Stay in public hospitals

S

steveholy

Registered User
These may seem like small details but some information would be helpful to give an idea about what to expect when staying in a public hospital after the birth of baby.

I am particularly interested in Prince of Wales, and for a public patient.

1) I know the mom can room in with the baby. Where does the baby sleep? Is a separate crib provided for the baby, or is the mom supposed to sleep with the baby in her own bed?

2) Can a carry-on baggage be brought as a hospital bag?
Where can this bag be stored? I am particularly interested in the security. As the room is not private, I am not sure how you can be sure that nobody will go through your personal items when you are wandering around, or in the delivery room, etc.

3) Assuming there are no health complications for the mom and the baby, are there any tips to make sure the stay in the hospital is as short as possible?

Thank you very much.
 
I delivered in PWH last June.

The baby has it's own separate crib that is on wheels, that you keep beside your bed, or you can put the baby in bed with you, if you put the bedrails up.

There is a cupboard beside your bed for storage which is lockable.
I was never concerned that anyone would go through my things and there isn't any need to to take valubles anyway.
A carry on size bag is fine.

One policy at PWH to be aware of is that they insist that the baby stay in the nursery for the first 12hrs after birth, supposedly so you can rest.
If you aren't happy with this, be insistent that they bring the baby to you.
I had to ask 3 times, but they realised that the only way to shut me up was to bring him to me.

If you want to leave early, give them as much notice as possible, as it takes them awhile to organise discharge.
Tell the nurses BEFORE the next Dr's rounds so they can organise paperwork.
I stayed a day and a half with both my births and found that was a good amount of time for all vaccinations and tests to be performed.
 
Hi there
MATTY gave you all the answers you needed. I just want to add some details:

2) Before you're wheeled from the antenatal (where you labour) into the labour ward (where you deliver), staff will take your bag, label it with your name/HKID and keep it safe for you till after birth. Your bag will be returned to you once you're in the maternal ward. I put mine under my bed, and locked my valuables (mobile phone, keys, coins) in the bedside table.
 
Yeah, like mosmom said they'll take your bag and keep it for you until after birth, so if your camera is in that bag, get it before you're taken to the delivery room! You're not allowed to take a phone in either, but they have a phone and let you use it whenever you want.
 
We took a phone with us into the delivery room at PWH.
I called my mum on it 10 mins after my baby was born!
No one said anything or tried to stop me.
 
Thank you for the useful information. I am also wondering whether video recording is allowed in the delivery room (at PWH). We don't want just pictures and want to record the whole experience if possible.
Any information will be appreciated.
Thanks.
 
hi, i can't imagine that they would allow you to do that.. though you can ask the health centre you're currently attending, or make a phone call to li ka shing specialist clinic or so to get an answer to that..

another thing: once i was in the delivery ward, i wasn't allowed to eat or drink anymore! i was in there for about 12 hours, and i didn't mind not eating (or didn't even feel like it - too much pain), but during the push-out phase, i would've liked to sip on some water. they were very strict on not letting me have a drop until after birth :( i am certain that i could've given birth much more effortlessly if i hadn't been left soooo dehydrated and with dry mouth during the birth procedure..
 
I gave birth at POW in January (I was a little nervous not knowing what to expect) but I cannot compliment staff enough, the care was just fantastic, very attentive.

I speak a little cantonese but they were just great with english or we stumbled through with hand signals. I never once felt isolated or "foreign" they seemed to try really hard to help me understand what was happening.

We did want to feed exclusively on goats milk and faced strong opposition from the staff on this, we decided its only 24 hours and chose to use their formula and systems until we got home.

Baby was in the nursery for approximately the first 12 hours and then with me for the next 12, (only after I insisted). I personally wanted to leave early the next morning (baby arrived at 4pm) but was advised 24 hours was the absolute minimum. I did try to negotiate earlier but no luck.

They were true to their word and I walked out the door at 4pm the next day, loving and appreciating the public system that saw my taxi ride home cost more than the hospital.

My advice would be, try and be relaxed, they do have different ways of handling "things" (as I am sure each country does,) but what they are doing is trying to keep you and your baby as safe as possible.

Insist on what you really want and I am sure that you will get it. (The first question I was asked upon admission was about my birth-plan.)

POW care was just great I cant recommend it highly enough!
 
the other thing i would suggest to every parent, whether they deliver at a public hospital or a private...

remember, no matter what birth you WANT, sometimes it doesn't work out that way. it doesn't make you a bad parent, it just doesn't work out.
 
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