Caboolture hospital V Homebirth?

[healthychick]

Hi everyone

I live near Caboolture and am due to have my first baby in April 2010. I'm 13 weeks pg and at the point of making a decision about where to have our baby.

Since before we conceived I've been set on a homebirth, mainly because of friend's great report of waterbirths (in the UK) and I knew my only guarantee of a waterbirth was to choose homebirthing.

I'm also scared by how common cs is in hospitals and I hear that you may be more pushed towards CS if you have a small pelvis (i'm quite slim, BMI 20-21) or are older (I'm 35) and I really don't want to end up being 'pushed' that way..

I've met a great homebirthing team that DH & I are happy with but having just done some budgeting, I've been questioning if we should be spending $3.5k on something we could do for free at the hospital, when we have so many other things to buy ;-)

My question is this, my alternative to homebirthing is Caboolture hospital and I've read some mixed reviews, some say they have a very low CS rate and encourage active birthing and others aren't so positive. however, most reviews are a few years old, so I wondered if anyone has birthed there recently or can give me an idea of your own experience of water birth or homebirth V hospital?

We will go ahead and squeeze the money for HB but just want to be sure it's the right decision, I guess I just wonder if once I'm giving birth I'll really notice where i am however the idea of birthing in water and the fact it can be quicker and easier is still VERY appealing and will probably become more so the closer it gets LOL!

thanks heaps

[Bella29]

I am a big supporter of HB, however just for info sake, my GF gave birth there in April and said that despite prolonged ROM, she had good support from the MW's there to continue on even tho the Dr's were a bit c/s happy and managed to birth her baby vaginally. She was pleased with her care

Good luck, my advice after just seeing my sisters HB on monday, is to go with your gut and have a HB. It was a beautiful, wonderful experience and you can't put a price on good memories.... you will kick yourself like I am (I ended up with a c/s despite being educated) that you spent your money on possessions if you walk away from the birth of your baby feeling unsatisfied.

Good luck

bella

[jasp]

I had 3 births at Caboolture, 2 VB & 1 emergency CS, all active labours, but my most recent (there) was 7 years ago ... my sister gave birth there 2 weeks ago, emergency Cs due to PE but the midwives seemed lovely

I do think with both mine & my sister's CS there were reasons those babies needed to be out now, kwim? I wouldn't say they were due to CS happy doctors

Homebirthing does sound wonderful. Pity it's so expensive, but still very tempting!

Good luck either way , wishing you a H&H pregnancy

[healthychick]

Thankyou Bella & Jas for the feedback on Caboolture, also for the positive information on HB. To further muddy the waters, I received a letter the day I posted this saying that I've been offered a place at Brisbane Birthing Centre in the ballot which was a complete surprise! however, I've decided that what you say is true Bella, money disappears easily on nothing and I can never change my birth experience, DH also feels that we should go ahead with the HB as he doesn't want me to regret anything.

the Caboolture info is really reassuring though as if there are complications that's where I will be transferred to.

Thankyou ladies :-)

[doudou]

i think the money is always well spent in a home birth!
you already know your midwife and you are garunteed to have her, where as in the hospital you dont know who is on the shift you go in to labour.

as someone who has had a 1 of each definatley go the homebirth!

[lelucciola]

I have had my antenatal appointments at Caboolture hosp up until now (am in the process of swithcing over to Selangor Nambour) and was told that they don't allow water births....if they see you start pushing they will pull out the plug...I was told this by midwives on a couple of occasions...

It's one of the main reasons I am switching hospitals...I suffer from SPD when pregnant and water takes all the pressure off my joints and I am sure it will make my labour alot less painfull...but there was no chance they would let me birth in water...

If your wanting to use the water simply for pain relief then hop out to birth there shouldn't be a problem though...

Just my personal experience with the hospital....the midwives seem awesome...but the Dr's leave alot to be desired...perhaps it's just because I am aiming for a VBAC2 and they don't like me telling them no I am not having a cesarean I know the risks and what I can and cannot do everytime they go to lecture me....but I've had them slam folders down on the ground out of frustration infront of me...

There is a place in brisbane where you can hire birthing pools relativly cheap (Ithink anyway) for homebirths too (much more comfy) though you may already know this

Damn preggo brain has me forgetting what else I was going to mention

But I wish you the best of luck with which ever you choose!!