Royal Womens Randwick NSW

[Berry1]

Hello,

I have looked through most of the threads on here and have found little information on Royal Woman's at Randwick in Sydney.

I believe there are two options at RWH, one being the public hospital & the second being the birthing centre? Can anyone give me more information about the difference between these two and any recommendations? I am leaning more towards the birthing centre, but no little about it. Also a couple of other questions:

1. I have private insurance, can I be a private patient in a public hospital at the birthing cente?
2. Are birthing centres completely drug free i.e no epidural at all (hoping not to need this, but would like to know if its available if desperate!)
3. I believe both options use midwife care, is this effective and do you receive continuity of care?
4. How can you be sure that you'll be referred to a specialist if there is something wrong, are midwifes likely to detect issues.

Your advise / replies will be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Carmey]

Hi Berry1,

I'm booked into RHW in Randwick. There are two options: private and public. If you choose to go public, you have the option of using the birthing centre. That's where they won't give you epidurals (sorry!) etc and it's more a natural approach. It has birthing pools etc. If you do go into the birthing centre, and do come into problems during the birth, you'll be quickly whisked off to the other part of the hospital where you'll be given additional medical treatment, such as a C-Section.

I'm 17 weeks and still haven't decided which way I'll go.

However, they do have this fantastic program (it's called MANGO), where you are assigned a small team of midwives rather than seeing random ones each month. It's almost like having a doula. They'll be there for the birth and you have their mobile for any time of the day if you have any problems or questions. There is a waiting list but I was able to get onto it pretty quickly.

From what I've experienced so far I'd say it's a fantastic set-up and I'm very happy with the service. I'm meeting with my MANGO team on Monday so I'll be able to check out the birthing centre etc then.

The hospital also offers plenty of additional support, such as courses, tours and even preggie yoga twice a week.

I hope that helps!

[Taurean78]

Berry1,

I agree - there is not much on here regarding RHW Randwick. I have looked too as I often wonder where I will birth if I am lucky enough to fall pregnant.

Talking to my acupuncturist the other day who operates from Bondi Junction, she asked where I would consider and when RHW came up she spoke glowingly about it (she is a doula also).

She said that there is team midwifery there which means that there is a team that stay with you through the whole pregnancy.

I have had surgery there through the Endo/Gynae clinic as a public patient and it was fantastic. Since then 2 friends have had babies there and had 2 different experiences (which you have to allow for I guess).

One - public patient - turned up on Boxing Day and was sent home at 3cm until she had further dilated. She returned all too late for pain relief and experienced a lot of attitude from the understaffed nursing team (keeping in mind it was Xmas).

Another (recently) - Private patient planned c/s couldn't have had a better experience and was most impressed.

Their facilities are great and I think if you can get your other questions answered it will help you make a better decision.

I'll be interested to see how you go and what info filters through

[Berry1]

Thank you both for your responses.

Carmey, thanks for the tip about MANGO, I like the sound of seeing a small team of midwifes rather than being in the 'larger' shared care pool. I called about it this morning and the lady that runs it was not in today, so I'll try again tomorrow. It sounds like you are only just about to start MANGO, how has the 'normal' shared care been so far? Do you find yourself waiting for a longtime to see someone and how much time do they spend with you each visit? all the best with deciding which way to go.

Taurean, thanks for your feedback. All the very best for you ttc, I hope it happens for you soon. I have heard so many great things about accupuncture & I too conceived after seeing an accupunturist for a month, so I hope it is successful for you too.

I will post any other information I find out about RHW here in case others are interested.

[cloeychic]

i also agree that there is not much info regarding the RHW. when i fell pregnant i couldnt really find any info on here, so i'm glad this topic has been started.

i am booked into the birth centre for my first baby which is due in about 6 weeks. when i first found out i was pregnant i called the birth centre and booked myself in. its changed since then so the MANGO program sounds a lot like what they do now.

in terms of drugs, the birth centre has gas available and i think pethedine too, but if you need anything stronger they will transfer you to the delivery suites which i think is about 50m up the corridor.

its such a wonderful experience being looked after by a small group of midwives. i'm really happy with the care i have been receiving. i don't wait longer than about 5 minutes for my appointments. my pregnancy is very straight forward and 'normal' so i usually spend about 10-15 mins with my midwife. she takes my blood pressure, does the fundal height measurements, listen to the heartbeat using the doppler, she has a poke of my tummy, we have a quick chat and i ask any questions i may have. the continuity of care is excellent and i think its a great way of being looked after.

the birthing center itself is lovely, you should do a tour as soon as you can if thats the option you're heading towards. and get your name on the list asap!

if i remember i'll report back soon on my experience giving birth there!

