hospital and other stuff
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Topic: hospital and other stuff
Posted By: ElfsMum
Subject: hospital and other stuff
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 1:15pm
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right firstly I just got a letter welcooming me to the Maternity service(lucky me) anyway it goes on about leaving after three hours etc..but it also says that's partners cannot stay overnight unless I or baby are seriously unwell..now call my ignorant but I just assumed as we have no other children that my DH could stay overnight..:( so I'm a little bummed about that (it says this counts all birthing units in this group so assumbably that's rangiora, burwood, lincoln and st georges..according to letter..
Hmmm..and during routine tests which turned out fine it turns out I have a probable strep b infection.. now she said it's fine that I just have antibiotics during labour etc..but isn't that what Tama's baby on Shortland street died of? I assume it's mostly risky to the baby if they don't know and that's why they have the test at 36 weeks? (obviously got mine early) so anyway..can I still have a natural birth(not that I am against C section) ?any experience would be great? I've read stuff that mostly says as long as they know about it it's fine ?? during the routine tests she found uro(or urea) plasmic cells which she said is fine as lots of women get it when pregnant and nethier that or the strep are STD related..lol..which is good to know:) ..but i have massive pills(erythromycin) to take 4 times a day with food for that ..and I have to go to get tooth fixed tomorrow..so hopefully everything will be ok.. :( any experience with any of this would be great.. *sigh* 13/14 weeks to go.. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Replies:
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 1:24pm
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I think most places, husbands cannot stay overnight. Its mainly to do with hospital policy and safety stuff. I missed home a little bit, but to be honest, I think it was harder on my husband than me - quiet house and missing his new baby etc. But really its only a few hours overnight - its pretty relaxed here, visiting hours are 11-8 but dads could stay later and come in earlier. We are lucky here, that the nurses will give you a sleeping pill if you want and take the baby for the first few nights so you can get a good sleep - they bring them in when they want to feed tho.
And with the strep b thing, I think its pretty common and you just get the antibiotics and its no reason not to have a normal delivery. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 1:33pm
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Hi Kawww, no partners can't stay at the hospital but I now for a fact that they let them stay at burwood (unless things have changed since june). To be fair you probably won't be that bothered about him not being at night, as far as I'm aware visiting hours for dads are till 10pm, there is plenty of support from midwifes at the hospital you won't feel abandoned or on your own. If you labour at night then obviously he gets to stay. On the delivery ward they even made my DH breakfast and they also offered to get a mattress for him to sleep on while I was in labour.
I don't know about the strep etc but after my waters broke I had to take the Erythromicin right up until he was born (definately take with food otherwise they can make you chunder  )
If I had laboured naturally I would of had IV antibiotics because of the increased risk of infection because of my ruptured membranes, doesn't mean that I would or he would have got an infection but is purely a precautionary measure. I didn't have to have them with the c/s (had a whole other truck load of drugs for that lol) Hope that helps a little. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 1:34pm
We went on a hospital tour last night and Dads can't stay overnight at North Shore Hosp either. DH did comment that he probably wouldn't want to as he'd either be sharing the single bed (unlikely  ) or sleeping on the lazy-boy. They do have long visiting hours for partners from 7 am to 9 pm.
As for the strep B thing - I think it is reasonably common and the antibiotics are safe so there's no reason why you couldn't have a normal delivery. -------------    
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 1:40pm
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That thing about the three hours has been added because of all the crap that has been going on at Christchurch Womens, doesn't mean you will be transferred within 3 hours it is just warning you that that could happen. I think they were also gonna start giving people lists of what clothes to bring for baby cos some women were being a bit dumb about it and babies were turning up at the birthing clinics v.cold etc.
At burwood they offered for DH to stay the night and we hadn't been transferred there till day 4....I think that you will find the birthing clinics don't run anything like the hospital they are a lot more friendly etc. If I was you I would look to transfer out ASAP to one of the clinics then your DH could probably stay the night with you (depending on what time you birth and whether everything is ok etc.) -------------
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 1:47pm
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i just assumed he could...he snores very very loudly..but if hes not there it will be very weird..but i just read further down that hours are 'very flexible' ..as far as the three hour rule it says ' if you choose to birth at CWH and have a normal vaginal birth, transfer to another unit or home will occur within 3 hours following birth if you are medically well. ' for c-section 24-36 hours...vaginal within two days to go home...c-section 3-4...
