Originally Posted by bondipom

We still have not seen an obstetrician.

The Mrs needs one (hopefully final ultrasound) and the public place is playing up on trying to give a slot.

Luckily all is fine but we are not overly happy. Having a doctor in the family helps enourmously.

Originally Posted by Badge

Rightyo - going to be quick with this one (yadda yadda).

Today I saw the maternity ward of the brand new hospital that we are having the young Badge in. It's a public hospital.

It is spotless, (of course, it is new) but, the thing is, it has the most amazing facilities.

First off, you get 3 bags of goodies. One now, one at birth and another you collect from target after the baby has been around for a few months.

I AM SERIOUSLY IMPRESSED.

Every woman (or man- I don't want to be sexist here - I am sure there are men that want to have babies) gets her(his) own birthing room, equipped with a sink, window looking on to green fields, buttons to press for light, tv, assistance, oxgen on walls, little ensuite and shower. There were so many buttons I didn't have time to study them all.

There's even a little beer fridge under the sink.

When I was a kid, I was often asked if I "had been born in a barn". Well, now the worry is, and there is no other conclusion; I now suspect that maybe I actually *had* been. My mother says she was in a ward pushing with all the other sheilas. The situation was clearly dire.

I am seriously impressed. Perhaps the TV would be better suited outside the room as the baby is due on Grand Final Day and I think presiding over a birth is too much of a distraction, but this will give me a bit of kudos at work so I plan to milk this situation.

There are also shiny new bathrooms so that women can drop in baths, there are shiny rooms with beds for us blokes - in fact if you get lucky you can even share with your wife - because s(he) gets *another* room, equipped with *double* bed to lounge in before s(he) starts to contract.

What's it like in the UK? Oops - don't tell me I don't want to compare. See - this is the best bit about doing it this way around, there's no "In the UK this, in the Uk that"!!

yours aye,

Badge

Originally Posted by jad n rich

A few tips.

The beer fridge is not for beer its for the placenta or milk, expressed milk.

Dont be impressed by shiney surfaces, nothing will be shiney by the end of this experience.

You wont be lying on a double bed you will be being sworn at, or punched.

And most importantly, this will not be a good time to start on of your yarns about your waist measurement being the same as when you were 16.

Originally Posted by Amazulu

About the same as where my son was born in the UK, an NHS hospital. I agree with the other poster on here, It's the quality & attitude of the doctors, midwives & nurses that count. The midwives in Redhill were like angels, fantastic, as was the consultant. If you've got this, then in does not matter if you are born in a barn.

Originally Posted by RReed

If your wife is having a normal pregnancy then she doesn't need an obstetrician. In labour you need 'access' to an obstetrician if things start to deviate. Midwives are the experts at normal birth, obstetrician are the experts when things go tits up. Although some midwives do push too far for a normal birth, many drs step in too soon and intervene. Unnecessary intervention causes endless problems/complications. You will be well cared for in team midwifery. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Originally Posted by tonyk38

Hi Badge!

Glad to hear that the facilities are so good!

Best of luck to you and yours and to your future little Badge!

Have a from under the sink to celebrate on the happy day!

Originally Posted by RReed

Badge,
Hate to put a downer on it (I'm a uk midwife recently arrived over here). Don't be distracted by the plush surroundings. Ask them their 'normal birth' rate. Is it private, if so, obstetric led or midwifery led? I am really quite shocked by the system over here. Maternity care is definately not (and I'm talking generally here) as forward thinking, or evidence based as the uk. Some of the practices would get you struck off! A fantastic hotel-style room won't make up for having half your arse sliced off to pull a baby out. Sorry, don't mean to scare any parents-to-be. On the more postive side, the breastfeeding rates here are brilliant compared with the uk.
Rachel x

Originally Posted by Olibeneli

Excuse me for asking...are you a midwife working in Oz....whereabouts and how does it compare to where you worked in the UK........including your income ? tell me to bugger off if you like !

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle

Precisely why we had all four of our kids at home, Cost a bloody arm and a leg as well, no rebates for that supposed kind of way out stuff.

Reason we had the children at home, My wife is a nurse, and doesn't trust obstetricians and their appointment book !

We had a British midwife for the younger two as well, a very well known homebirth Midwife in Melbourne at least. She arrived with a whole delivery room full of gear as well or so it seemed lol, Great lady, and we still keep in touch.

Oh edit as well, We had one of a very few homebirth doctors here in Melbourne, A Great bloke as well, who has a practice in Wattle Park, and covers all of Melbourne.

Originally Posted by bondipom

So far so good and I hope no intervention is required however we would like the option of an epidural. Why suffer unnecesarily? Birthing is an unpredictable event so for us the availability of immediate intervention is for peace of mind. Both midwives and obstetricians have their role although there seems to be a level of mistrust between the two.

Originally Posted by RReed

Totally agree. Birthing is an unpredictable event. However, you very rarely get things suddenly going wrong with no previous indication or risk factors. It depends what you want from the birth experience. As a midwife it is my role to support women in whatever choices they make. Whether that is to have no pain during the birth (ie. epidural) and the interventions that often come with that (significant increase in complications) or have a waterbirth with lots of pain. It is most important that by the end of the experience women feel that they were listened and were given information, options and choice. I have listened to many women who were traumatised by a 'natural' birth and felt out of control. Also have listened to many women who felt control was taken away from them, and the risks of a c.section or an epidural were not explained. Get all the information you can and remember that it is your birth experience, no-one elses. As for the midwives vs obstetricans, it is unfortunately true. I think we come from very different perspectives. As a midwife you spend a lot of time with women and their families, seeing the whole picture. Often counselling them following a traumatic experiences or supporting them following postnatal complications from c.sections etc. The obs tend to see the women as patients rather than people, largely because they don't have the time to spend with them or get the chance see the implications of interventions a few weeks down the line. Having said that, I have known some fantastic women-centred drs and some terrible midwives. We can learn a lot from each other if we just accept that we both have different, but equally important roles.

Originally Posted by Amazulu

About the same as where my son was born in the UK, an NHS hospital. I agree with the other poster on here, It's the quality & attitude of the doctors, midwives & nurses that count. The midwives in Redhill were like angels, fantastic, as was the consultant. If you've got this, then in does not matter if you are born in a barn.

Originally Posted by RReed

Badge,
Hate to put a downer on it (I'm a uk midwife recently arrived over here). Don't be distracted by the plush surroundings. Ask them their 'normal birth' rate. Is it private, if so, obstetric led or midwifery led? I am really quite shocked by the system over here. Maternity care is definately not (and I'm talking generally here) as forward thinking, or evidence based as the uk. Some of the practices would get you struck off! A fantastic hotel-style room won't make up for having half your arse sliced off to pull a baby out. Sorry, don't mean to scare any parents-to-be. On the more postive side, the breastfeeding rates here are brilliant compared with the uk.
Rachel x