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Panda289 
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 Topic: Moving to Australia while pregnant?
Posted: 22 October 2010 at 7:03am |
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I dont want to jump the gun here but we just found out this week that we are pregnant and DH got a job in Sydney! So we are moving there in January when i will be around 15/16 weeks.. Just wondering if anyone else has had to do this as its been a bit unplanned! My questions are
Is there any point getting a midwife in NZ if i am moving there or should i just go through my doctor until then?
My understanding is it costs a bit more to get scans etc done over there, would i be able to get medicare insurance that far on in the pregnancy to get any of that money back?
Do i need to find a midwife once over there similar to the system here?
And i will miss out on paid parental leave here, will i be entitled to the baby payout they get over there?
TIA
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Red
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Posted: 22 October 2010 at 8:17am |
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Can't answer any of the other questions, but with the paid parental leave, you can claim it at any stage. So, maybe you could claim it when you finish work here so you don't miss out?
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MyLilSquishy
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Posted: 22 October 2010 at 8:24am |
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no idea sorry but i would still get a MW or at least go through your GP until then (but let them know you are moving) because you will need scan/s, checkups, BP, uric(?) protien POAS test thing, blood tests etc.
then they can forward or give you your notes and the 'pick up' on the other side will be easier iygwim?
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Nutella
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Posted: 22 October 2010 at 11:20am |
You will be entitled to the baby bonus I think, I don't think there is anything about having to have been in the country for a certain amount of time etc. That comes in fortnightly payments of about 400 which is blimmin nice..for 6 months. If you are not working then you will also get tax credits at the end of the financial year (June) according to how much DH earns.
You can get medicare, do that as soon as you arrive if you can. From memory we had to say we were staying here so had to have proof of permanant residency ie letter of resignation from work, the documents from the moving company, new address things like power bills etc....I'm pretty sure this was for medicare that we did this! Usually it doesn't seem to cover all the costs of the scans etc and you normally have to pay upfront and then get refunded...seems a weirdo way to me(maybe there is some trick I don't know about). Also not sure if Drs are free over here when pregnant, some Drs bulk bill and some don't...I don't understand the health system that much lol!!!
Re the midwives...I dunno what the story is everywhere but where we lived, I went to my Dr for half my visits and then to the hospital for the other half until later in pregnancy when I went to the hospital for all the visits. The hospital visits were a combination of midwives and the Drs there. So I didn't have a set midwife at all...but I wasn't fussed either, they were all nice. BUT this might just be where I live??
Re the parental leave...I actually thought you had to work to a certain point in NZ for that and if you wanted to finish up early you needed a medical certificate???
Medicare
Baby bonus
NZ Parental leave
Hope that helps a bit lol....
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Chickoin
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Posted: 22 October 2010 at 11:55am |
 Nutella wrote:
Also not sure if Drs are free over here when pregnant, some Drs bulk bill and some don't...I don't understand the health system that much lol!!! |
I'm in WA but I think the whole country's medical system is just as crazy.
There is a clinic here where you get everything bulk billed (this is aussie speak for 'free') including scans, but this depends on which dr you see in the clinic. There's another clinic where all visits are free but scans cost. Others will just charge an arm and a leg. Will definitely be a good idea to ring around or go and find a pregnant aussie girl when you get here 
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Panda289
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Posted: 22 October 2010 at 12:23pm |
Thanks guys thats helped a bit!
Will continue trying to contact midwifes down here (hard to get in touch with)
Think i can handle a little extra cost for some actual sun 
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Red
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Posted: 22 October 2010 at 12:45pm |
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Doctors visits here are free until 14weeks. So I would just see your GP until you go, they can organise any scans.
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Plushie
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Posted: 22 October 2010 at 3:17pm |
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I'm pretty sure you can't take maternity leave until 3 months before your due date without medical reason - and if you resign you can't claim the leave either, you have to be going back to your job.
But exciting on the move - sunshine!!! Ahh, jeleous.
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Renee & Lauren
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Posted: 22 October 2010 at 5:10pm |
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Panda - look for Christine Griffiths - she is awesome.
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Panda289
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Posted: 22 October 2010 at 6:26pm |
Red my doctor charged me for my first visit and told me that they aren't subsidised so i need a midwife? Maybe shes telling lies
Yep i read up on paid parental leave and i cant take it without medical reason but if i am getting it in Australia it wont matter too much!
Thanks Renee i will give her a call if i find her number its been hard finding anyone who answers my calls!
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Renee & Lauren
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Posted: 22 October 2010 at 7:39pm |
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Here is her number.
0-21-037 8656
Congrats too :)
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monikah
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Posted: 22 October 2010 at 8:16pm |
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asmazing site to look at like ohbaby but go check out bellybelly.com.au cos it is amazing as far as info there. def find a house. DH is in sydney at the mo trying to find us somewhere to live because he has work over there and me and both kids are stuck here for now cos the rental market is so brutal we just cant find a single thing!!!
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ooEvaoo
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Posted: 26 October 2010 at 3:27pm |
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Most medical insurance have a standdown period if you're wanting to cover pregnancy, which is usually one year of insurance cover before becoming pregnant. It good to have it for future pregnancies as if you require specialist input and I think c-sections...this is not covered by the medicare/government. You will be entitled to the baby bonus and tax credits. I would have an LMC here in NZ to be on the safe side. Not sure how LMC works over there as after a month I wanted to come home...and we did lol.
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Nutella
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Posted: 26 October 2010 at 7:16pm |
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If you have medical insurance in NZ you might be able to get continuous cover with an australian company, I know southern cross does that with some companies but not sure who! Worth investigating tho if you have it already.
We didn't pay for my c sect but then it was emergency...wonder if that is different. We have medical insurance anyway tho.
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ooEvaoo
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Posted: 27 October 2010 at 7:39am |
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Yea I'm not too sure about the c-section thing...probably elective might have to be covered by insurance. That's interesting about the health insurance cross over, definitely something to look into.
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BabyRixon
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Posted: 27 October 2010 at 7:10pm |
 Your GP should not have charged you. All my visits were completely free with last pregnancy (though I had MC at 12 weeks) and I had several due to bladder infections and other yukky things not necessarily even related to the pregnancy - Brave Dr ripping off a pregnant lady!
My Aunty was able to organise her and the families medicare before they all moved to Aussie, so if you get the ball rolling sooner rather then latter it should be fine - Though in saying that my Aunt is not adverse to bending the rules so it might not have been done completely by the book...
I can't really offer much help but congratulations, sounds very exciting. Hope the move doesn't cause too much stress
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Panda289
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Posted: 28 October 2010 at 7:28pm |
wow babyrixon she charged me again today! right thats it i am ringing every midwife in wellington tomorrow I will get one!!!!
Thanks guys for all your help, i definitely dont want an elective caesarean, i would love to give birth naturally if possible so hopefully that wont be a problem have looked up some tax credits for over there and looks like i will get a bit of help. i notice they have just introduced paid parental leave (an alternative to the baby bonus) where you get $550ish before tax a week for 18 weeks. not bad for if we have a second baby
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Moving to Australia while pregnant?
Oct 11
