vicky o

Joking aside, please!!

I need a recommendation for a good obstetrician in the Perth area. I would like to deliver at King Edward. Can anyone enlighten me as to go about it all. I will be 28 weeks when we land, so need to hit the ground running. Well, I say running, the most I'll be able to manage is waddle like a duck at that stage.

Any help gratefully received.

Don

The Miracle of Birth

ANNOUNCER: Part One: The Miracle of Birth.

[clunk]
[clunk]
[clunk]
[clunk]
OBSTETRICIAN: One thousand and eight!
NURSE #1: Mrs. Moore's contractions are more frequent, doctor!
OBSTETRICIAN: Good. Take her into the Foetus Frightening Room.
NURSE #1: Right.
[exciting music]
OBSTETRICIAN: Thum, thummm, thummm, thum, thummmm, thummmmmm. Thum, thummm. Thummm. Jolly good.
[music stops]
DOCTOR SPENSER: Bumm, bumm, bumm, bumm, bum--
OBSTETRICIAN: So, it's a bit bare in here today, isn't it?
DOCTOR SPENSER: Yes.
OBSTETRICIAN: Yes. More apparatus, please, nurse: the E.E.G.,
the B.P. monitor, and the A.V.V.
NURSE #1: Yes. Certainly, Doctor.
DOCTOR SPENSER: And, uh, get the machine that goes 'ping'.
OBSTETRICIAN: And get the most expensive machines, in case the administrator comes.
[clunk]
[exciting music]
That's it. Bring in the other machines. Right over here.
DOCTOR SPENSER: [whistling]
OBSTETRICIAN: That's it. Just behind me.
[music stops]
Lovely. Lovely. Jolly good. That's better. That's much, much better.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Yeahhh, that's more like it.
OBSTETRICIAN: Eehhh. Still something missing, though.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Hm?
OBSTETRICIAN: Hmmm. Mmmmm.
[snap]
OBSTETRICIAN and DOCTOR SPENSER: Patient!
OBSTETRICIAN: Yes.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Where's the patient?
OBSTETRICIAN: Anyone seen the patient?
DOCTOR SPENSER: Patient?
NURSE #1: Aah! Here she is.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Bring it over here.
[clank]
Mind the machines!
NURSE #1: Sorry, Doctor Spenser.
OBSTETRICIAN: Come along!
DOCTOR SPENSER: Come along.
NURSE #1: Jump up there. Up!
MRS. MOORE: Ehh.
OBSTETRICIAN: Hallo. Now, don't you worry.
DOCTOR SPENSER: We'll soon have you cured.
OBSTETRICIAN: Leave it all to us. You'll never know what hit you.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Good-bye!
OBSTETRICIAN: Good-bye.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Drips up!
OBSTETRICIAN: Injections!
DOCTOR SPENSER: Can I put the tube in the baby's head?
OBSTETRICIAN: Only if I can do the epesiotomy.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Okay.
OBSTETRICIAN: Okay. Uh, legs up! Doctor, come in. Come on in, all of you. That's it. Jolly good.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Come along.
OBSTETRICIAN: Come along. Spread 'round there. Uh, who are you?
MR. MOORE: I'm the husband.
OBSTETRICIAN: I'm sorry. Only people involved are allowed in here. All right.
MRS. MOORE: What do I do?
DOCTOR SPENSER: Mhm. Yes?
MRS. MOORE: What do I do?
DOCTOR SPENSER: Nothing, dear. You're not qualified!
OBSTETRICIAN: Leave it to us!
MRS. MOORE: What's that for?
OBSTETRICIAN: That's the machine that goes 'ping'.
[ping]
You see? That means your baby is still alive!
DOCTOR SPENSER: And that's the most expensive machine in the whole hospital!
OBSTETRICIAN: Yes, it cost over three quarters of a million pounds.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Aren't you lucky?!
NURSE #2: The administrator is here, doctor.
OBSTETRICIAN: Switch everything on!
[exciting music]
[ping]
MR. PYCROFT: Morning, gentlemen.
RANDOM: Morning.
MR. PYCROFT: Morning, gentlemen.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Morning!
OBSTETRICIAN: Morning, Mr. Pycroft.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Morning, Mr. Pycroft.
MR. PYCROFT: Oh, very impressive. Very impressive. And what are you doing this morning?
[music stops]
OBSTETRICIAN: It's a birth.
MR. PYCROFT: Aahh. What sort of thing is that?
DOCTOR SPENSER: Well, that's when we take a new baby out of a lady's tummy.
MR. PYCROFT: Wonderful what we can do nowadays.
[ping]
Aah! I see you have the machine that goes 'ping'. This is my favourite. You see, we lease this back from the company we sold it to, and that way, it
comes under the monthly current budget and not the capital account.
[applause]
Thank you. Thank you. We try to do our best. Well, do carry on.
NURSE #1: Ooh, the vulva's dilating, doctor.
OBSTETRICIAN: Oh, yes, there's the head. Yes, four centimetres. Five-- Six centimetres.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Lights!
OBSTETRICIAN: Amplify the 'ping' machine.
[ping]
DOCTOR SPENSER: Masks up!
OBSTETRICIAN: Suction!
DOCTOR SPENSER: Eyes down for a full house!
OBSTETRICIAN: Here it comes!
BABY: [crying]
OBSTETRICIAN: And... frighten it! Thank you.
[whock]
DOCTOR SPENSER: And the rough towels!
OBSTETRICIAN: Show it to the mother. That's enough.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Right! Sedate her!
OBSTETRICIAN: Number the child.
DOCTOR SPENSER: Measure it, blood type it, and isolate it!
[whump]
NURSE #1: Okay.
[clap clap]
Show's over.
OBSTETRICIAN: Jolly good.
RANDOM: [mumbling] ...everyone.
OBSTETRICIAN: Jolly good.
MRS. MOORE: Is it a boy or a girl?
OBSTETRICIAN: Now, I think it's a little early to start imposing roles on it, don't you? Now, a word of advice. You may find that you suffer for some
time a totally irrational feeling of depression: 'P.N.D.', as we doctors call it. So, it's lots of happy pills for you, and you can find out all about the birth
when you get home. It's available on Betamax, VHS, and Super Eight.
[ping]

