How do people find out about BCs?

[gentleness]

I don't know about Birth Centres in other cities, but here in Brisbane I've found that very few people even know of the Royal Brisbane's Birth Centre.

I had three babies in the wards there, never knowing that the Birth Centre existed (although it is situated right beside the delivery ward).

With the second baby I had at the Royal, I actually wandered into the delivery ward, past the Birth Centre entrance with it's big sign, and remember saying to my hubby "I wonder what the Birth Centre is?".

When I got my hospital information, there was a vague reference to the Birth Centre, but nothing really that told me what it was, how it operated, nor how it differed from the Wards. And since I didn't get that information until my 20 weeks checkup, it was way past the time to try for a place at the Birth Centre anyway.

I only found out about the Birth Centre before I had my last baby, from reading here on NP. I've spoken to 2 pregnant friends recently and they were amazed to hear that such a place existed!

How do other people find out about it??? Is it mostly just by word of mouth? Are there thousands of women out there who just haven't been fortunate enough to trip over the information? I think of all the support the BC could have, if only people knew about it!

[Joey]

My GP told me about it, a lot of women dont even know its there. Bloody terrible. I think it depends on who you see when you book into the hospital. Lots of the midwives/Drs just 'oops forget' to mention it. But I know there are some that would be sure to tell you.

Luck of the draw sadly :(

[*kaos*]

GP also told me, when I first went to see her when I first thought I was pregnant with #1. I really appreciate and very thankful that she put it out there for me as an option, otherwise I doubt I would have heard about it.

Needless to say, this same GP told me, when preg with #2, not to let anyone tell me I can't breastfeed right thoughout my pregnancy and could tandem feed if I like, and while appears a little more cautious, is happy to support my current homebirth plans.....

I agree, there are so many ppl who have no idea about the birth centre and love the idea when they are told about it. And despite so many people being in the dark, it is still a hugely oversubscribed service and it comes down to luck as to whether you get in or not - sigh

[Rinelle]

I read about them in a pregancy book (Australian one) years ago, and it had a list of all of them in Australia in the back. Ever since then I was determined to birth there.

I would have missed out the first time though, because I was past 7 weeks when I miscarried, and it hadn't even occured to me to book into where I wanted to birth that early.

[Georgie]

I was told about the one at King Edward from my GP when he wrote me my referral (I went to the hospital though), and when the hospital sent me out information once they'd received my booking (this was at probably 8 weeks pregnant), there was some info about the birth centre and how to go on a tour in there.

[bunty]

There is a birth centre in Mackay, where I birthed both children (Mackay at the time was a 500km round trip from where we lived). I was only aware of it because my friend birthed there 8 months before I had Ethan. As it turned out, I would have been ineligible to birth there as Ethan was breech. If I hadn't had that friend that had been there, I would have been completely unaware.

[justincredible]

I first heard about it here at NP...

[Mama Latte]

Shoot Breen, I figured you must be preggers again!!

[gentleness]

S!

[~joht~]

well flinders medical centre (SA) tells you about it at your first appointment at the hospital...this is the first time im botheringwish i'd done it sooner, its BL**DY AWESOME!!! the midwife even comes to my home so obviously they didnt stress too hard how great it was the first 2 times - lol.
guess i was lucky with 2 great hospy births....