Recent births at Sutherland Hospital?

[DjF]

Hi There

I will be going public for our firstborn and am tossing up between St George Public and Sutherland hospital.

Have any of you lovely ladies (or lurking dads experiences) given birth at Sutherland recently? And how was the experience/facilities? Even though you went public did you end up having to pay for anything?

All your feedback and replies would be appreciated!

[Femme la Phoenix]

Hi DjF
Congratulations on news of your pregnancy!!

I felt a bit sorry for you that no-one has responded yet. I know that it was quiet a while ago since I had DS but I utilised both of those hospitals.

I went through the birthing center at St George, at the time it was very new and very busy. I didn't mind the wait in the birthing center though, though sometimes it was very long. I had to have an ultrasound at 31wks as I was measuring further along and my uterus was "wider and longer" the midies thought it might have being twins. It wasn't but I was having complications that made it neccessary for me to change over to the ante-natal clinic at St George.

It was awful, I dreaded the appointments each and every time. Have you ever seen cattle waiting for milking?? it was simular. Going through the clinic (public patient at st george) wasn't a very nice experiance at all.

The labour ward was fantastic and the midies very attentive and professional. I cannot fault them in any way they are really wonderful and do a wonderful job.

Things changed though on the maternity ward...Lactation consultants were really busy and had little time or patience to teach you the basics of breastfeeding. One squeezed my nipple so hard and was very 'brutal'. My son was sceaming for over an hour as I wasn't having any luck attaching him. It drestressed me so much that I had DP stay with me all night so had 'someone there' as the staff were reluctant to do anything. The next morning I had a meeting with the nursing manager and transferred to Sutherland hospital.

I should have - in hindsight - Valentine gone through sutho right from the start. There is a really big room, where I stayed with DS it was fantastic. The lactation consultants took the time to really teach me how to breastfeed, and were so encouraging as a first time mum. It was a differant experiance all together in comparison


I wouldn't ever reccommend St Geroge hospital.

As a public patient all I paid for was ultrasounds. Everything during labour was taken care of via medicare. I didn't have any expense at all.

I hope that by giving you my account for experiance at both hospitals that it enables you to make an informed decision.

A very close friend went right through clinic and birth at Sutherland and she hardly had to wait at all. She had a wonderful experiance of clinic visits and she was encouraging me to change when I told her how it was for me....I really should have listened to her.

[mytwolilprinces]

Hi DjF,

I have also heard that Sutherland is good. I am planning on going there when I eventually conceive #3!

I also know some people who have been through the birthing centre at St George. Apparently the actualy birthing centre is great but the actual ward and the attention you get afterwards leaves a lot to be desired.

I have only been to St George Private and Kareena Private so far so I can't give you any first hand experience. I am interested to know about Sutherland Hospital though as I am tossing up between Sutherland and Kareena - would go to Kareena again as they were great but don't know if I can afford the OB's fee's that are not covered by my healthfund!

[emstahls]

I had my one and only in February this year. She was born at Sutherland. It took me 7 weeks to convince the OB's that I was in agony and that there was something that was NOT RIGHT...They sent me for 2 ultrasounds to check the size of bubba, and that was a complete waste of time. They assumed the ultrasounds were wrong...despite every midwife in the place coming to look at me because I was so large...they still didn't belive me. 9 days before my due date I broke down and begged them to induce me. They agreed. It didn't work TWICE. 1 day before my due date they agreed to do a c-section. Out came baby...4.69kgs or 10 pound 3 oz. I have never heard so many apologies in all my life. I hope I have set a new standard in that place, because if another woman my size walks in and begs them to look at her a little more closely and they don't, and another enormous baby is born...I hope they get their arses kicked from here to eternity. They're cruel. Thankfully my baby girl is healthy but I tell you, my arms aren't. Nor is my back. 2 months on and she now weighs 6.6kg. That's why she's my one and only.

[Jelly Baby]

I went public too. I picked St George Hospital because my specialist works there and I'm glad I did.

My SIL went public with her first child and chose Sutherland Hospital....she thinks it was the biggest mistake she's ever made. Now with her second one on the way she has decided NOT to go back to Sutherland and NOT to go public again.

I'll be going back to St George for my future births without a doubt and sticking with the public system.

Good luck with your decision.