Reasons for transfer to a major public hospital
Intensive care nurseries for babies - levels 1, 2 and 3
Which hospital?
Transfer from a home birth
Emotional reactions and support strategies in case of a transfer
Transferring from the place you originally planned to give birth can be an unsettling and unexpected outcome. When most people think about 'transfer to hospital' for having a baby, they usually believe it only relates to women who plan a homebirth, or if they are having their baby in a birth centre. What is not as well known is that women booked into the delivery suite of a private hospital, a smaller public hospital or a smaller rural hospital may also need to transfer, usually if complications arise for the woman (or her baby soon after birth).
In Australia in 1999, 2.6% of women needed to transfer to another hospital and 4.1% of babies transferred to another hospital from their place of birth.
Therefore, although it is not all that common, it is important to know that it is possible and something you may need to consider when planning where you will have your baby. It can also help to be prepared for the small possibility of having your baby in a major public hospital delivery suite (if you have not already planned to), or having your baby transported to a hospital with intensive care facilities for very sick babies.