lol i just turned over and i have a list of what to bring..really.. OMG I can't believe that they need to write one:) oh well.. this one made me laugh (at least three packets of maternity pads..not slimline or g-string:) ) there is a good list of helpful numbers..and the breastfeeding policy too..hmm must read it all indetail.shall do that after dentist tomrorow:) well good to hear the rest of everything isn't too big a deal..thanks everyone:) I just don't even normally take panadol so worry bout the poor baby:) and yep cuppatea..the chemist worded it 'it goes down better with food...' which i took to mean eat with food or vomit:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 1:57pm
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That's great you got told about the hospital policy, we didn't know about it and because I had DD late at night (around 10pm) and had to stay at the hospital because of complications, by the time we got up to the ward it was close to midnight and DH was bustled out the door - so two hours after giving birth I was alone in a room with DD and three other mothers and DH was driving home in shock! It was really hard that the timing worked out like that for us and unfortunately we didn't strike a very sympathetic staff. The next couple of days were fine, the staff were lovely and DH was able to stay as long as he liked. And true, he wouldn't have been able to stay anyway in that room (he snores too!) but the realisation was a bit of a shock for us.
Sounds like Chch hospital has all the information sussed! ------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Posted By: Nic01
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 2:03pm
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I think with partners staying it's also because you are usually in a shared room, so I guess it's consideration for your room mate as well. I know at birthcare in auckland, partners can't stay with you unless you are in a private room. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 2:14pm
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mazzy what a shock..yes I'm glad they tell me rather than spring it on me later.. so there is that at least.. :) i guess i assumed you could get private rooms..I've only ever been to visit people who had c-sections (3 of them) who had private rooms and all of them had other children so their DH stayed at home with the other child.. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 2:14pm
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With Strep B I had it with both my boys. All you get is an IV in your arm and while in labour (about 7cm) you have a huge syringe full of penicillin put in you. I had no issues with it other than wanting to move my arm during a contraction but couldn't as I was still having the stuff put in me. Partners vary from hospital to hospital but usually if you are fine or baby is then they can't stay overnight - unless you are delivering your baby at 4am then they are allowed to be with you. When I had Andrew DH was set to stay overnight with me (as I was admitted for pre-eclampsia and was in the middle of an induction) on a roll out bed but Andrew decided to make his appearance during the night, and he ended up leaving the hospital at 4am. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 2:25pm
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You'll get told a lot more about the Chch womens stuff if you do AN classes there. We just got all the info from the lady about how you will pretty much definitely be transferred within 3 hours. If you think about it, there's only 17 beds at Chch womens, so they're pretty limited. But you make that choice when you decide where to birth I guess.
If you transfer to St Georges and want to stay more than 48 hours, apparently the price is higher than a motel for the night. Re the strep thing, taking antibiotics isn't a biggy, it's quite common and I wouldn't go stressing yourself out or comparing what you have to a character on SS! They wouldn't prescribe it to you if it would harm the baby. And the partners thing, when I was admitted to womens for a day a few weeks ago my DH was so uncomfortable the whole time (I obviously didn't have the baby!) when he was trying to have a nap. He would be more use to you going home and having a good night's sleep. Apparently you have enough endorphins etc running around in your body for the first day or so to not care, but DH's don't get that so it can be quite hard on them. |
Posted By: Tiff
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 2:25pm
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As Cuppatea said they will often let Husbands stay for the first night at Burwood and the same for Lincoln. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 2:29pm
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Christchurch womens is all private rooms with ensuite...very nice and new. Is only shared if you are in there ante natally and then it is only twin rooms. Burwood is also private rooms, they have one shared room which I was in but I was in it on my own, it holds six but they try to never have more than one woman in there and at max 2. Is shared showers etc though.
Also at CWH you are provided with tea etc but your visitors aren't so make sure DH has change for cafe and vending machines, he will get tea etc on labour ward but not on maternity ward. Burwood visitors can help themselves to tea and biscuits etc. -------------
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 2:34pm
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Also the thing with SS the reason their baby died was because she didn't get any antinatel care and didn't know she had it and that was how it was passed on to the baby. It really is no biggy so long as your LMC knows you have it. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 2:34pm
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as far as SS...just that was the only thing id heard of it but now have learnt a friend of mine had it.. and we are doing AN classes there but this info is pretty through...there 's a schedule about classes on the fridge and they seem pretty through at the classes too.:) as far as only 17 beds..they just made a big hospital but only put 17 beds in it...freaking crazy if you ask me:)
yeah 2 days is long enough i guess....my mum was saying oh but we had 7 days and that wasn't long enough...stay in as long as you can..I'm like..no thanks..two nights is enough:) I'm just surprised about some of the info that's all! awesome thanks cuppatea..we are going to Burwood if at all possible at the moment.. ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 2:44pm
They built the new hospital to the same capacity as the old
Wonder how much they payed a consultant for that piece of genius advice? -------------
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 2:57pm
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Emz, St G's is $460 a night to stay on after your allocated time, you could hire a cleaner etc at home for that!
