I cannot recommend the Mercy enough. It is the best hospital I've ever visited in Victoria. I had my son at the Mercy in April 2007 and my daughter in August 2008 and will be returning there when this baby is due in February 2009.

With my first pregnancy I was originally going through the Birth Centre and it was great. I had my antenatal appointments there up until 35 weeks when I developed HELLP Syndrome and Pre Eclampsia. They don't admit patients with complications so I was transferred into the normal birth suite. I was disappointed at this because I thought it would mean a lower/less personal level of care. However I was wrong.

After being admitted through the emergency dept at 35 weeks I was induced and delivered my baby boy. He was healthy and big enough not to need special care so he stayed in the ward with me. The wards are beautiful. I was a public patient and the public rooms are all two patients per room. A lot better than many hospitals that have 4 women per room. It's all brand new and fantastic. The midwives and doctors were all lovely and very caring. I stayed 3 nights 4 days before being discharged.

With my second pregnancy I was classified as high risk due to previous complications. I was at a higher risk of developing the same condition again so I saw a team of obstetricians through the outpatients dept. They were all lovely but sometimes I had to wait a while. This is because there are less obs than midwives, the women seeing midwives didn't have to wait long at all. At 32 weeks I started getting symptoms of HELLP syndrome again and I was admitted to hospital in the ward so they could monitor me closely. They were very helpful, explaining everything to me in detail and always asking how I was. My condition deteriorated very rapidly on the 4th day when I was 33 weeks and I ended up seizuring which was a sign my condition had progressed into full Eclampsia. They stabilized me and rushed me off for an emergency caesarean. They explained everything to my husband, who was understandably stressed and worried about me. My daughter was well but needed some assistance in the special care nursary, which was also great. They allowed my husband to stay the night in one of the rooms designed for parents to stay the night before their premature baby is discharged (so they can get used to feeding at night etc) because it had been such a long and stressful day for him as well, and because he wanted to be near me because I was in and out of consciousness.

I was in hospital for all up 2 weeks, recovering from the complications. Everyone was amazing. The doctors took a lot of time explaining what happened and letting us ask questions. They were always available when we wanted them. They were also concerned about our emotional well being, and making sure we were ok and coping with the stress.

I'll almost certainly get the complications again this pregnancy, but there's no way I'd even consider going anywhere else other than the Mercy, public or private. I feel very lucky to have such an amazing hospital nearby. I highly recommend it to anyone.