The miracle of childbirth
Apr 4th 2007 | 9:41 am
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: The miracle of childbirth
Congratulations on your baby.
As youve raised the topic in the Aus section I assume you want to know the situation in Aus. The sunday papers 2/3 weeks ago aired a rather large article about women birthing in corridors/carparks etc due to hospital closures, staff shortages and funding issues. More serious allegations were brain and birth defects, parents attributed to these shortages and the resulting litigation. Much the same sort of news that has been in the UK press this week, noticed it simply for that reason the same stuff was reported in australia recently.
As youve raised the topic in the Aus section I assume you want to know the situation in Aus. The sunday papers 2/3 weeks ago aired a rather large article about women birthing in corridors/carparks etc due to hospital closures, staff shortages and funding issues. More serious allegations were brain and birth defects, parents attributed to these shortages and the resulting litigation. Much the same sort of news that has been in the UK press this week, noticed it simply for that reason the same stuff was reported in australia recently.
Apr 4th 2007 | 1:38 pm
#17
Cup of tea, Father?
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,895
From: Underground, overground, wombling free
Re: The miracle of childbirth
Congratulations on your baby.
As youve raised the topic in the Aus section I assume you want to know the situation in Aus. The sunday papers 2/3 weeks ago aired a rather large article about women birthing in corridors/carparks etc due to hospital closures, staff shortages and funding issues. More serious allegations were brain and birth defects, parents attributed to these shortages and the resulting litigation. Much the same sort of news that has been in the UK press this week, noticed it simply for that reason the same stuff was reported in australia recently.
As youve raised the topic in the Aus section I assume you want to know the situation in Aus. The sunday papers 2/3 weeks ago aired a rather large article about women birthing in corridors/carparks etc due to hospital closures, staff shortages and funding issues. More serious allegations were brain and birth defects, parents attributed to these shortages and the resulting litigation. Much the same sort of news that has been in the UK press this week, noticed it simply for that reason the same stuff was reported in australia recently.
OP - congratulations on new bub. Hope Mum and baby are both doing well now.
Apr 4th 2007 | 2:28 pm
#18
Mozzie magnet
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,690
From: Brisbane 'burbs
Re: The miracle of childbirth
And all the UK staff being lured to Australia...
I suppose the advantage of the Australian health system is that private health care is very much encouraged over here, which relieves some of the pressure on the public health system, and doctors can charge what they feel their services deserve (and tough luck if there's a gap between what Medicare covers and what you end up paying).
Congrats on the new arrival, OP
Apr 4th 2007 | 4:02 pm
#19
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,131
From: Brisbane
Re: The miracle of childbirth
I am glad everything worked out ok for you both, and you have a healthy new addition to the family. It must have been a very stressful time. Both my sister and myself have had babies in Australia. I went private and my sister public. We both had excellent care. The benefit of going private was that I got to have the continuity of seeing the same Dr, and knowing I could contact him if I had any worries.
Goodluck with your move to Melbourne.
Katie
Goodluck with your move to Melbourne.
Katie
Apr 4th 2007 | 6:43 pm
#20
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,261
From: Western burbs, Melbourne
Re: The miracle of childbirth
Sorry to hear about your negative experience.
I had my baby 8 weeks ago in Melb. in a private hospital.
I was induced (due to pre-eclampsia) but the midwife monitoring me did not check the monitor output for some reason, and failed to notice that I was in labour for several hours. I thought I was being a wimp and had a low pain threshold!
Apart from the mad panic which broke out when she finally realised I was in full labour, everyone was great. The emergency ceasar team were fab (at 4am on a Sunday morning), my obstetrician was great, and the post natal midwife care was great. Cleaners came into my room every day and cleanliness was a high priority.
The public hospital scheme is also positive- I have had follow up care at Werribee and they have been fantastic.
I had my baby 8 weeks ago in Melb. in a private hospital.
