Cost of Childbirth in Newfoundland

[scoobydoo]

ello,

I am an international Student and have received my acceptance letter from Memorial University of Newfoundland Since my husband is a PR and living there, I decided to go there while I was pregnant. I could not get enrolled in the fall 2011 semester because I could not reach in time and now I have deferred my admission to Winter 2012.

Now I am expecting my baby in December 2011 but I do not have a health card. I am not eligible for the Government of Newfoundland medical health coverage since I am not enrolled in any program. I have heard that the childbirth delivery charges are as high as 15000CAD in St.John's. Me and my husband will not be able to afford this big an amount and in my present situation I cannot travel to my home country.

Can anyone give suggestions? I am in desperate need of help and this problem is causing severe depression.

Best Regards,

[crassy]

Have you looked around at homebirth midwives? If you are having a 'normal' pregnancy with no complications you may want to check out this option.

[pinklady]

The costs of childbirth and all the aftercare for baby and mother are extremly high, upwards of $10,000.
If you cannot afford this you should go back to your home country to give birth.
Coming to Canada while pregnant and knowing you dont have healthcare and cannot afford to pay is pretty irresponsible.

[scoobydoo]

Thank you everyone for your replies and concerns. Following is for the information of others facing the same situation:

 I called St.Clare's hospital of St.John's Newfoundland and I was informed that the cost for a normal delivery per night spent in the hospital is 3023 CAD.

It is not that much and can easily be afforded.

As far as the irresponsibility is concerned, I asked somebody who had an answer to my question and not suggestions for what I shall do and what I shall not. Still, many thanks for letting me know that I do not belong here.



BR,

[pinklady]

One night is $3000... what if there happen to be complications? (I hope there are not!)
And the after care? Post natel check ups, immunizations?
Are you going to be having ultra sounds and check ups leading up to the birth?
Obviously the cost is going to be far more then $3000.

I wish the best of luck to you.  Its not a case of not belonging, of course not. Its being responsible, you have to think about the full cost of having the child in canada. If I knew I could not afford it, I would not do it. Simple.

At least the child will be a canadian citizen.....

Like I said, good luck to you.

[wilson]

Thank you everyone for your replies and concerns. Following is for the information of others facing the same situation:

 I called St.Clare's hospital of St.John's Newfoundland and I was informed that the cost for a normal delivery per night spent in the hospital is 3023 CAD.

It is not that much and can easily be afforded.

As far as the irresponsibility is concerned, I asked somebody who had an answer to my question and not suggestions for what I shall do and what I shall not. Still, many thanks for letting me know that I do not belong here.



BR,

Hi scoobydoo,

I can understand your embarrassment and frustration.
  Please note you did  invite suggestions from the members :

part from your question:

Can anyone give suggestions? I am in desperate need of help and this problem is causing severe depression.


I fully agree to the opinion of pinklady. A normal delivery at any maternity clinic could be less expensive.  But before admitting a woman to a medical facility for delivery there should be proper insurance coverage or sufficient money in hand. This is  to meet any possible additional emergency if any, during the procedure in the labor room and after wards to the mother and baby. Precautionary measure is always safe because no one knows about the future. Why people take travel insurance for emergency medical care and accidents?.
.  

[Love_Young]

Hello there scoobydoo!
My hubby is from Newfoundland and I have been living here for almost 3 years. If you need to talk with someone local, you can PM.

Anyway, I will do my best to help. Yes, it does appear to be that you can't get MCP unless you are enrolled in a program for 12 months.
My question is, what field are you going into? I don't know why you would need to wait until the winter of 2012. Is that late 2012 or do you mean around January? I know some schools you can enter in September and January.

Now, you do realize that the fee you have been quoted is per night. What happens if you need to stay up to a week? And wilson, it would be darn hard for her to find any insurance right now while being pregnant. My question is: Why wait until after the fall semester to come here? Most people do know it takes months to register and get ready. I am just curious. You don't have to mention if it is personal. And did your husband become a PR while being with you either common-law or married? If so, you do realize he won't be able to sponsor you in the future if he didn't list you. To do that, he would have to mention that he was married or in a common-law relationship with you at the time if you were on his own PR application. I am just hoping for your sake that he was already a PR before marrying you.

Anyway, I wish you good luck but unfortunately it looks to be that you may be spending quite a bit unless you go home.  

[awor]

A midwife with prenatal care (I hope you're getting some at least) - the (home) birth - and postnatal care (it's vital you get your 6 week post-birth checkup) SHOULD be cheaper than even a couple nights in any center.

[scoobydoo]

Hello Everyone,

There may be different opinions about my situation by different people but we judge people too quickly by the situation they are in rather then trying to understand how they reached there . I would not comment about whether asking someone in 8th month of her pregnancy to go back is a suggestion or not

Let us keep this forum helpful for others rather than deciding who is right and who is wrong. I believe this is the main aim of this forum.

I hope that everything goes well and there are no complications.

Best Regards,

[pinklady]

You said baby was due in Dec so I assumed you are 6/7 months pregnant. Its absolutely fine to fly at this stage.
I hope you can find the money and everything works out how you hoped.
Good luck

And nobody said what you did was wrong, i just said it was irresponsible.

[wilson]

I agree to Love_young that getting insurance for pregnant lady is hard.  My posted reply  was to emphasize the need of finding enough funds while seeking medical care for child birth in Canada.

[Love_Young]

I agree to Love_young that getting insurance for pregnant lady is hard.  My posted reply  was to emphasize the need of finding enough funds while seeking medical care for child birth in Canada.

Yeah very true. Would have been best to prepare more if you know you are coming to Canada to give birth to a child.