RE: [ozmidwifery] Transfer Times and Private Hospitals

[Wayne and Caroline McCullough]

Title: Message

Yeah, I know about decision to inscision times and all that. I am not willing to have a homebirth by stealth. I love my husband and I want to keep him around! : ). Besides, he does have a vested interest in the brith because it is his baby too and he also concerned about me.

 

Today our midwife came over and it was great just to talk through these issues. She told me what she would do in a situation where we were being pressured to make a decision about intervention and I am happy with our contingencies.  She has advocated for quite a few women in both private and public hospitals and has had good outcomes. We also talked through about my husband's issues and eventually all agreed to go to hospital (but not before I am 7cm dialated). The good thing is that because we are going to the Mater private we are only a corridor away from the Mater public. If things did get nasty I would transfer to the public wing but I don't think it will come to that.

 

One thing that was mentioned I wanted to address... the hospital knows I am bringing my own midwife and I spoke to them about this and they are quite happy with that arrangement. As far as they are concerned if it helps me it helps them. What we have to deal with on an individual level is another story but that can happen anywhere.

 

My midwife and I plan on asking for a meeting with the midwife who does pre-admin interviews so that we can review my birthplan and raise any issues prior to going into the hospital.

 

In other words, we are doing everything we can to ensure a successful and stress free outcome and although I know the risks of intervention are higher at a private hospital, they can only do something to me if I allow it and I simply won't allow it unless there is a very very very very good reason.

 

Thanks for your feedback.

 

Cheers,

 

Cas.

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Debby M
Sent: Saturday, 14 December 2002 12:49 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Transfer Times and Private Hospitals

Caroline,

If it is any assistance my first VBAC occurred under the care of an obstetrician in a private hospital.  He actually sounds a lot like yours does ie. will to do breech VBACs.

I was able to negotiate him around on everything I wanted including no IV or bung.  The only compromise I made was on monitoring where I agreed to 20mins in the hour although in reality this did not happen as I refused to get out of the shower - I was not hassled about this.  Like you I had a midwife as a support person who was there with me under private arrangement and that worked really well.  In my case it was also handy because my OB knew her and trusted her judgement (Townsville is a small town) so he did interfere in the support she gave me.

VBAC in a private hospital can be done, the risk of "failure" is higher but if you are strong, and you and your support team stick as close to your plan as is logical, question every intervention no matter how small and explore the alternatives to the interventions being suggested (eg. bath instead of epidural, standing upright to delivery instead of forceps lying down) and just be strong and positive you will have a very good chance.  The only other thing I would say is stay at home for as long as possible.  If your midwife is at home with you then you are covered for an unexpected homebirth if things go more quickly than expected.

On the surgery thing I found the same information that Justine sites.  The decision to incision time is rarely within the 30min timeframe recommended for emergency caesareans - particularly in hospitals that do not have a resident anaethetist.  In my case my emergency caesarean occurred 1hr 45mins after I was told my son would die if I didn't have it!!

Debby

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