I just visited the maternity ward at Baptist and I feel a little disappointed. It's like a mainland train station in there, with bunches of gruff men sitting around with giant suitcases and lots of women screaming on their cellphones in Putonghua. (BTW, I have nothing against Putonghua -- I'd be annoyed if they were screaming in any language). The shared public toilets are, uh, not good, and I don't blame the cleaning staff. The people left a mess.
What worried me was the fact that you cannot book a private room anymore. I wouldn't mind the behavior of the people outside if I could just shut a door. The nurse said they used to allow private room bookings, but not now. It's first-come, first-serve. And judging by how full it is (this is the second time I've tried to even view the maternity ward -- the first time was too busy) I doubt I'll get a private room.
Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't care about a private room. But at Baptist, they will only let baby stay with you if you're in a private room. Otherwise, you have to line up with about a dozen other people to see your baby through a glass window, and I bet that makes breast-feeding really hard.
I also checked out their -- don't know what to call it... labouring room? The place you go when your water's broken and you have contractions, but you're not quite ready to deliver yet. The berths are tiny. I asked the nurse where one could stand or walk around, and she just shrugged. "By the time you get to this point, you won't want to stand," she said.
I said I heard it might help speed up labor, but she wouldn't listen. "Women just lie down with the monitor on them."
Also, none of the rooms had any windows or sunlight. (Though I didn't see the private rooms, because they have been full every time I've tried).
I feel like I'm in a bind. I like my doctor and would like him to deliver. But I'm not sure about this place. That said, aside from maybe the very expensive Matilda, I don't know if any HK hospital is better.
Help from anyone?
Gracey.