It's all a bit here and there. Some women out there are actually having babies for the money while the majority arent. I agree with Shannon re non-emergency life saving etc births. Down here in Hobart there has been a massive increase in women having babies, so much so that our public hospital is unable to cope the last month and women have been having their babies at the private hospital next door. I have probably worded this all wrong, but my basic gist is- I see no problems in having a c/s booked for early july if it only means a few days over. But as with Trish it does make you worried about the stretching of staff and resources in the hospitals, esp for all the women who are due to be brought on or have spontaneous labour during this time. I think it is all just going to become a fact of the new payment, that July is going to be very busy, as I know in 2008 it is going up to $5000.

Love