I was induced (due to pre-eclampsia) but the midwife monitoring me did not check the monitor output for some reason, and failed to notice that I was in labour for several hours. I thought I was being a wimp and had a low pain threshold!
Apart from the mad panic which broke out when she finally realised I was in full labour, everyone was great. The emergency ceasar team were fab (at 4am on a Sunday morning), my obstetrician was great, and the post natal midwife care was great. Cleaners came into my room every day and cleanliness was a high priority.
The public hospital scheme is also positive- I have had follow up care at Werribee and they have been fantastic.
Apr 4th 2007 | 7:12 pm
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,090
From: Adelaide
Re: The miracle of childbirth
Thought I’d just put down on paper what I’m not sure really happened to us. I was originally going to post a long discourse but I decided it was a bit much, so here’s the summary:
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- Apparently there is a shortage of 10,000 midwives in the UK. Surely the Oz health system can’t be this bad? I don’t care if I have to pay.
- During the crisis, friends and family rallied around. And we’re going to Melbourne without any close friends or family? Are we mad?
And Tony Blair says we've never had it so good!!!!
Seems easy to say,but try and not dwell on it.Be positive.Assume you're off to oz in the future,so make it reason 147 to leave this place!
Big congrats on the baby.Enjoy it,whilst it last,they don't stay babies for long.
Apr 4th 2007 | 7:40 pm
#22
Account Closed
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 10,158
Re: The miracle of childbirth
Congratulations on your baby girl.
I can't comment about having a baby here in Aus because I haven't done it, but I would really say that it would be wise for you to talk with the hospital about what happened.
In many hospitals, there's a meeting you can set up, to talk with doctors and counsellors or the midwives involved to discuss what happened. I only say this because I had a completely mismanaged first birth with my daughter (too long and too shocking to put down here) and I really had a hard time getting over it.
It's lovely and all that, and this lovely baby is here, but you'll both probably be left to cope with feelings of disappointment and anger at the way the birth went.
Speaking to the doctors etc means that you can express your anger about what happened, they can explain why certain things went the way they did and perhaps, as in my case, apologise to you for not giving the service you expect. It's not a legal situation, it's just a 'talk it through' sort of thing where you can all get answers, and you all leave happy. It also helps the hospital improve too...
It might help avoid any possible post natal depression for your wife, and perhaps yourself?
Check and see if they have this service - most do - saves patients becoming angry and just going down the legal 'sue the pants of them' route.
For me, and my OH, it was a very cathartic thing, which helped us move on.
Just a thought based on what I went through.
I can't comment about having a baby here in Aus because I haven't done it, but I would really say that it would be wise for you to talk with the hospital about what happened.
In many hospitals, there's a meeting you can set up, to talk with doctors and counsellors or the midwives involved to discuss what happened. I only say this because I had a completely mismanaged first birth with my daughter (too long and too shocking to put down here) and I really had a hard time getting over it.
It's lovely and all that, and this lovely baby is here, but you'll both probably be left to cope with feelings of disappointment and anger at the way the birth went.
Speaking to the doctors etc means that you can express your anger about what happened, they can explain why certain things went the way they did and perhaps, as in my case, apologise to you for not giving the service you expect. It's not a legal situation, it's just a 'talk it through' sort of thing where you can all get answers, and you all leave happy. It also helps the hospital improve too...
It might help avoid any possible post natal depression for your wife, and perhaps yourself?
Check and see if they have this service - most do - saves patients becoming angry and just going down the legal 'sue the pants of them' route.
For me, and my OH, it was a very cathartic thing, which helped us move on.
Just a thought based on what I went through.
Apr 4th 2007 | 8:58 pm
#23
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,217
From: Poole, Dorset
Re: The miracle of childbirth
Sorry you had such a negative experience.
Congratulations on your new arrival.
Congratulations on your new arrival.
