Hi Jessica, There are always a lot of stories about the birthing environment in this area!! There are 4 hospitals in the northern rivers where births occur - this is soon to be 3 I believe, when Byron Bay hospital ceases to accept births in the new year due to a shortage of insured and willing GPs. (Is this accurate Liz?) Of the 3 others, Mullumbimby is definitely the one promoting itself as a low intervention setting, but is not a birth centre. There is no midwives clinic, and everyone must book in through a GP. The selection criteria changes a lot, but is generally fairly flexible - they allow VBACs, sometimes older primips etc. There are no epidurals or c/sections here, but they will augment labours and do some assisted deliveries. At present the use of water is permitted in labour, but no official waterbirths - the women have to pay an outside contactor for the erection and hire of the water pool (about $250). There are 3 or 4 Gps who attend births at Mullum, and about 7 midwives working there, and they vary as always in their attitudes and approach. There are 3 birth rooms, but the midwives are shared with the rest of the patients in the small hospital. About 100 births a year. BUT, overall not too bad!!
Limore Base however is a teaching hospital with a 40% epidural rate, and climbing c/section rates. There is a nice postnatal ward, although only small for the volume of births. In my opinion, a bit of Russian Roulette as to attitudes and outcomes. Murwillimbah is not a teaching hospital, and is fairly conservative in its attitudes etc. A few years ago 5 homebirth midwives had boycotted this place due to its attitude to homebirth clients. I spoke to a Paed from Lismore the other day who said the birthing unit at Lismore was being revamped in 2004 and he was pushing to have pools available to women for labouring! He actually said a few months ago that Lismore was a bit of a 'white elephant' in the area due to its refusal to act on the needs of the birthing women!! There is also a new hospital proposed to replace both Byron bay and Mullumbimby in the next few years, and a birth clinic (again not centre) is planned for that too. So who knows, in 2004 there may be a vibrant new look for birth in this area!! But at present the usual political and territorial problems exist here - little support for homebirth women and the homebirth midwives, and a decreasing number of practising GP/obs. Hope this helps!! Sue Cookson feeling tired > > > Dear Mullum midwives, > Just wondering if midwives working in the Mullumbimby and surrounding areas > could fill me in on the work climate up there. > I'm living in Melbourne at the moment finishing off a post grad midwifery > course. Planning on moving up to Northern NSW towards the end of 2004 with my > partner and 2 little girls. > I'm passionate about women birthing in a supportive environment and would love > to hear about what might be up there for a fairly newly registered midwife who > is very KEEN! > I hear there is a great birthing community up there - and a birth centre in > Mullum? > > I'd really appreciate some tips from anyone in the know > > thanks > love Jessica Simms > > > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
