Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

HELLO HERE IS SOME LINKS TO INFORMATION ON HOSPITALS
http://www.bubhub.com.au/serviceshos...d.php#sunshine

http://www.bellybelly.com.au/

hope that helps i was doing a bit of research as we are planning to have our next baby when we move over
good luck Niamh:D

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

We were in a similar boat when our visa got delayed (didn't expect to have to provide australian police certs because we were only there 364 days 16 hours and not a full year) and we discovered we were expecting a baby. We decided to do a reccie trip in the second trimester - safest to travel and mother in best form - and to move over permanently when the baby is 9 months or so.

I think it would be too traumatic to try and move and have your first baby at the first time. Your first baby will be pretty demanding and you may get a seriuos dose of cabin fever if you're spending 24/7 with a newborn while the hubby is absent trying to impress in a new job.

Having a baby will probably in the long run make it easier to fit in as you become more community orientated and mix with other parents. You may be stacking the cards against you by planning to move over in late pregnancy.

Another consideration is that many employment contracts require you to return to work for a period in order to receive full maternity benefit.

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

I emigrated at 12 weeks, taking the opportunity of the move to give up work & start a family otherwise we'd never have done it. Age also a factor! This will give me about 6 mths to get things sorted out here. You will not have as long, but of course it can be done if that is your plan. I found it hard & am finding it hard to adjust to the medical system out here but I also have complications so am perhaps more sensitive to that kind of stuff. However, you should have no problem finding a public hospital - check in with a local doctor first & get registered with the Medicare system asap.

If you aren't already, you could consider taking out private insurance as many have waiting periods for certain benefits that you can starting "waiting out" as soon as poss. Also consider ambulance cover as you never know when you will need it, pregnant or otherwise!

You may find antenatal classes run by the hospital are booked up already - maybe your partner can try to reserve a place in advance. There are some private classes but these tend to be natural-birth orientated so may not be your thing & mroe expensive of course.

You may want to join the Australian Breastfeeding Association too as they run local groups & workshops before birth. For the blokes, there are some privately run sessions called "Beer & Bubs" that are run in pubs! There are many Aussie pregnancy & birth online forums, mainly bubhub.com, but the UK mumsnet.com also have a section for those living overseas.

Best of luck!

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

Presumably she won't be handing in her notice until after her maternity leave finishes although how the employer would deal with that is another matter.

Don't dismiss the hormone part of it though. They are big big big and after a huge move and suddenly knowing no one and hubby at work full time you could be hit big time by Postnatal depression. In an ideal world none of this will be an issue but unfortunately we don't live in one of those.

Good luck with it all though.

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

Cant help with hospitals, just wanted to say I emigrated last October at 32 weeks pregnant. Id advise a stop over. Im at home and my husband is working. Having a baby has if anything helped me settle as I always have someone else to think about. I didnt find the flight any different from when I wasnt pregnant. Was touch and go whether I would get a note though because my bp was up. That was just excitement though I think so relax before you go for your note!
Good luck
Les

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

Hi there,

I emigrated here about 2 months ago - 5 months pregnant at the time.

Lot of good advice so far that I agree with, I'll try not to repeat it all!

1 - Get a letter from your doc before flying - some airlines don't require it until v late on but is best to have a check up anyway before you come

2 - Definitely do a stopover in the middle. I have done two flights here in the last 4 months and one wasn't a stop over and was pretty uncomfortable. Also wear support stockings.

3 - I was quite nervous about getting signed up for medicare, hospitals etc when I got here. Within 24 hours Medicare was sorted (we have permanent residency). I got into a local docs a couple of days after arriving here (sorry we live in Brisbane though) and within a week was booked into the hospital. So far the care has been great. I managed to get antenatal classes - with a choice of Saturday sessions but not the evening ones as these get booked up early.

Sorry I don't know the situation in Sydney but suspect it is similar. Although a friend in Sydney recently had a baby at Mona Vale and was happy with everything. As has been said before going private is not really an option until you have cover for 12 months.

4 - I have to confess I am not working so don't really know the situation regarding this but am aware that leave is less generous than the UK. My husband works full time and has been working abroad for a few weeks since we moved over which is not that easy. However, he will be working from home long term which should help more with childcare esp with no family around.

5 -Settling in - being pregnant and emigrating does sound mad and stressful, but as I have had a good pregnancy so far it has worked out well. Having family and friends support around you undoubtedly would help but Skype/internet is a great help and it also forces you to go out and make an effort.

This forum has been really good to meet people and I'm sure there are meet ups in Sydney for mums/expectants. I have joined a UK mums group here and it is great. Also the Australian Breastfeeding Association has been really handy to join for local info/support and also to meet more locals. In many ways I am glad I am pregnant as it is a great way to meet new people which might be more difficult otherwise. Getting some friends and support is a priority as obviously not having family around will make looking after a new baby even more difficult than normal (although parents are coming out for around our due date).

I suppose it depends a lot on your pregnancy and how you are feeling about it all.

Best of luck!

Emma

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

That's great to hear. My wife and I are going to Brisbane in Feb - she will be around 5 months then. We have to go then as that is when my job starts. Good to hear someone else has been there, done that.

Can you book antenatal classes before getting a medicare number?

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

Being pregnant or having a baby are definitely great ways to meet people. You'll find a lot of moms who are at home and are wanted to get out of the house for some adult conversation. So in some ways meeting people is easier with little kids.

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

I guess you are not planning on telling anyone you are leaving the country otherwise you will not be entitled to maternity benefit.:confused:


The idea is that I leave work to start my maternity leave, but then my maternity pay continues whilst we set up in Oz. Basically, it means I don't need to work for at least the first year maybe two - which is really tempting as an option.

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

You won't be able to claim all the tax for the year back then, which may work out more than the maternity benefit.

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

Just like sick benefit, you are not entitled if you are sick outside of the UK unless that has changed.

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

James516 - I tried to book antenatal classes before I got here but without knowing which hospital I was going to etc it proved to be difficult. I think you should be fine to book when you get here as there are loads of classes going on through the hospitals.

I would also recommend finding out about exercise classes - prenatal yoga, aqua aerobics and pilates are available pretty much everywhere - look at bubhub.com.au, essentialbaby.com.au or ask at hospital etc. The forums on the websites can be useful to find out more.

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

Best of luck with getting pregnant and your move. :)

We have decided to leave it until after the birth before we make the move. Mrs is now at 25 weeks with twins (first children as well) :eek: We agreed it would be just too much turmoil and risk for both of us and to look at making the move 3 to 6 months after they are born.

Good luck whatever your decision :thumbup:

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

Might I recommend 6 months (instead of 3). You'll both feel a bit more settled and be getting some sleep by then!

Re: Emigrating when pregnant...
 

It's going to be more like 6 months I know - and we are happy with this. I've spoken with the people in HR at work and the job's there for me when I want it which is very nice (one big stress we don't need to worry about) :)

What I do know for certain is that the next few months will have many ups and downs and my main concern in the short-term is to support my DW though this - and I guess do my fair share of the nappies :ohmy:

There are many sides to the arguement of leaving it longer or shorter as circumstances will surely change - for us or anybody taking the plunge. I guess the trick is to make the right call at the right time, not too soon as to cause undue stress but also not too long as to lose focus on why you are doing what you're doing. :)

Thanks for the advice :thumbup: