Choosing where to give birth in Perth

Hi, I'm Karenna from Hope and Honey offering HypnoBirthing, childbirth classes, birth pool hire and much more in Perth, Western Australia. Here's my latest blog on birth options in Perth:

It's a tough decision - some people don't think much about it, they just look at what's available in their local area. Other people prefer to do some research on all the options. Whatever end of the spectrum, choosing where to give birth in Perth is a big decision, is really individual and one not to be taken lightly or to be rushed. 

But do you know all the options available in Perth? There's probably more than you think. Here's a link to a list of the options in Perth from my friend at Birth Savvy. 

There are so many opinions out there and many people turn to friends and family and good old 'word-of-mouth' to help inform their decision. There's also a place for some hard statistics but these are really hard to find. Below are some statistics on caesarean rates in this graphs below. It's not often we get the opportunity to compare the various hospitals across Perth so this is really useful, but remember c-section rates are only one part of a much bigger story. 

Caesarean Section Rates in Perth and Around the World

It does however give us some food for thought. Often a hospital with high c-section and induction rates (if not high-risk like KEMH) shows their policies are to intervene in birth so if you're looking for a natural birth - perhaps you could explore other options such as midwifery care, the family birth centre or an independent midwife. 

Hope & Honey don't advocate any particular hospital or way of birthing because the only thing that matters is that you and your family are comfortable and happy with your selection. It saddens me when I meet or hear about families who are getting increasingly dissatisfied with their care or feel that their caregiver isn't supportive of their choices. It takes a huge leap to step away from care that you're planning or have paid for but remember that getting the birth you want and being on the same page as your doctor is much more important. If you want to chat through your options, please feel free to contact me. 

What Hope and Honey do advocate is doing a bit of research, deciding which is best suited for you and working hard to develop a good relationship with your chosen caregiver. Feeling informed, supported and comfortable with your birthing decisions is the best way to ensure you get the birth experience you want and deserve.

Much love xxx

For more information and advice, why not sign up to Hope and Honey's HypnoBirthing or childbirth education classes?