vicky o

Thanks Don!!!

LondonNurse

Hiya Vicky,

Why not a midwife?

owieb

From speaking to our doctor and various other people who have had/or are having a baby, most said there was no real need to have your own obstetrician and the public team of obstetricians and midwives that will be assigned to you by the hospital provide an excellent service.

Obviously I'm no pro on the matter and your circumstances may require that you have your own personal one.

I know a lot of obstetricians were getting booked up really early, people were booking them when they were only 7 weeks just to have one!

Try this site for loads of useful info, it's got a forum so you maybe able to find out more by posting there http://www.wa.bubhub.com.au

vicky o

Nothing against midwives. Hoping to have a midwife birth actually without the involvement of any doctors. I work with midwives, and have had good advice. It's just that I need to have a doctor on hand. My last two were both doctor delivered through complications.
My first baby was nearly lost through incompetent midwife care. Couldn't fault the second lot of midwives, but baby was distressed, again. So, Doctor called. It seems I am destined to have bad labours. Still, not giving up hope on midwife delivery.

vicky o

Thanks for this. I wasn't sure how it all works in Oz, so didn't want to take any chances. I'm quite happy to leave my care in the hands of the hospital, if that's what's done. Do I need a referral from a GP or can I just book myself in??

lynnj

Vicky

I was 28 weeks with our 3rd when we got here last november, i waited a few weeks than went to a local gp, he referred me to hospital and my care was shared between them and the gp, i gave birth at Joondalup hospital, i had 2 midwives in attendance when he popped out and the doc was just next door, he came in to see me when i went in to discuss pain relief etc then he came back in to do my stitches, he also did the follow up next morning before i was discharged.

In general i found the standard of care to be better than in the uk, but like evrywhere it can depend on who's on duty when you need them.

Hope everything goes well for you.

Lynn

owieb

I'm pretty sure you have to get a referral from a doctor, but don't quote me on it. Your best bet is to contact the hospital you like and ask them. Make sure you check out a few hospitals as well and choose one that you like and one that is going to be fairly near to where you are living. They all do guided tours of the maternity facilities so it gives you chance to have a look around and ask any questions you may have.

King Edward hospital did have some problems a few years ago which caused quite a bit of controversy, but saying that I personally know several people who have been there and said it's been fantastic.

Once you have selected the hospital they will arrange an appointment for you to go and see them. We are going to see ours in a couple of weeks, around the 24 week mark.

From then on I'm not sure quite what happens! I know we have some anti-natal classes aroud the 30-34 week mark.

If you need anymore info or want me to try and find something out for you just drop me a line. My wife posts on all kinds of baby forums so normally has an answer to everything!