Hi mbear,

We paid roughly $3000 for 'out of pocket' costs to our OB. This does not include any pathology work done (12w & 19w u/s or blood tests) but if you apply for the 'saftey net' threshold through Medicare then the more you spend the larger the rebate. Of the $3000 OB money we got roughly $1700 back but now that we have passed the threshold we recieve 80% of everything else we spend back. We do have PHC but that will really only come into play when we are admitted at the hospital for the birth.

Also, I have a friend who is a doctor/radiologist & he says that there is no danger in ultrasounds.... his nurses who were pregnant used to give themselves u/s all the time & there is no danger to you or the baby.

Thats my take on it.... hope that helps