Useful Information

Choosing a hospital

We understand the confusion and uncertainty that surrounds the decision of where to give birth. Here is a list of questions that we hope will guide you through the selection process, giving you a greater understanding of each hosptial that you are considering.

Does the hospital:

provide private labour suites
allow partners/coaches present at delivery
allow partners present if dleivery is by caesarean section under epidural (most hospitals do not encourage this if a general anaesthetic is given)
provide a ratio of one midwife to one client in active labour
allow baby to room-in with mother in shared and private rooms
employ registered midwives/obstetric nurses for your care in active labour
encourage a breast feeding friendly atmosphere with lactation consultants on staff
provide on-site specialist backup, for emergency situations
have a special care baby unit (purely for neonates) staffed by experienced staff
have adult high dependency unit or intensive care unit
conduct a wide range of health education classes
provide a telephone hotline to give advice following discharge
have international quality accreditation
provide alternative methods of pain relief e.g. aromatherapy, acupuncture
provide an epidural on demand service
nursing staff trained regularly in emergency procedures by an international body
have all inclusive maternity packages - no hidden extras

What to Bring to Hospital

Details of what the hospital supplies is linked HERE.

However you may consider:

night clothes (at least 3 changes)
films and camera
list of addresses and telephone numbers of friends and relatives you wish to contact
birth announcment cards
champagne, beer, wine (alcohol is not sold at the hospital)
books, magazines
nursing bras
aromatherapy burner and oils if you are going to use them in labour
portable CD player and discs (private rooms have DVD, VCD, CD)
chapstick for lips and/or Evian spray for face
socks
something to carry your baby home in
comfortable clothes and shoes to wear home
old/disposable underwear
clothes and wraps for the baby to wear home
don't forget to pack for your partner

Going into labour

When you go into labour we advise you to call the maternity unit and our midwifery team will give you advice, and contact your doctor if necessary.

On admission to hospital you will meet the midwife who will look after you during you labour for the duration of her shift. During your labour the midwives will liaise with the obstitrician who is managing your care. There is normally a ratio of one midwife to one client weh you are in established labour.

If you have prepared a birth plan our care will be guided by your requests. You may choose which ever poistion you would like to adopt during labour providing it is safe for you and your baby. We supply beanbags, rocking chairs and fit balls, or you can choose to soak in the bath or take a walk in the hospital grounds.

We have an epidural on request service. Obstetricians normally work with their preferred anaesthetist to provide you with this type of pain relief. Other types of pain relief include: entonox, also known as 'gas and air', pethidine and TENS.

Labour Suite

Your partner, or family member will be encouraged to be with you during labour.

We promote early mother and baby bonding in the delivery suite. If you wish to breast feed, breast-feeding initiation in the labour suite is encouraged.

In case of an emergency caesarean section our theatre staff are fully trained and on call 24 hours a day, every day, to assist your obstetrician. Caesarean sections are carried out in our operating theatres with new 'Ultra Clean' air ventilation systems that greatly reduce the risk of infection.

In very rare circumstances when high dependency or intensive care is required for the mother, a transfer maybe necessary to our High Dependency Unit (HDU) or Intensive Care Unit (ITU) . Alternatively, transfer to the ICU at Queen Mary Hospital may be required depending on individual circumstances.

Medical/Specialist and Emergency Cover

Currently we have doctors including obstetricians, paediatricians, anaesthetists, general surgeons, orthopaedic surgeons, cardiologists and family practitioners who live on site and perfom on-call duty for emergencies after office hours.

Please be assured that the back up emergency obstetricians will only be called at the request of your own obstetrician. For example, if they are unexpectedly unable to attend your delivery, are detained at another hospital, or there is an unexpected threat to the well-being of you or your baby we may call the back up team.

We advice prospective parents to check with their own obstetricians about the level of obstetric emergency care they provide or the available on-site cover at the hospital you or your doctor has chosen for your delivery.

Postnatal Care

A multidisciplinary team provides postnatal care in addition to our obstetrician and paediatrician our team includes midwives, lactation consultants, nursery nurses, healthcare assistants and physiotherapists. The team aims to provide support and education the enable you to feel confident in caring for your baby by the time you leave the hosptial.

We offer a breast-feeding friendly environment and follow the recommendations of the World Health Organisation and UNICEF 10 steps to successful breastfeeding. In conjunction with this many of our midwives and nurses are fully qualified lactation consultants. However equal and non judgemental support and education is given to mothers who wish to formula feed.

Your obstetrician and paediatrician will normally visit daily.

We do encourage you to keep your baby with you as much as possible to assist with the transition to parenthood, this should enable you to feel more confident when returning home with the baby. Alternatively you may use the facility of our well baby nursery when every you choose.

There is a foldaway bed in each private room, should your partner or relative wish to stay overnight with you.

We have an open visiting policy, although young children not related to you are not encouraged to visit due to the infection risk.