Carmey - can you post details of their preggie yoga - i didnt know they did it at RHW. thanks

[kitten2b]

I was booked into the birth centre for both of my pregnancies but didn't get to use it because they were both premmies. The midwife care in the birth centre was great and when I delivered Maria in the other delivery suites I actually had one of my midwives from the birth centre.

I think you might need to book in quick to get a birth centre place though.

The hospital also has a great birth course that you can go to towards the end of your pregnancy, I didn't get to finish mine before I had Maria, but what I did learn made my labour a lot less scary than I had been expecting.

[Berry1]

Thanks for the replies, kitten2b & Cloeychic. I am only 4-wks pg and the hospital said they wouldn't take my booking until I'm 6-weeks. They also said that I could decide on the day of labour whether I go into the birthing centre or the main maternity ward, there was no indication that I needed to specifically book in for the birthing centre. Are there two different 'places' to go to for regular check-ups, i.e. the birthing centre or the hospital or do you go to the one section of the hospital? Its starting to sound like there are two seperate places & midwife teams depending on whether your with the hospital or birth centre?

Cloeychic, all the best for your delivery in approx. 6-weeks, you must be excited. I'll certainly keep an eye out on this thread to see what your thoughts were on the birth centre.

Kitten2b, I'll certainly check up on that course. I lost a little girl at 19-wks, so have a fair idea of what I'm in for, but expect it to be quite different at the same time - I certainly hope so Thanks again everyone.

[kitten2b]

Berry1 - for the birthcentre you actually see the birth centre midwives - first floor where the actual birth centre is instead of on ground floor at the normal midwive area. I always had to book in at 6 weeks, anything after that and it was iffy if they would have space.

[kitten2b]

pity I never got past 37 weeks to actually use the birthcentre

[e.baby]

Interesting discussion about RHW public facilities. I am 5 weeks and alls going well. I have already booked in with an Ob recommended by my GP at RHW and they asked if i wanted to go public or private. I havnt decided yet..

It sounds like the public system is great there, but does anyone have any more experience with the private?

[Midwife Melissa]

Originally Posted by e.baby

Interesting discussion about RHW public facilities. I am 5 weeks and alls going well. I have already booked in with an Ob recommended by my GP at RHW and they asked if i wanted to go public or private. I havnt decided yet..

It sounds like the public system is great there, but does anyone have any more experience with the private?

If you have an OB, you're automatically private.

[e.baby]

Oh, thats interesting - thanks.

I wonder why they gave me the option then?
I am actually travelling for work in Europe so my wonderful mum is making all my appoinments for me she just passed on the question, they said i could call them and choose when I return from my travels.

Do you know Randwick womens private hospital has a good reputation for maternity?

[Midwife Melissa]

Do you know Randwick womens private hospital has a good reputation for maternity?

There's no such hospital ... there's prince of wales private (private patients only) and the royal hospital for women (public or private patients). They're both different hospitals but they're on the same campus.

[Berry1]

I could be wrong, but I am fairly sure a friend of mine went through RHW as a private patient, obviously worth checking though. For my first pg I was booked into the Prince of Wales Private and was seeing an OB (who I thought was great), but sadly I lost my baby at 19-weeks and ended up at RPA. Through that experience I personally saw the value of mid-wife care & then had the time to research what kind of birth I wanted, so I'm now at the Birth Centre at RHW, the cost factor was also a consideration for me. So far, I'm really pleased with the care I have received. If you do decide to go through Prince of Wales, my advise is book ASAP. I booked at about 7-wks I think & just got in. All the best with your pg.