Starship - What do I need to know?

 All I can say about Starship is they are fantastic!!!  Roman had open heart surgery on the 25th July and he was in hospital from 21st July to 8th August.  Same comment as Nikki - Ward 23B (the Heart Children's Ward) & PICU  they do expect you to be very hands on with meds, changing nappies, tube feeding, flannel wipe downs etc, but I found this helpful it gave me things to do to "look after" my baby and its stuff you would normally do at home (change, bath, feed etc) so it made me feel a bit useful even though I was feeling completely & utterly useless IUKWIM...

No wipes, so either bring your own or use their flannels. Bring your own nappies.

Breastfeeding mummies get provided with meals on the ward where your baby/child is.

We had a room at the Ronald McDonald Extension (as we are from AKL) while Roman was in PICU & HDU....different to the Ronald McDonald House...so I can't give you much info about the house, I believe at the house you have your own self contained apartment as such and you are responsible for your own meals other than one night where they provide a meal?, while with the Room that we had (the rooms are down a hallway off the Ronald McDonald Family Room in Starship) it was just a little room with enough room for a single bed & a trundler (sp). But it meant that both me and DP were able to stay and be near him while he was in PICU & HDU if anything happened....The Family Room provides breakfast, lunch & dinner as well as snacks & drinks throughout the day - FYI the Family Room is avaiable for use to any parents/children who are there at Starship....

When Roman was in his own ward room only one parent at a time was allowed to sleep over with him.

Definitly ask for a parents parking permit - there is only a certain number of parks so they can be hard to get a spot even if you do have a pass.  Try not to take your car out too many times lol.  If you do miss out on getting a spot - ask your ward reception for a discount voucher for the pay parking - instead of paying $20 a day for parking you only have to pay $10

hmm what else can I think of.....

All the staff there were great, they really tried to make a hard time as pleasant as possible......

Starship saved my baby's life so I love them!

Laurie. I'm so pleased for you and Jackson that they're finally doing something. Best of luck for your stay at Starship.

Thank you SO much everyone for all the really useful information, I really, really appreciate it. People have mentioned stuff I hadn't even thought of!

I think we will take our buggy, even though it is massive. If we do end up being there for 3 weeks, the last thing I want is to have to go and ask for one all the time. I don't think we'll hire a car, as nice as it would be we just can't afford it.

The "system" has been good to us so far - hospital is paying for both DH and I to fly up and back. DH will only be going for a week due to work committments, but I really couldn't do that first week on my own.

I am so scared and nervous. I know if there's anywhere that will find the issue, Starship is the place. But I am more scared of not finding anything, than actually finding something medically wrong. Because then what?!

This journey so far has been so hard, and I am so tired. I really hope that this gets us some answers cos I feel like I can't do this for much longer.

Sorry don't have any suggestions but really hope they'll find what's causing this
When are you coming up here?

Hey Laurie - I don't know a thing about Starship - except everyone says its awesome - the same with RMH.

I just want to wish you guys all the best - and hopefully you'll find out some answers!!!

Hi Laurie

My family and I have been up to Starship twice this year with my son and I can tell you that its extremely daunting thought when you are so far away from all of your family and support network, but I’ve found that no other hospital has anything on Starship (I’ve experienced Wellington and Lower Hutt hospital).

The RMH is fantastic! You will need to buy your own food, but there is great cooking facilities and about 3 nights a week, dinner is put on for you buy volunteers. The staff at the RMH are also awesome and will make you feel right a home straight away. I suggest that if Jackson is staying at the RMH with you, then you might want to take a small selection of his favourite toys for your ‘room’. The RMH has plenty of toys/books/play areas for the little ones. I also suggest you take a pram. The RMH does have prams you can use, but it’s never a certainty that a pram will be available when you want to use it. Starship is just a hop, skip and a jump from the RMH, but the Auckland Domain is right next door to the hospital grounds – great place to go to get away from the hospital for a little while. The RMH provide breakfast and endless amounts of bread. There is also food in the communal cupboards that you can help yourself too. Milk, tea and coffee are also provided. If you have a car, then you’ll get free parking under the RMH.

I also find Starship great. Unlike other hospitals, Starship is obviously designed for children. And because family if very important to children, they are very family oriented. I found the staff very friend and extremely helpful. I really cannot praise them enough.

My son’s formula was provided, but I had to provide nappies while he was in 23B (the heart ward). I was not feed, because I’m not a breast-feeding mum.

Good luck. If I can off any more advice please let me know.

Me too.....it's not like us non breastfeeding mums don't need our energy! But I guess there is only so much funding going around.

Well, we're off tomorrow night. I honestly believe it is not a moment too soon.

Jackson is very weak at the moment. He crawls slowly, falls over a lot and won't let me put him down at all. He sobs if I try. He is so think it breaks my heart.

I wish we knew what is going on. I am so scared that they won't find anything, cos I just don't see how we can carry on like we are. He won't suck his bottle anymore, I basically have to squeeze the teat so milk drips into his mouth for as long as he will let me.

I feel so down at the moment. I pray that Starship will be able to help us.

Is there a supermarket nearby the hospital? We can't afford to eat lots of instant-type food so will have to see what we can make up.

Thanks for all the support guys. xxx

There is foodtown down in either new market or quay st the link takes you directly past the new market one and stops outside the hospital. It runs in a circuit and is only one stage. Might be a little trip you can do one day?

linky to timetable map

ETA that the new market one is inside 277 shoping mall upstairs on level2 I think it is. Ask the bus drivers to let you know. Do it in the middle of the day as peak hour those buses are packed and often with school kids who are annoying. Oh and the link buses are green you'll know what I mean when you see them. If just wanting to go down the road to supermarket then back if you go directly down to new market take the bus from the oother side back up or you'll do the loop which  can take a few hours

Edited by oOElleOo

Thanks. I know - if anyone is going to find it, it's going to be these guys. I have a list of things I want checked, I just hope they'll check those things for me!!