blacktown hospital, after i saw what she went through. They didnt seem to know what they were doing.

Her baby is LUCKY to be alive and the way they stitched her up what a joke (normal delivery). She has now been recut 3 times to fix the mess the hospital made.

All i can say is good luck.
Kez

[melbryan]

I will have my thrid there this Nov, planned to go to te birth centre but late complications happened so wasn't allowed so can't comment on the BC.
Yes the nurses are a bit inconsistent but I found it OK, a little bit upsetting when I couldn't go home. They say there are some policies which have changed from my last even 10 mths ago so I would check them out. E.g. Baby can't leave your side, must bath the baby in yur room in their trolley bed etc. Do some research first then make your decision. Overall a good experience, it's my last so I don't care too much.
Hope all goes well with you.

[kellieanne08]

Sorry don't know from experience but I have not heard good things about Blacktown... Although I had my first at Westmead and will be having this one there too and some people say that they had a bad experience there! But I didn't.

[nats]

Hey Mel :wave:
HOw's bump?! :D

I just rang up - no vbac in the bc :thumbsdown:

Now, does anyone know if they do case load midwifery? I forgot to ask :o

[Kez872]

Sorry don't know from experience but I have not heard good things about Blacktown... Although I had my first at Westmead and will be having this one there too and some people say that they had a bad experience there! But I didn't.

Same with me kellieanne no problems at all, but i have had 3kids at westmead and this one will be too.
Kez

[Widget]

I just rang up - no vbac in the bc :thumbsdown:

Now, does anyone know if they do case load midwifery? I forgot to ask

Well I guess I'm going to the main maternity then!! I WILL be having a VBAC this time!!

What's case load midwifery??
Or is that Midwives only??

And regardless of what anyone says... I'm never going to Westmead again!

[joy2me]

Well I guess I'm going to the main maternity then!! I WILL be having a VBAC this time!!

What's case load midwifery??
Or is that Midwives only??

And regardless of what anyone says... I'm never going to Westmead again!


What happened at Westmead Widget because i actually decided to go to Blacktown Birth Centre and transferred from Westmead.

I didnt like how cold and sterile some of the staff came across and also had a friend who was upset with her birth experience there.

[Kizmet]

Everyone has their own experiences with different hospitals. My one so far at blacktown has been brilliant and I can only hope it keeps being so.

[Widget]

What happened at Westmead Widget because i actually decided to go to Blacktown Birth Centre and transferred from Westmead.

I didnt like how cold and sterile some of the staff came across and also had a friend who was upset with her birth experience there.

My antenatal and delivery were brilliant but we had some problems while in Maternity with the nurses...

My Mum had my little bro at Blacktown 8 years ago and she swears by them...

Only negative thing I have ever heard is from Kez.

I have a friend delivering there in the next couple of weeks - the hospital not the Birth Center and she is loving it... I'm going by the multiple positive experiences I heard first hand, not 2nd hand negative feedback...

Not everyone will have a positive experience at certain hospitals but others will love their experiences there... If I don't end up being happy with Blacktown and we go again I will try Richmond out... But that'll be some time away AND if we're still in Sydney then!!

[melbryan]

IMO no matter where you go there will be negative and positive. I liked Blacktown and s'pose know no different I have had 2 kids and now on my 3rd feel safe because of my familiarity with the place. I know what experience I have had and no one can talk me out of that. If it's your first hearing horror stories is not good but only you can make the decision at the end of it.

[Kizmet]

melbryan we may run into each other there :smiliedance:

[joy2me]

Hi
I had my check up in the weekend and asked about the water births again - the midwife said that they are not accredited to have water births and she didn't know why? she said that she often has mothers labouring in the spa bath and just before giving birth she will let the water out - makes it easier to clean afterwards too lol

another midwife said they don't have a birthing pool anyway because they are too expensive.

I wonder if there's anyway we could help them to get one :rolleyes:

[Kizmet]

we could fundraise for one :thumbsup: are they working on getting accredited?? It would be so great if that was an option! Maybe they can get accredited by november :laughing: A girl can dream right!

[Widget]

It's number 2 for me and I am quite happy with my decision to go to Blacktown over Westmead...

[Kez872]

People asked and i wasnt going to lie....i told the truth and now first time mums or 6 time mums can make there own mind up about which hospital to go to.

Its better to know everything about which hospital your going to give birth in, especially first time mums.

[MotherOfPearl]

:wave: ladies,
everyone is entitled to an opinion :yes:
but please also keep it polite and nice in here :)

[Kez872]

:wave: ladies,
everyone is entitled to an opinion :yes:
but please also keep it polite and nice in here :)

Thanks thats what ive been trying to say.

[Kez872]

It doesnt have to be my personal experience to tell people i was there with my mother-inlaw i saw what she when through.

Well that was true about the baby it took 2days before they realised she needed to be in the special nursery.