thanks GoingtobeinAsia. Its been rough but he is still here (needs a heart-lung transplant tho).
Warning - be really careful of internet searches for stuff about preg or complications. It can do your head in! Be really careful surfing!
Can you talk with other expats about their exp birthing where you are now? Problem is I guess that if you get nervous towards the end of preg and want to change your mind you cant fly out to Aust after a certain number of weeks. And you need to feel safe to birth well I think. That is why I am going to our best public hospt even though I have to drive past a few other good hospitals to get to it (and its over an hour from home). I feel really safe there as we have been going there for our DS's care for years (the ladies in the cafe know how I like my coffee too!).
It sounds like you are having a challenging time, coping with complications and needing a heart-lung transplant. I hope everything works out.
Thanks for your advice about relying on the internet. I keep that in the back of my mind. I am trying to stay relaxed and let nature take its course. If something crops up, I will deal with it then.
My obstetrician said the FV Hospital here has Western-standard birthing facilities. I just wanted to see whether going home was logistically possible. I was shocked when the doctor told me I'd have to leave the country two months before the due date and then the baby wouldn't be able to fly for a month after the birth. And... reducing the time spent outside Vietnam by taking the bus to and from Bangkok (16 hours minimum) doesn't sound like a very nice alternative!
I also wanted to explore going home because I've visited people in Vietnamese hospitals and the places are terrible. I've also spent the night in a local "international" hospital which wasn't all that flash. I haven't been to the FV Hospital yet.
I bumped into a lady with a 3-month old baby at the medical center this week. She said she went back to Australia for the birth but only because she had already planned to return at about that time. She said some of her friends had babies locally and had good experiences at the FV Hospital. So that information was heartening.
Not that this is much help to you BUT might be for someone else out there ... in 2006 it was nearly $2000 to be a private patient in a public hospital in Ballarat, Victoria ... Thankfully i had health insurance and didn't have to pay it
I went and looked at the local hospital yesterday and I don't want to have the baby there. The staff are inflexible, the delivery room looks like a dentists surgery and I don't want to be stuck there (an hour away from our house, more if there's traffic) for the "compulsory" four nights.
Anyone remember the costs for public and private delivery in Queensland? I think I will be able to fly home at 35 weeks so I suppose all the scans and things would be done by then. It would just be the delivery I'd need to pay for, with the help of Medicare.
I was so upset yesterday, I thought everything would be fine if I stayed here but the hospital tour really freaked me out.
I haven't been into our section yet. You poor thing. Well I had a very complicated first time mummy experience and TBH I still have not seen a bill from the hospitals. I went public and have no complaints.
I am in Victoria so I am not sure what differences there are, if any, between the states here in Aust but I think considering you are already unhappy with the delivery suites amongst other things then you'll be est to fly home here and try th local hossy.
I would call them and talk to them and not email - its very easy to overlook an email but a little more difficult when the person is on the phone.
Nearly 3 years ago, my health fund was charged $4k for management of labour, 5 nights in a private room & antenatal classes at Selangor. Plus, $1.2k to the Ob, plus I paid the $2k pg management fee to my Ob. Say 7% inflation per year (read that in another thread in a statement by an Ob) makes about $9k in today's money.
Selangor has a level 2 special care nursery, and will admit babies more than 32 weeks gestation with minimal complications (obviously this'll cost more).
The care was excellent and they are actually in favour of natural birth if you want one (rather than just saying they are), but I don't know I'd spend $9k out of my own pocket - although we might have spend that on health insurance premiums.
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