Moving to Sydney, trying to find LMC - tricky situation...

[sarah.s]

Hello Ladies,

I am new here and am really counting on your help. My name is Sarah, I am 27 years old and we my partner and I just found out that I am 7 weeks pregnant.

We are originally from Germany but have lived in Wellington for the last 2.5 years. In March my partner will move to Sydney for a new job and as the plan goes so far, I'll be following him at around June. All very exciting and we are looking forward to it...

At the moment I am trying to get my head around the options of maternity care in Australia and it is a bit overwhelming to be honest. I hardly realise that I am having a baby and already have to try to make the right decision regarding where to give birth. How do you all do this? Or is it just me not having a clue of what's best?

We will be on a 4 year work visa. The pregnancy won't be covered my our private health insurance (as it is within the first 12 months). So we will have to pay for everything ourselves.

I was wondering what the 'normal' way of maternity care is? It appears to be the independent midwife but I can't imagine that everybody is paying $5,000 + for that?

I am young and healthy and don't accpect any problems during my pregnancy (fingers crossed). I'll have somebody to look after me while I am still in Wellington, but would need someone from June on, I'll be around 26 weeks then. I would love a natural birth but heard different things about hospitals supporting that...

Are you able to help me? Sorry for the looooong post and all those questions but I am totally confused by now. I am also feeling a bit pushed by the midwives I've contacted so far as they urge me to make decision and a booking now and I don't really feel like I am ready for it.

What do you think?

Thanks so much,
Sarah

[Rumpleteaser]

Being on a working visa I would assume you would qualify for medicare which means you could give birth in a public hospital.
You would have to attended your appointments at the hospital, I don't think they have appointment times, but general clinic hours, so first in first served.
Hospitals won't force you into having interventions you don't want, so a natural birth is possible, but having the choice if you want pain relief is an option. If the bub is in distress or you labour doesn't progress/start they may suggest a number of different interventions such as CS, inductions, syntocin drips, forceps/vacuumes extrations, etc...
You are generally encouraged to labour at home untill you find the pain unbearable or your contractions are 5 mins apart, public hospitals can be busy. You will probably be d/c home within a day or so if there are no complications, possibly less than 24hrs. Then there will be follow up visits with midwives from the hospital and community nurses.
I have had birthed in a private hospital, so if my information is incorrect, someone please correct me. Since you don't have health insurance, it would cost a small fortune as you would have to pay for the appointments with you Ob in the lead up to labour, then you would have to pay for the hospital stay, blood tests, medications etc... Even with insurance the out of pocket expensises could be up to a couple of thousand dollars.

I hope some of this information has helped clarify things for you.

[MummaSue]

You will qualify for medicare being on a work visa (I've been on one of those and had a medicare card).

So you should be able to go public and not have any out of pocket costs - depending on what kind of care you choose.

I guess just ask some of the girls on here what hospitals are good and go from there!!

Congratulations on your pregnancy!
Sue xx

[sarah.s]

Hi there,

thanks so much for your answers. That helps a lot. Giving birth in a public hospital sounds like an excellent option. I will have a look around the forum to find recommendations...

Sue are you sure I qualify for Medicare? Even if I arrive 6 months pregnant? Maybe I'll contact them to find out more...

Thanks a lot,
Sarah

[MummaSue]

Yeah, you do.

Will you be on a 457 visa? I was on that when I had some major surgery and other investigations to find out what my fertility issues were - I am pretty sure that you will be fine.

But definitely give Medicare a call. I am from the UK and I know that the UK and Aus have a reciprocal health care agreement (basically they look after each others people regarding health care) but I'm not sure what happens with other EU countries.

Definitely check.
All the best!!

Sue xxx

[sarah.s]

Thanks a lot Sue. I will give them a ring and see what they say...

Cheers and all the best.