You will be fine, Kaww and as you say at least you have all the info now and its not sprung on you. AN classes are really good and once your have done the tour etc you will be feeling 10 x more confident with the situation. -------------  
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 4:09pm
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yeah i hope so..roll on next time when i wont have to worry bout all thee things i don't know:)thanks everyone ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 4:22pm
| Yeah I'm not sure if its 17 beds i.e. birthing suites or 17 beds for the maternity ward. I guess when they don't keep many women there it's not surprising. The other places don't have too much capacity either (I was told lincoln would be lucky to get 5 out of the 7 or 8 beds filled at a busy time). |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 4:35pm
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i love lincoln..if it wasn't so far from us I'd be there in a shot..and i worry if something goes wrong ..I'd so much rather just go and stay in one place..but oh well..that's not the way it is to be:) ! ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 4:52pm
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National Womens only has 16 birthing units and Auckland is the bigges city in New Zealand! On the tour they did assure us, that they had never had to turn anyone away or make them birth in the coridoor! ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 5:24pm
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oh yeah i know they never turn people away ..they have to take you..its just they redid it two years ago but never added any beds..kinda silly really:) and that's why the quick three hour turnaround..doesn't seem to be the case in other parts of NZ ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: becsscolly
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 6:49pm
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Sounds like many of you ChCh ladies are planning on birthing at Womens??
I've decided to go striaght to Lincoln, yes its further away, but I've had no complications and am not wanting an epidural so figured that I may as well go straight to a place where I get to stay... food for thought (sorry not trying to pressure anyone, just makes sense to me to free up womens for those with complications/history of issues and what not). ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 6:54pm
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Hey becsscolly, I was gonna birth at Burwood, just didn't work out. They are trying to actively encourage more women to birth at the birthing clinics. -------------
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 7:44pm
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bec.. tiff in feb is planning on the same as you.. lots of people do...just for me i want to be where i need to be if i choose pain medication( i dont know what i will be wanting having not done it before) although i do understnad they transfer you to CWH if they think you even may slightly need to so no worries there..but I am already freaked out enough having to transfer three hours after I just want to make sure I'm where i need to be if i need extra help..as you say it's one of those personal decisions..:) if i was confident i didnt need pain relief etc then burwood/lincoln are great options..:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 8:03pm
| Ben was allowed to stay at burwood for both of my babies but would of had to sleep in a chair so chose to go home. A friend just had a shared room at rangiora and her partner was allowed to stay on the spare bed but he chose to go home too. I also was allowed to stay at burwood as long as I liked and stayed 3 nights with Jack but only 2 with caprece. They made me feel like I was going home too soon with her as well. |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 9:00pm
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Kawww you'll probably find if you are transfered to a birthing unit after the birth - you'll still get the support you need and be kept an eye on.
With strep infection - everyone has pretty much covered things as far as labour goes.. what it means for baby is it will be kept a bit of an eye on - and any signs of fast breathing or anything wrong will be acted on - mostly we just end up with bubs at the worst case scenario having to have some antibiotics as well for a few days. Like others have said - if you are aware and docs are aware then it means extra care can be taken for you both - and that's a good thing  ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 10:28pm
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Janine you have just explained why Josh had to be checked every few hours. I just thought it was routine ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: MissCandice
Date Posted: 09 November 2007 at 10:49pm
Hey kaww.. i had to take the same pills as you, i had the same thing. I birthed at womans as i laboured fast, i wanted to be at burwood but MW didnt think id make it. Im glad i did tho because kylah stopped breathing 10min after she was born, and had to go on oxygen. DF had to leave lie 2 hours after she was born which was 10.52pm, i got discharged at 10am as there was no room to keep me, and nowhere in chch to transfer too so had to go home  i didnt get shown anything, not how to feed her, latch her, not even bathe her.. i barely seen a nurse and i could hear them all complaining outside! ------------- ~ Mummy to a beautiful girl ~ |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 7:54am
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:( oh that sucks:( why did she stop breathing..was it because of the medication or anything? ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 8:17am
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Hey Kandice, what the hell was your LMC doing letting them discharge you? -------------
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Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 10 November 2007 at 9:19am
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Part of the reason why they don't let partners stay overnight is a safety issue, too - I know it sounds crazy, but otherwise you're sleeping (or trying to) and in a rather vulnerable frame of mind, in an un-locked room with a guy who is a complete stranger just one door away - in palmy 2 rooms share the 1 ensuite, so if you really wanted you could just wander through and visit your neighbour without going out your bedroom door into the corridor. I missed DH overnight in hospital, and really wished I could have had him there, but was grateful that my neighbour's partner wasn't staying, because all I could hear from their room was him ranting away and being a total ar$e to her... and let's face it, it's not only nice guys who get to be daddies, so while most of the men there are good value, there's always the chance of a weird one there! As much as it's an inconvenience for you, the policy is also there to look out for you. But thank goodness they have longer visiting hours for partners, eh! ------------- Andie |