You will be able to select your meals each day from the a la carte menu and these are included in the daily hospital charge. Visitors may order meals but these will incur separate charges.

Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU)

Parents are encouraged to spend as much time as possible in the unit sharing in the care of their baby.

Transfer to our SCBU is under doctor's instructions and your baby will be under the care of your chosen Paediatrian.

Where ever possible, mother and baby will stay in the Paediatric Uint in a shared mother and baby room once the baby is trasferred out of the SCBU and mother is discharged from the maternity unit.

All paediatric staff have experience in the special care of a sick new-born and liaise closely with midwives regarding breast feeding.

Approximately 1:500 cases of very sick babies, or those born under 34 weeks gestation need to be transferred to the nearest regional neontal intensive care unit with an available cot. This is most commonly Queen Mary Hospital or sometimes the Prince of Wales Hospital .This is a standard international practice throughout the western world and also normal practice for all private hosptials in Hong Kong . The government has set up a flying squad including a full team of specialist staff to do the transfer during office hours 9am to 5pm daily for which they will charge the patient around HK$8,000. Outside of these hours the transfer will remain as previously, by ambulance under the escort of our hospital staff.

Most insurance companies do not cover the normal labour and delivery. However, if your baby requires emergency care this may be covered. We strongly advise all insured patients to confirm the level and scope of cover with their insurance company prior to admission to hospital.

After your discharge home

Maternity unit staff are available by telephone 24 hours a day for support and guidance immediately folloing your dischage. The midwife can also refer you to the doctor on-call if you or your baby has a medical problem.

Your baby's first visit to the Matilda Well Baby Clinic is free. The clinic runs on a Tuesday and Thursday, no appointment necessary.

We offer a range of postnatal support services, pilates excercise class, mother and baby group, certified child care courses for domestic helpers and infant and child first aid and emergency care courses. Click here to link to health education.

Well woman check ups can be arranged through our Well Woman Clinic at Matilda Health Centre 2849 1500

Information on private community postnatal services is available on request.

Epidural Information

Origins of Labour Pain

The uterus and birth canal structures are supplied by a rich network of nerves. These nerves enter the bony spine of the back and travel along a common pathway – the spinal cord – up to the brain. During labour, when the uterus contracts, and when the birth canal structures are stimulated by the descent of the baby, these nerves are stimulated and messages are transmitted back to the brain via the spinal cord. The brain will perceive these messages as pain.

How Does an Epidural Work?

The rationale behind epidural anaesthesia is to ‘block’ transmission of pain messages before they travel up the spinal cord. This is achieved by inserting local anaesthetics and pain medication into the epidural space, which lies behind the bony spine just outside the outer covering enclosing the spinal cord.

How is an Epidural Administered?

Epidurals are always given by an anaesthetist after explanation and obtaining your written consent. Prior to the procedure, an intravenous infusion (drip in your arm) will be started. You will then be positioned either sitting up or curled up on your side to curve your back. Your anaesthetist will then ‘freeze’ the skin of your back with some local anaesthetic, and once this is effective, he/she will locate the epidural space with a hollow, blunt tip needle. Once the epidural space is found, a very thin plastic tube (catheter) will be threaded through the needle into the epidural space. The needle is removed and the catheter is taped to your back and remains in place until you have given birth. Drugs are given through the outside end of the catheter periodically for maintenance of pain relief.

Advantages of Epidurals

Epidurals offer more complete relief from pain/discomfort in labour than any current alternative
Normally, epidural anaesthesia is straightforward and very effective, with little risk of harmful effects
Does not cause sedation which is important for women who want to be alert during their birth experience
For medical reasons, an epidural may be indicated e.g. twins, breech delivery, women with high blood pressure, premature ‘pushing’ efforts before the cervix is fully dilated
A working epidural can be extended if another procedure becomes necessary, such as forceps delivery, caesarean section or removal of a retained placenta

Disadvantages of Epidurals

An epidural may cause a lowering of the blood pressure, but this is usually monitored and treated, by giving intravenous fluids and occasionally drugs.
Occasionally an epidural does not provide complete pain relief. If this happens your epidural may need to be repositioned, replaced altogether or a different combination of drugs may need to be used
Legs may feel heavy, weak or numb leading to restricted mobility in labour
One of the pain medications administered with the epidural can cause itchiness, and the combination of drugs may need to be adjusted to relieve this
It is suggested that epidurals slow progress of labour, but this has not been validated by scientific studies. The modern epidural regimen for labor – ‘mobile epidurals’ – is even more unlikely to affect the progress of labor.
Occasionally, an epidural may attenuate the sensation of a full bladder resulting in difficulty passing urine. This may require a bladder catheter which has a small attendant risk of urinary infection
On rare occasions, a headache may occur, and this is due to inadvertent puncture (during the epidural placement) of the dural membrane, which is the layer behind the epidural space. The chances of this happening is less than 1%.