Lauren asked in another thread about the birthing centre.

IMO there are two main advantages to Canberra Midwifery Program:

1. Continuity of care from a small group of midwives from the end of first trimester through the rest of pg, labour, birth and the first 1-2w postnatally.

2. Ability to labour and give birth in a home-like environment and stay in the same location after the birth.

The first aspect has from all accounts improved greatly for women in Weston Ck/Tuggeranong since I was pg in 2003 when there used to be a very large team of m/ws and as a result continuity wasn't good.

I can't rave enough about how lovely the m/ws all are. Nor can I rave enough about how good the labour/birth environment are. I spent most of the time I was labouring in hospital kneeling in the bath leaning my elbows on the edge and a friend ran the shower water on my back during contractions. There would simply not have been space to do this in a delivery suite bathroom.

The only improvement I could make to the CMP is for there to be enough space to allow mothers to stay for longer after the birth (if they wanted to) instead of having to go up to Postnatal Ward - which isn't the end of the world but is a completely different and more hospital-like environment.

Steph
DD Alex (March 04)

This may be a silly question, but is the CMP set up at the Birthing Centre at the Canberra Hospital (Woden)?
And also, do the midwifes not use drugs (eg epidural)?

Carol is the girl to answer this stuff for you. She has delivered two bubs through the Birth Centre and loves it. She has also had three very different labour experiences all at TCH.

As far as I know you can get gas at the birth centre (not sure on pethidine). If you want an epidural you need to go up stairs to the delivery suite where an anesthetist will do that. The good point is again the continuity of care is there. Your birth centre Midwife stays with you as you continue to labour upstairs. This is also the case if you need a C-sec or whatever.

For me I love the idea of the birth centre but due to BP issues have been induced twice. I think if you needed an induction you would also be transferred upstairs.

Plus I wanted the option of drugs if I needed them without having to wait or be fobbed off with the "your doing fine" line. This was very important to me! So I opted for the TCH delivery suite instead for my two. When I finally did decide I needed an EPI the anesthetist was avaiable straight away....no wait whatsoever ie. no going upstairs etc.

Susana & DH Chris
DD Delia Jade 13/11/02 & DS Darcy Cole 2/11/04

Yep that's right Chocolatefairy the CMP is downstairs at TCH in the Birth Centre.

The antenatal clinic is also downstairs. Upstairs level two is the antenatal and postnatal wards. Upstairs level 3 is the Delivery suite.

TCH have tours running all the time so you can checkout the facilities. I'm sure the CMP would do this too.

Lauren posted this in Hospital Talk. Good idea Steph as most people probably don't even look in there.

http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/CFForum/vi...21&Topic=156913

You can have pethidine or gas in the birth centre, plus of course non-drug pain relief - heat, water, positioning, movement, TENS (need to byo), massage, aromatherapy.

Each room has a double bed, cradle, gym mats, fit ball, birth stool, CD player, dimmable lights, outdoor courtyard, bathroom (two with baths, one with shower), double sofa bed/couch. Some of these items, plus a trolley for all the bizzo needed after the birth is on a trolley kept in a curtained off space, plus the baby resus trolley is placed outside the door of the room when birth is imminent.

There is a communal sitting area, kitchen table and kitchenette available for patient and family use, plus an ice machine and blanket warmer and fridge/freezer with medical items (eg ice packs for post-birth girlie bits).

It's a very comfortable space and welcoming environment. We had at least two or three antenatal appointments actually in birth rooms, plus there is a detailed tour during prenatal classes. As my husband was confined to bed for a couple of weeks in late pg, we were also able to have two m/w visits at home during that time.

Lauren, I have some photos of the room in the birth centre if you're interested. Just PM me your email addy. I took them when I was preggers so that mum could see where I would deliver my babe.

Cheers
Carla

Hi,

I just want to back up what's been said. I had my son in the birthing centre and had a very positive experience. I had the one midwife from the end of my first trimester onwards and the support she gave to me and DH was fantastic.

I had both my bubbas at the birth center and it was a fantastic experience both times.

Ds was before they started the "main midwife" program so I saw alot of different midwives and was impressed with them all.

With dd I saw many different midwives for my appointments but towards the end I was given the "main midwife" who was going to attend the birth, they had just started to bring the "main midwife" program in.

I can't rate it highly enough and just wish that the program was given more funding, thus enabling more mothers to use the program.

I wouldn't want to have my babies anywhere else

cheers


Alexandra



Quinn's webpage

Zoe's webpage

Thank you SO much ladies for all of your responses. I am so happy I signed up for the CMP. I hope I talk to you all again soon.

Lauren x

Me 23
DH 28
Bub due 22/11/05

<a href="http://www.snugglepie.com"><img border="0" src="http://www.snugglepie.com/ezb/97417.png"></a>

Thanks to everyone who posted their experiences with the Birth Centre, I'm due anyday and going to have number 2 at the birth centre, I couldn't get in there with number 1 so I was happy to get in this time.

It's good to hear all your positive feedback.

Connie

Wow Connie! I saw your name here and hoped it was that you were coming in to tell how marvellous the birth centre was for delivering your second!

Good Luck!

Jo2+2<BR>Angel Baby - Rachel - born still 21/11/00 (23 weeks)<BR>Matthew & Erin 7/11/01<P><BR>