Hospital scouting

We're busy scouting for birthing hospitals and I must tell you, there's not an overwhelming choice out there - especially if your OBGyn only services Morningside or Parklane Clinic. Yesterday I went to check out Parklane and it filled me with fear. It was the official Monday tour and the nurses were rather mean and bossy. There was a group of about 40 of us (moms and partners) and we were ushered around the maternity ward. First one of the nurses tells us that all of us will be breastfeeding - no exceptions; and then the other says there'll be no whining if they can't find an extra bed for your husband to stay overnight. Mind you, you've paid for that facility (about R1200 a night) when you're in a private room. 'Tough luck. He'll just have to go home' were her exact words. The cheek! 

I shared my findings with Hein and he said it was all about where I felt comfortable. So what I'm thinking of doing is visiting Genesis Clinic in Saxonwold www.genesisclinic.co.za which specialises in natural births - and going the midwife route. What happens there is you get to pick your midwife and she will assist from henceforth and be there on the day of the birth too. Your OBGyn is really just on standby in case something goes wrong. Thing is, I'm just not finding these doctors comforting at all.

I'll let you know how it all goes.