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Thread: Cost of having a baby in NZ?

  1. #1
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    Default Cost of having a baby in NZ?

    Would appreciate any figures/estimates/reminiscences on this...

    My small family is due to be in NZ next year with myself on a student visa and wife and daughter on temp visas to accompany me. We're not eligible for normal health services, and of course have to arrange insurance ourselves. And so in the midst of our preparations we receive the surprising news that we might be having a 2nd child in the coming year. Not the greatest timing and not planned, but what can you do.

    A quick search shows that you have to show an extra $9000 available to cover the medical fees for pregnancy, on top of the normal amounts of $1000/dependant/month for your stay. I imagine this would be on the high end of what would be required, and if everything went smoothly total cost would be lower, depending of course on your care preferences. I'm wondering if anyone might be able to give me any idea of what we might pay in this situation based on your own experience, although I'm guessing if you're in NZ and in the health system there you might not have been made aware of the costs.

    For what it's worth, we expect our experience to help. No need to take breastfeeding and hypnobirthing classes this time, nor a doula like we also had, nor monthly ultrasounds which my wife liked to take because we didn't have to pay. We'd also take a very non-interventionalist approach again and look to do things through a clinic probably with a midwife where we'd be in charge, rather than take the hospital-led medical approach. Our preference, but also a more economical way too.

    Thanks for any general info on this.

  2. #2
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    Feb 2008
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    Congratulations!

    Here's hoping there's somebody along soon with the information to help you.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
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    New Zealand
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    The cost will be affected by the area you deliver in. Where are you planning on being?

    Most LMC's will negotiate a fixed price and allow payments. Generally looking at $2000-$3000 for prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care. If you home birth, it will be cheaper than a birth centre delivery. Birth centres vary by area. IF something does go wrong and you end up in the hospital needing to deliver or need a c-section, the cost is $9000-$15000. Preeclampsia, or anything causing any extras or prolonged hospitalization, you're prices go up at least $1500/day.

    Here's Birthcare's current prices in Auckland. That's not including any lactation services or if baby has excessive bilirubin requiring treatment or anything.

    CHARGES FOR NON RESIDENTS (NON ELIGIBLE FOR FREE MATERNITY CARE IN NEW ZEALAND)
    If you are not a permanent resident of New Zealand the following charges apply. A deposit of 50% is required at time of registration.
    For more information please follow this link to the Minisitry of Health website.

    Birth (normal birth with no secondary care costs)
    $2,700 per night
    Postnatal Stay in a Standard room $780 per night
    Postnatal Stay in a Private room $1000 per night
    Postnatal Stay in a Premium room $1,200 per night

  4. #4
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    Birth centres here are low risk maternity centres run by midwives. You can get antibiotics, iv pain relief, and gas there. They have tubs for birthing, and all equipment needed to stabilize in case of a transfer being needed. It's like home away from home.

  5. #5
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    Thanks, all.

    That's good info, and I was able to find a few sites and get a much better picture myself. Looks like there'll be a lot a flexibility and as said, even without the lower costs being a factor, we're attracted to the midwife option which is what we did our first time. We'll be in Christchurch

  6. #6
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    I'll see if I can get you some more concrete information about Chch costs. Maternity care is typically given my midwives. You can find private obstetricians in some areas, but not everywhere. If you need specialist care, you will be referred to the hospital by a midwife. The hospitals have midwives on staff if you can't find a midwife out in the community, but you don't get to pick who you have as your midwife and your delivery options are more limited. The midwives book up fast, so you will want to start looking and talking to midwives prior to arriving to make sure you get one and aren't stuck going the hospital route.

    I forgot to add. There are some routine blood tests and a couple of ultrasounds the midwives do want you to get to make sure everything is normal, so that will be about $1000 for those all up. If everything stays low risk, routine, and under the midwife I would say you're looking at $5000-$6000.

  7. #7
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    Nov 2016
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    new zealand
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    This info is helpful maybe i can advice this to my friend in asia who are planning to migrate here in nz

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by iamnomad View Post
    This info is helpful maybe i can advice this to my friend in asia who are planning to migrate here in nz
    Yes, hope it is helpful to others.

    Thanks, Auburn, for your posts above. To update, my wife's pregnancy ended up being ectopic and so we won't be able to use the info above.

  9. #9
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    So sorry to hear that. I hope your wife is recovering as well as possible.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by JandM View Post
    So sorry to hear that. I hope your wife is recovering as well as possible.
    Thanks, J&M. She's improving

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