John Flynn

[Mellissa]

Hey guys my husband and I are not trying just yet, but are planning to try soon, and I have a lot of questions. I am interested in a private obstetrician, and I am very interested in John Flynn Hospital on the goldcoast. Does anyone have any experience there? We have private health and john flynn is a preferred hospital, so the hospital costs will be covered apart from our excess

John flynn is about 90 minutes away, so I am thinking of share care with a GP in my town. Does anyone know if any of the obs there do share care? Is 90 minutes too far when in labour? No matter where I go the nearest birthing hospital is an hour away lol.

Can my husband stay with me overnight at John Flynn?

When should I be calling the obstetricians to book in? Ive heard some have long waiting lists haha.

My mum is a midwife, will she be able to help out or is that frowned on?

Thanks in advance guys!!!

[CrystalBoo]

I loved my experience at JF. I am doing share-care now with #2. I see Dr Trueman, who I also saw last time.
The hospital is very baby friendly - I don't know that your mum would be legally allowed to help in a professional sense, you'd have to take that up with them, but certainly she would be welcome to attend the birth and help you make your decisions and desires known to the staff.
Yes, the room have double beds for your husband to stay. He is only provided meals during the labour though, after that they are only free for you.

I think you should call as soon as you are pregnant, though you probably won't see someone until 8weeks +.

As for travel/labour time, that's always a surprise, though it is said first babies usually take a while to come. In an emergency, I imagine you would just go to the nearest place, but you could probably transfer after? You'd have to check with JF about that sort of thing.

Hope that helps. Good luck TTC.

[Mellissa]

thanks im glad to hear husbands are welcome to stay overnight, it will certainly make things nicer! My mum is a middwife but i think i want her there more for professional support than actual participation in the birth. I don't know what john flynn is like, but im scared about being pressured into a ceasarian or episiotomy that may not be entirely necessary. I know in some instances they are, but i also know that a lot of doctors push ceasarians due to time issues and legal liabilities (a doctor is less likely to be sued over a ceasarian than a vaginal birth - what a sad world). If my mum is there, with her knowledge of the industry, i'll be able to trust her judgement as she'll have my wellbeing in mind rather than her hip-pocket. But this is all just general stuff, from what ive heard the doctors at john flynn are minimal-intervention-friendly which is another reason i am choosing to go there

Is it acceptable to ring up the specialists and get price lists before conception? or is that jumping the gun a bit :P im just so excited but I also want to have a realistic expectation of what out of pocket expenses to expect.

Thanks

[Tygress]

Hi Mellissa

I am having my first bub at JFH (somewhere in the next 6 weeks!).

I think it's fine to ring and get costings from the OB's, I went and visited their offices and asked for this information (easier cos I work at JFH). All the staff I saw were very helpful and I felt comfortable and very informed when I made my decision on which one to go with.

All my interaction with the middies at JFH has been great - and they really do seem to want less intervention, as do I. Obviously bottom line is Mum and bubs health and this is how they seem to approach it. I found JFH had more birth/ pain management options than anywhere else on the Gold Coast which I also found appealing. In fact the middie who took our ante natal classes told me directly she was pro-natural rather than anything else - unless otherwise indicated, like bubby in distress etc.

Good luck in deciding!