Kiwi hubby wants me to give birth in NZ....what would it cost as a non resident (UK citizen)?

[clizzywizzy]

We live over in the UK but my hubby is an NZ citizen, im British. Im expecting baby number 2 at the mo and he wants it to be born in NZ whilst we are on a holiday there!! Our last baby was born here in the UK, as we live here.

I'm under consultant care here in the UK, and will also be having an elective C-section due to medical grounds. I had an emergency section last time due to a ruptured placenta, my little chappie was born 5 weeks early.

What sort of cost am i looking at to have the c section over there with consultant led care?

Does anyone have an idea? i haven't a clue but im guessing it might be pricy! it would be completely free over here, so i need to weigh up the costs.

Any pointers appreciated!! thankyou!!!!

[JandM]

Hello and welcome.

We do have some midwives on the forum, so they may have direct experience of treating people in your situation. In the meantime, I've done a trawl for information.

In general, since your husband is an NZ citizen, you are eligible for the same free primary maternity care as NZ citizens.

Pregnancy and childbirth services
Care in pregnancy and childbirth is free for New Zealand citizens and permanent residents, or for their partners or spouses, except for care provided by private obstetricians and at private hospitals. This care covers the diagnosis of pregnancy, antenatal care, childbirth, postnatal care and miscarriage.

http://www.everybody.co.nz/page-0a41...7aac8de68.aspx

This source http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/index...ility-pregnant says:

Maternity-related services include all services included in the section 88 Maternity Notice, and any other treatment for a condition determined by a clinician that would adversely impact on the survival of the mother or the baby.

Here is the Section 88 Maternity Notice. http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagesmh/5845/$File/s88-primary-maternity-services-notice-gazetted-2007.doc

B1 Definition of primary maternity services
In this notice, primary maternity services—
(a) means the following services:
(i) lead maternity care:
(ii) maternity non-LMC services:
(iii) specialist medical maternity services; and
(b) does not include any of the following:
(i) a negative pregnancy test:
(ii) a consultation by a practitioner for any other medical condition not related to pregnancy, including medical conditions exacerbated by pregnancy except where the service is included in lead maternity care:
(iii) a service given more than 6 weeks after the birth:
(iv) a service given more than 2 weeks after a miscarriage or termination of pregnancy:
(v) caesarean section:
(vi) dilation and curettage:
(vii) circumcision:
(viii) )termination of pregnancy:
(ix) radiological imaging other than ultrasound:
(x) ultrasound scans not listed in subpart DC:
(xi) the following services, as defined in their respective service specifications for these available from the Ministry of Health:
(A) maternity facility services:
(B) birthing unit facility services:
(C) secondary maternity services:
(D) tertiary maternity services:
(E) specialist neonatal services:
(xii) the product cost of any vaccines provided:
(xiii) if the circumstances described in the service specification for maternity non-LMC services do not apply, a consultation in the second trimester or third trimester with a non-LMC general practitioner for the purpose of a second opinion:
(xiv) other services not specified in this notice.

So it looks as though, if a specialist in NZ agrees that an elective C-Section would be necessary for your health and that of your child, that, too, could be free.

[clizzywizzy]

thanks for the reply! ill see if any midwives get in touch too ;-)

Anyone actually been through this? my biggest concern is that there were post partum problems last time and wee one needed neonatal care. Im not sure this would be covered if all didnt go to plan again!!

[JandM]

Of course it would! Your new baby will be a Kiwi citizen as of right, and so will get everything dished up with the rations.

[KatieBen]

How long will you be in NZ on holiday and how many weeks pregnant will you be when you arrive here? You will need to find a Lead Maternity Carer, be referred to a specialist for consideration of options regarding delivery and essentially try to fit 9 months of antenatal care into however few weeks you have remaining of your pregnancy. You will have to hope that your specialist here agrees with your UK led care (elective CS isn't always the norm after prior placental abruption - you may well be offered a trial of VBAC) and you may have to go through a lot of medical decisions again.

Following the birth, if it's an elective CS you will have a 6 week recovery period to get through and you'll have to sort out all the paperwork for getting your new baby travel documents etc to return to the UK.

Not exactly the stuff great holidays are made of! I can understand your husband wanting his child born here presumably where his family are but can also imagine it being much easier in the UK where your history is known and you are already receiving care.

You may require a letter from your UK midwife or doctor stating that you are ok to travel depending on how far along you are, many airlines won't carry you long haul with a history of premature delivery after a certain stage in your pregnancy (32 weeks? from memory although I am happy to be corrected on that).

From a personal point of view I detest healthcare tourism and while I know that's not precisely what you are doing I suspect it may account for some of my negativity.

Congratulations on your pregnancy and best wishes for your delivery, wherever it happens!

[sophiedb]

Congrats!! How far along are you?

To be honest, I wouldn't do it if I were you (am also married to a Kiwi). Not that NZ care isn't brilliant, because it is, but because unless you're coming over for 2-3 months - or planning emigrate right now! - it will be putting extra pressure on you, your baby, and on whichever health professionals have to play catch-up. Even if you'd had a 100% natural, 40 week pregnancy last time I would say the same thing!

Yes, you would be entitled to the care... but jumping into a new country at the last minute sounds like a risky "nice to do" rather than "need to do" to me *hug*

Does your hubby have any particular reasons for wanting bub to be born in NZ, other than because he's Kiwi? Unless he was born outside NZ himself, the wee one will also be a Kiwi citizen.. If it's because #1 was born in the UK, making it a "one each" kind of scenario, tbh I'd think that's both frivolous and dangerous given medical history.

[benandclare]

Mentioned this to Clare and she mentioned that you'd probably not be allowed to fly after 30 weeks .

http://flyingduringpregnancy.com/whe...ing-pregnancy/

[KatieBen]

We did our recce trip in my mat leave (only time I could get 6 weeks off!) - I flew out at 29/40 and back to the UK at 35/40 plus a few days.

I did carry a letter stating that my pregnancy was uncomplicated / singleton but wasn't required to show it to anyone - airNZ let me through without any questions. May have had something to do with looking obese rather than pregnant! (coat chosen deliberately for this effect).

However, I had insurance (in case I went into labour on the flight and ended up stuck in LA!) and had already had a straightforward term delivery.

If you do go ahead with your plans, please make sure you have insurance to cover unplanned delivery in the US!

[kiwihusker]

My biggest issue with this is your health and what it could mean to you as well as your baby. I had a a placental abruption with my first pregnancy and my son was born 5 weeks early. I would never have taken the chance with my second pregnancy. It was a perfectly normal pregnancy, but knowing I almost lost my first son, I wouldn't risk my health or the health of my baby just to try and have my child born in NZ. It will only take a little bit of paperwork on your part and the kids can be NZ citizens without a problem. Be careful with whatever you choose to do. And Good luck!!!!

[Sirmamac2]

What Kiwihusker said...
You still have not answered what the particular reasons for having the baby here are, but as a pregnant woman and a medical professional I would not even move a 50 km. away from the hospital( as I will also need a C-section) let alone fly for days...But this is just me.Good luck!