Middlemore

sorry cant help but good luck

Hi i was there 9 weeks ago. i was taken in by ambulance and the room i was put in had a pool. when i said something about it as i was wanting a water birth but couldn't as i was being monitored they told me that it is one of the 2 rooms with a pool so i think its first in first served in that regard.

not sure about wifi sorry. do you do crosswords? read? have a portable dvd player or laptop to watch some movies?

i would think you can have as many support people as you want. i had 2 support people but there were 3 chairs for friends/family etc in the room i was in. i would say that as long as they didn't get in the way of the professionals then you could have as many as you want.

i think you can take whatever you want to aid you in the birth.

hope that helps. and good luck

When I went in to have Jae they were still a bit strict with the swine flu cases in the media, so it was only 2 support people (I chose to have DP and my midwife, I had a c-section so she couldnt be there as an acting midwife)

No Wifi as far as I was aware, DP got a pre-paid mobile broadband t-stick for his laptop and that worked easy.

Cant help on induction and how long sorry... that is all different to each person... some people went from nothing to done within hours of induction, while others can take a few days... so I guess prepare for worst case scenario?

And theres only 2 birthing rooms with pools, so get your midwife to ring ahead when you go into labour if you want a better chance at getting one of them, otherwise you'll only get it if one is available when you arrive. You wont go straight there if you go for an induction though, you'll go over the other side to the assessment rooms until they can get labour started.

You cant take anything that involves fire as gas is connected to ALL birthing units, so it is a severe fire hazard (includes things like incense, traditional oil burners etc)... but anything electric is ok, they do have plenty of powerpoints available They are pretty open about what you can take in

have you done a tour of the hospital yet? You could ask your midwife to accompany you, or organise a tour with one of the hospital midwives for you, then that way any questions can be answered directly.

Good luck!!

I gave birth at middlemore via c section both times and found it great, the new rooms are good, staff friendly and helpful.
i asked for an ambulance both times when i was transfered to botany, this is a free service.

Good luck, so exciting you are going to meet your boy soon and celebrate his birth- day YAh!