ipswich hospital and mater mothers private hospital

[bennysgirl]

Hi, I haven't been on these forums for ages and ages, but now that I am finally working as a doula I'm finding I need information again!

I have one mum having her baby in Ipswich Public Hospital and another at Mater Mothers Private Hospital. Has anyone had any experiences at either of these hospitals? And would you mind sharing your observations of what they were like, good or bad?

Both mothers don't really have an option about where they birth but having a natural and unforced birth is very important to them so they want me to do a bit of research into the reputation of the hospitals so that we can be prepared.

[hanabi]

Ipswich Public has the better reputation for obtaining support for natural birth. Women can access a tub for water immersion and a few midwives are credentialled in waterbirth.

Mater Mothers, by reputation, is just like any other private hospital and you may need to work harder to prevent staff intruding on your clients wishes.

My knowledge is a little behind the times though but there are others from Brisbane on this forum who may offer more up to date info. All the best,

[moo]

Mater public or private? I am hearing some good feedback from public lately. Still depends on the staff lottery, no doubt. I would suggest your client enquires about a place in the group practise midwifery there.

[Jasper]

well I had both my girls at Ipswich and I think that its a great hospital as far as hospitals go. I dont have any major complaints at all and if they have a doula to 'protect' them then Ipswich will cause no complaints at all.
There is a wonderful natural midwife there named Richard and a younger new midwife named Raelene. Fingers crossed you get one of them!

[lucas&bean]

I'm not sure if there is much difference between the mater private and public. I had Lucas in 06 at Mater mothers public and I for one WILL NEVER have another baby there. (I know a few other mothers who have said the same thing)

I was induced (10 days over) and I would have to say it was worse than the labour. They were using a trial method using some kind of 2 bulb catheter. The dr tried 5 times to insert the speculum resulting in me haemorrhaging and going into shock - he then placed one hand inside my cervix and then with the catheter inserted the other hand - by this stage I was begging him to stop. I was given an injection to stop the bleeding and then was given temaz to put me to sleep (the pain was terrible)

before I was knocked out the midwife told me that I had already been 1cm dilated before they started the proceedure which meant I would have gone into labour in the next day or two but that wouldn't have been good for them as they don't like women having babies over the weekend.

I had come into hospital with a hand written birth plan - I was hoping to have a natural birth, I also wanted bub to be placed on my chest as soon as possible and wanted to wait until the placenta had stopped pulsating before the cord was cut.

I handed the plan to the dr who took one look and threw it in the bed and said that they were in charge here.

There was meconium in my waters so I was made to lie on the bed the whole time - they only let me go to the toilet once even though I frequently needed to go

I ended up having pethadine without my consent - it makes me ill and I didn't want it but still the dr gave it to me.

I was given an epidural by a trainee anaethetist (sp?) who was very unsure of what to do and ended up only numbing one side - whilst this was happening the tea lady walked right in and sat my tea down next to the bed (so much for privacy)

When Lucas was born they whipped him away without me even seeing him (I don't know why the rush as his APGAR score at birth was 9) He was then placed under a heat lamp well away from my bed. I begged to hold him saying my body heat would warm him BUT still they refused, I wasn't allowed to hold him until after they had given him his needles which was about 30 minutes after the birth.

The whole stay at the hospital was a nightmare and I ended up discharging just over 24hrs - I really needed to stay longer but just couldn't bare it. The midwives were constantly having a go at me for continually breastfeeding Lucas - he would stay attached for 2 or more hrs and I was told that he only needed 20 mins no more.

I do hope that the private hospital is better as this experience has scared me for life, I don't think I will ever have another baby in a hospital, from now on it's either a home birth or a birth centre.

[hanabi]

What an horrendous birth story Lucas&Bean !! If you were still living in Brisbane I would recommend you debrief with the folk at Birthtalk. Is there a Tassie equivalent? Did you ever tell the hospital about your experience?

[moo]

There's also Joyous Birth lucas&bean. I'm really sorry for the way you were treated, all too common sadly.

[lucas&bean]

Thanks Moo and Hanabi. I actually wrote a complaint about the induction with the midwives that witnessed the proceedure - there were 4 in the room and 2 walked out half way through (these 2 were the ones that I wrote it with)

I never heard anything from it though, and I did write a complaint to the QLD health department about my birth experience - this was 6 months after Lucas was born and was after I had visited CHN who accused me of being a bad mother because I was still bfing, hadn't started him on solids and was co-sleeping (Lucas was in the 95% for all growth) I was so upset that I wrote a huge letter about my experience and once again I heard nothing.

I haven't had any professional counselling just mainly support from beautiful people on other forums - joyous birth, BWC and ABA and of course my family.

It just makes me sad that this is such a common experience. Before I left my ex I was planning on having this baby in Brisbane and had organised a beautiful doula for a free birth - I just couldn't face going to a hospital again

[kadownie]

I've PM'd you Lucas&bean

the CHN sounds like an idiot-

I haven't been to a birth at the Mater Private- it would really depend on her CP....I would encourage both of your clients to come to hospital in roaring labour...of course you know that already..

I went through the Group Practice at the Mater- it's not available through the private hospital- but if your client was interested she could transfer to public- it was fantastic!! It may be hard to get in though as there are very limited places and they fill up quickly

[bennysgirl]

Oh gosh, lucas&bean, your story is heartbreaking! I'm glad you are getting support now, and I really hope you can find some healing through having loving people in your life. And what kind of nurse calls you a bad parent for breastfeeding at 6 months! Just crazy. Thankyou for sharing your story, that is exactly why I want to be a doula.

Thanks hanabi and Jasper, I'm feeling very positive about Ipswich now! My client was a little worried, she wanted a home birth but it wasn't possible this time, so hopefully this will provide her with a really wonderful, natural experience.

Thanks kadownie. I quietly reccommended that she give the private hospital and the obstetrician the flick, but she isn't an Australian citizen, so it is really very difficult without Medicare coverage. She is buying into this culture of "needing" a good doctor, also; concerning because her doctor is very opposed to her having a doula. My concern with the Mater private is that they are making it difficult for her to have a tour of the hospital because she has decided not to go to their antenatal classes (on the advice of a wonderful mother at her yoga class ), so it is difficult to get much information about the hospital. But definately, I will be absolutely encouraging her to stay in the comfort of her home until she is well and truly on the way to meeting this baby!