Apr 4th 2007 | 9:18 pm
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 192
From: Perth
Re: The miracle of childbirth
Congratulations! I had our 2nd child in December so the feelings are still quite fresh for me. I too had problems after a straightforward c-section so i know where you are coming from! To cut a long story short - i had a drain which was erroneously stitched into me - so 2days after a c-section had to go back down to theatre to have the wound re-opened so they could locate the error and remove said drain! Then due to dangerously high BP i wad not allowed home and finally 5 days later after they decided to check my urine they discovered protein - and decided that i had the form of pre-eclampsia that you can get after giving birth! All this was going on in a new hospital which for which the maternity unit had opened up for business only 2 days prior to my arrival (so many teething problems and staff didnt know whether they were coming or going). I threatened to discharge myself at one point because i was supposed to be having my BP monitored every couple of hours both day and night and was meant to have 2 lots of BP pills at certain times (always given them late). After rowing with a doctor (something i would never do normally but was driven to it) - it was agreed i would stay as long as possible to get my BP manageable - on the condition that they kept their end of the bargain (which didnt happen). After being told that i could have fits and convulsions and die - i was then released from hospital just 24 hours later - because they needed the beds and told me that i would be ok - a midwife would do home visits daily to check my BP!
Lets just say i'm fine now - but i'm in no rush to go back into hospital in the UK!
i am hoping and praying that the hospitals in OZ and Tasmania (where i'm hoping to go) are much better!
Saying that though - you look at your kids - and all the pain and misery is so worth it!!!!!
Lets just say i'm fine now - but i'm in no rush to go back into hospital in the UK!
i am hoping and praying that the hospitals in OZ and Tasmania (where i'm hoping to go) are much better!
Saying that though - you look at your kids - and all the pain and misery is so worth it!!!!!
Apr 4th 2007 | 9:20 pm
#25
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 192
From: Perth
Re: The miracle of childbirth
Thought I’d just put down on paper what I’m not sure really happened to us. I was originally going to post a long discourse but I decided it was a bit much, so here’s the summary:
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- Apparently there is a shortage of 10,000 midwives in the UK. Surely the Oz health system can’t be this bad? I don’t care if I have to pay.
- During the crisis, friends and family rallied around. And we’re going to Melbourne without any close friends or family? Are we mad?
Just a shame you all had such a bad experience!
Apr 5th 2007 | 3:21 pm
#26
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,318
From: WA but NOT Perth!!!!!
Re: The miracle of childbirth
Congratulations 
We certainly dont have a shortage of midwives down here in SW WA, I popped into the hospital a few weeks ago as I'd had severe pain for 24hrs and was straight in and monitored and three midwives kept popping in to say hello, plus the obs came in after to reassure me everything was OK.
I know they are building a new maternity ward at the Regional (public) hospital as there has been a baby boom here and they were running out of beds at one point, but so far what I've seen has been excellent.
The other good thing is you stay in hospital for a few days, none of this "pop the baby out at lunchtime and back in time for tea" like the UK
We certainly dont have a shortage of midwives down here in SW WA, I popped into the hospital a few weeks ago as I'd had severe pain for 24hrs and was straight in and monitored and three midwives kept popping in to say hello, plus the obs came in after to reassure me everything was OK.
I know they are building a new maternity ward at the Regional (public) hospital as there has been a baby boom here and they were running out of beds at one point, but so far what I've seen has been excellent.
The other good thing is you stay in hospital for a few days, none of this "pop the baby out at lunchtime and back in time for tea" like the UK
Apr 5th 2007 | 7:19 pm
#27
Sunny Sydney
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,241
From: Sydney
Re: The miracle of childbirth
Second time around, I had bub at 3.43am and was home for lunch. I was really keen to get home quickly, and becuase the birth was straighforward and we were both healthy, the hospital were happy to let us go. Mind you, we had a fantastic team of community midwives so I wasn't being released to just get on with it. For me it was perfect. I was home, in my own bed, OH was there to support me and my eldest who was still really just a baby herself was part of the whole thing.
