Birthing: North Shore V Auckland hospital

Can you get your midwife to 'refer' you to birth care? Sorry not in Auckland so dont know the different proceedures.

My cousin is birthing at NS hospital in the next couple of weeks, I can 'drill' her if you like

One thing I would definitely urge you to consider is the journey into Auckland hospital whilst in labour (not an issue if you were having an elective CS of course). I was super keen on the idea of birthing at birthcare (so about the same distance as Auckland hosp) but the thought of a car ride, in labour, potentially during peak hour traffic absolutely put me off. We live 10 mins from North shore hosp and that car ride, even at 3am so no traffic, was HELL.

So in the end I had DD at North Shore and it was great - if you do a tour of the maternity ward and birthing suite you'll see it's really modern, bigger birthing rooms than birthcare (can't compare to Auckland hosp), great facilities and, assuming you have family/friends on the shore, easier for them to come and visit you.

My understanding is that if you birth at Auckland, you have to pay for a private room at birthcare or have a shared room. I did have a shared room at NSH, but it was empty a lot of the time and really wasn't a problem at all.

I think that, while you're pregnant, where you give birth and the facilities etc etc are so important, but when you're actually there, as long as the place you're in is clean, comfortable and has nice staff, it really doesn't matter. I think your midwife's knowledge of NSH will also mean she is more in her comfort zone and that can only be a good thing. Also consider your midwife's travelling time to Auckland hosp - you'd hate her to be stuck in traffic with baby on the way!

Whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy the rest of your preg (from you ticker I see it's been a long hard road) and have an awesome birth

Thanks for the responses! My antenatal classes include a NSH tour and I will also look at Auckland as well so I can really get a feel for both hospitals.

CC - haha yeah drill her for me and pm me to let me know Thanks!!

Hayz - thanks for the thoughts :) Im lucky in that Im 2 mins from NSH and about 12 mins from Auckland (unless I hit peak hour traffic of course!) im sure you are absolutely right that when the time comes I wont be thinking about all the things I am now. And thanks - Im definitely enjoying my pregnancy, the long hard road has really made me appreciate it so much more

caliandjack wrote: I wouldn't worry about being in labour in traffic that was my fear as well, if you are going to give birth that quickly you'll most likely end up at home.

Its the travelling while in labour thats hideous! Don't actually know about the hospitals since I'm not in Auckland sorry I'm just having a random stalk through OB lol but I agree with a PP who said driving while in labour is horrible. I had a 10 minute drive with #1 and it seriously felt like an hour then I had a 40 minute drive with #2 and it was like one protracted nightmare. Theres something about being in a moving car while having contractions that really just throws your game off!

Hope you feel comfortable with your final choice and GL!!

Babe wrote: caliandjack wrote: I wouldn't worry about being in labour in traffic that was my fear as well, if you are going to give birth that quickly you'll most likely end up at home. Its the travelling while in labour thats hideous! Don't actually know about the hospitals since I'm not in Auckland sorry I'm just having a random stalk through OB lol but I agree with a PP who said driving while in labour is horrible. I had a 10 minute drive with #1 and it seriously felt like an hour then I had a 40 minute drive with #2 and it was like one protracted nightmare. Theres something about being in a moving car while having contractions that really just throws your game off!

Oh yes. I was in transition on the trip, which hopefully you won't be, but I can tell you where every single contraction was on the way in. Eeeugh, not a trip I want to repeat in a hurry.

I have had 'birthed' at both. The care depends on the midwife you get to be honest. I had more grumpy unorganised old bags at Auckland , but the docs were better at auckland. Only had one annoying midwife at NSH.
I guess if something were to go wrong Id be more comfy at Auckland. Have had far too much experience with their pediatric team (my first babe is a heart kid) and they are awesome
Next time I want Auckland - cause I dont want to have to have a c section - and NSH hospital will not let me trial labour
I will also go to Warkworth to recooperate - sounds awesome!

Edited by Raspberryjam

I just spent 6 days at Auckland hospital- 3 nights post delivery. I had a great stay, if you have a csection the staff care is amazing. Last time I birthed there and had a c-section but transferred to Birthcare. I also found the care good but didn't like the shared rooms so this time decided to stay in the hospital as I wanted the privacy.

I birthed at Auckland but live on the North Shore, because my specialists only delivered at Auckland. Mine was a different situation because due to high blood pressure, as soon as I went into labour I had to go straight to the hospital. But it happened at 5pm on a Friday so of course peak traffic, but we managed. I wasn't thinking about anything but the pain haha traffic or otherwise.

In terms of my experience at Auckland hospital, it was awesome. I was meant to go to birthcare but never made it as my blood pressure was still high and feeding wasn't going well yet. So I ended up with 4 days at Auckland and they put me in a private room so we could get feeding sorted and also because my bub weas really distressed and bruised after forceps delivery, and I had some amazing supportive midwives who helped me through all the struggles, tears and emotions until we got it right. I actually didn't want to leave hehe. And I stayed in Auckland hospital twice last year and I thought the food was great hehe. In any case no matter where you go you get staff you gel with more than others, but on the whole I was very happy.

I don't have experience of North Shore hospital to compare it to but I was very happy and I have friends who did make it to birthcare who enjoyed the experience. Similarly I have friends who had a good experience at North Shore but did say they would have liked something like birthcare to go to

Had both of mine at NSH.. loved it! What is about Auckland that you want?

PB some of the girls who went to warkworth said the fact it was so far away was a good thing cause it ment less visitors lol. And your DH can spend the first night with you.

My sister's wee boy spent time in the NICU's at Middlemore and Auckland and the SCBU at NSH and she said they are all great.

Your paranoia is totally justified! you've had such a rough time of it, have you thought about having a chat to someone before bubs arrives.