Has anyone...?

[Hathor]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone in here has birthed at both Maitland Hospital and JHH.
If so which experience did you like better?
Which would you personally return to?
What were the pros and cons for you?

I had a very bad birth experience with JHH, however their prenatal and postnatal care was wonderful. Im a little torn about going to the 'unknown' or staying with JHH, I know what happened last time would never be repeated.

[SilverStarfish]

A friend of mine had her son at Maitland and she was very happy with the levels of care and support there. I don't know anything about JHH at all. Like any hospital, I guess there are good and bad Drs, MWs etc at all of them.

[Shanaynay]

Hey Hathor

Info from a friend. She had an elective c/s at JH for twins, followed by an elective cs 18 months later at Maitland for a single baby.

Antenatal care -

JH: she said nothing was spectacular, and no negative experiences other than she can't remember seeing the same person twice!
MH: she said she was happy with Maitland as she was worried that they would pressure her into a vaginal birth. They didn't, and didn't rush her to maker her mind up (she decided at 38 weeks and was booked in for a csec the next week). She really liked the midwife she saw as well, she was very supportive (I know that midwife and I like her too )

The c/sec:

JH: all went smoothly. Her partner was allowed in but wasn't allowed to watch (screen up). The midwife took photos of them being born.
She said it was a good experience except she felt later down the track that they didn't really explain to her what was going to happen and options she could have had (spinal vs. epidural).
MH: smoothly again, except she said they put the catheter in before the epidural/spinal which she didn't like. Her partner was allowed to watch and took his own photos.

Post-natal:

JH: really nice but crowded room. Staff were nasty about her not wanting to eat hospital food. She stayed about a week then tranferred to Maitland, which she liked alot more because it was closer to home.
MH: (second time). She said the staff were a bit nasty about her not wanting to try breastfeeding and then didn't come when she buzzed. But on discharge were excellent and sent a midwife around to her house twice to make sure everything was good with the bub.

She said she would go back to Maitland because she really like the midwives, but overall either hospital was about the same.

Sorry, I don't think elective csecs give you a whole lot to go on as they are a fairly straightforward, standard procedure.

But I can tell you from personal experience that I love the midwives at Maitland, that the first time the midwives in the delivery suite were horrible, the second time (different ones!) they were brilliant. My first time at Maitland I got a terrible Ob who didn't listen to me antenatally, the second time I saw two different Obs who were absolutely brilliant.

JH is much 'nicer' than Maitland.... it's newer, just looks better. Not that that really matter
I was debating whether to go to JH the second time.......I'm glad I didn't and next time if I have a hospy birth I wouldn't consider anywhere but Maitland.

HTH

[Minke]

JH is much 'nicer' than Maitland.... it's newer, just looks better. Not that that really matter
I was debating whether to go to JH the second time.......I'm glad I didn't and next time if I have a hospy birth I wouldn't consider anywhere but Maitland.

HTH

I'm not telling my friend that!

She had her forth bub at JHH (in January 2006) and hated it - out of all her bubs it was the worst for labour and postnatal care. The midwife wouldn't listen to her (she has quick straightforwad labours, and lets face it by number 4 i think she knows what she's doing... ) when she wanted to push, or that she was dilating quickly (you can tell by looking at someone's face?). All the other hospitals have been twin share with 4 share bathroom, this was four to a room, with the bathroom down the hall (which she had to find herself). The middies were up her for disturbing the other mums (because her DH and other kids were visiting). No aircon (during the bushfires in the middle of Jan) And... And...

She is 28wks with her fifth and is going to Maitland. She has her that's it's better!

[Hathor]

Thanks for your opinions so Far guys. I think IIm leaning more toward staying at JHH. If they're pretty much of of muchness, I don't see too muchpoint in going somewhere new.