Hospitals and Xmas
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Topic: Hospitals and Xmas
Posted By: emz
Subject: Hospitals and Xmas
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 12:40pm
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For those that have been or are due around Xmas/New Years, is there cause for concern with the lack of doctors, anaesthetists etc around at that time of year?
I'm due 4 Jan with the possibility of being induced anytime up to the due date because of bub's growth, and I've heard horror stories of people not being able to be induced or have epi's because there's noone there to give them out 
With the way Chch Womens is anyway, I'm starting to worry about the level of care me and bubs are going to have. Any thoughts, or experiences? |
Replies:
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 1:55pm
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I always thought that hospital staffing levels ran at the same over xmas as they do the rest of the year, afterall babies aren't gonna wait. Unfortunately people love to tell you horror stories and no matter what time of year or where you are birthing you will hear them all, and no matter what time of year it is always possible for inducements etc to be cancelled because of acute cases.
Are you intending to transfer to one of the birthing units? In which case once you transfer you care will be very good (from my own experience at burwood and I've not heard anything bad about the other clinics). I also had a relatively postitive experience with CWH was there for 3 weeks antenatally and 3 days postnatally and although they are short staffed etc I never felt neglected or in danger or anything like that, they were always very responsive on the occasions that I had to call upon them. I think most of the problems with CWH are the quick transfers, lack of beds and perhaps the lack of help with breastfeeding etc cos they are understaffed. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: MissCandice
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 1:56pm
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My level of care at chch womans sucked completly and i had kylah in august!! Hopefully your experience is alot better! Not much help i know but i wanted to wish you luck anyways ------------- ~ Mummy to a beautiful girl ~ |
Posted By: Glow
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 2:01pm
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I didnt have a problem with my xmas eve baby. ------------- Mummy of Two Boys B: 2004 K: 2007 |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 2:05pm
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emz i have heard the same stories as you..hopefully you wont have to worry about it but if you do hopefully they are just stories and it is better care than they are famous for:( ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 4:05pm
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You would think as babies come at all times of the year that they would keep the staff levels the same. If you feel your care is bad in anyway make sure you complain big time, the only way things ever get done is if they get a complaint in writing. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: tashzmum
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 4:31pm
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i had tash on new years day and i had excellent care at the birthing unit i was at. infact i was the only person there lol so i had all the staff to myself for the first couple of days!!!
i am guessing chch womans would be different though. and bearing in mind most people talk about horror stories, you dont often hear about the good things. ------------- Natasha Jayde, 1-01-05(7lb3oz) Caroline Elisabeth, 9-04-08 (4lb15oz) Izabella Kate, 9-04-08(6lb7oz) Lexi Brenna, 23-01--2011(6lb6oz) |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 4:41pm
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thats true...its mostly that they say they are hugely understaffed at xmas..and my friend did have trouble having c-section etc..but maybe they have fixed up the staffing issues?:) ! ? ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 5:18pm
| Thanks for your advice ladies! I might ask my m/w what the deal is, because I'm getting transferred onto an OB at the hospital to discuss and monitor baby's growth. M/w has indicated she may want to induce at 39ish weeks if not earlier which is right in the middle of the Xmas/New Year break and I would rather it was not put off. Most of the 'horror stories' are about how people with scheduled inductions or needing epidurals simply for pain relief, not for c-sects, haven't been able to get them in that break. |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 5:24pm
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I had a c/s on 27/12/03, granted it was in Palmy but no issues - and that's with her going into neonates for the night as well. -------------  |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 6:07pm
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sounds like it wont be too bad then emz.. best wishes for it..I'm sure it will all go well! ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: bookwyrm
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 8:46pm
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I am more worried about the fact my midwife is going away on holiday, I need to ask her what dates and get her to introduce me to the backup midwife. I am birthing at a birth centre, it is close to the hospital which is nice (if i need it).
I think I am about ready for bubs to hurry up. I know I am almost 38 weeks and every extra day benefits bubs, but I am so sick of the spd pelvis thing, the seperated tummy muscles, the swollen and numb feet / cankles... etc etc. Whinge whinge. Let's hope things go well for both of us Emz!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 8:52pm
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ladyluck if i go on time my mw will be away too and there are four other mw's in the practice i could get..next time I go I will hopefully be introduced to one specifically...:)!!! freaking having a stranger deliver my baby! ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: bookwyrm
Date Posted: 11 December 2007 at 9:29pm
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Yeah I hear ya. It's a lil scary, since every midwife has a different idea on labour and the birthing experience. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 12 December 2007 at 3:47pm
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Emz granted we're in different cities but my OB said that the space between Christmas and New Year was great for having the baby in because it wasn't busy at the hospital. -------------  
 
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Posted By: AlyAyde
Date Posted: 12 December 2007 at 5:22pm
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I had a christmas day baby. And there was heaps of staff, doctors etc. So was not a problem at all for us. ------------- Jayde 25/12/04 Alyssa 08/04/03 http://Alyayde.bebo.com |