Pregnancy reated questions

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DJ Yoda

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Hi there,
Uh, here we go, my wife is 6 months pregnant, so, all the questions.

1. to start with - we haven't decided on the hospital yet. Any advice?
Details: we are in Cape Town, our budget is quite limited - around R15k, none of us is on Medical Aid

2. prenatal/antenatal classes - are they worth it?
What would be the good price range? providers that you recommend?

3. Very imortant question - I want my baby to be on medical aid, at least hospital plan, or (if there is any) some sort of special plan for babies. Whats the best way to go about it? Any recommended brokers/companies? What sort of premiums I'd pay?

4. Any important steps I should be taking now, at this very moment, well, apart from saving as much as possibe money? :)

Any/All advices, links, references wil be greatly appreciated.
 
I say;

Going for regular check ups is a good thing - a very good thing!

Booking your hospital is also very important, I take alot of maternity's to GSH Maternity and it's a nice place with nice caring sisters and doctors - if you really wanna use that Medical Aid, then you can go else where - I'm not sure where you can go through.

As it gets closer to 'due date' - pack a bag or 2 and keep it ready - should you need to take her to hospital via ambulance, all the necessaries are in the bag ALONG WITH all the docs regarding the pregnancy.
 
A friend of mine paid 9k for the delivery and two nights' say at Melomed in Belleville. Not too pricey.

I don't know if you can put your baby on medical aid without being on that medical aid yourself. Haven't some across that scenario yet.
 
You are having a baby but your wife has no medical? Not advisable. Will be cheaper then to add baby as well. Where in CT are you exactly...it is a big area. This info will make it easier to advise on hospitals and classes. We have two kids 3 and 8 mnths, so I have some recent experience here in CT.
 
gdiza said:
I say;

Going for regular check ups is a good thing - a very good thing!

Booking your hospital is also very important, I take alot of maternity's to GSH Maternity and it's a nice place with nice caring sisters and doctors - if you really wanna use that Medical Aid, then you can go else where - I'm not sure where you can go through.

As it gets closer to 'due date' - pack a bag or 2 and keep it ready - should you need to take her to hospital via ambulance, all the necessaries are in the bag ALONG WITH all the docs regarding the pregnancy.
Click to expand...

1. We are NOT on a medical aid.
2. Yes, we are currently looking at GSH Maternity, but it looks like they want to assign us to Somerset Hospital. It would be great if ther would be some way to get to the GSH or Mowbray, but how?
In general, I'm very sceptical about government hospitals, they look ok, it's just I find it almost impossible to trust them.
On the other hand, I got screwed up by private doctors so many times, that I don't really trust them either, unless I have solid references from other people.
3. We are going on regular checkup, every 30 days.
4. Bag with necessities - thank you, will put on my list.
 
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My friend said the following to me;

"Hi, Mowbray private side is where I had my baby, It's actually called Liesbeeck maternity"
"It cost R105 for every check up"
"For normal vertex/vaginal births it costs R4500"
"C-section is costs R7500"
 
MightyQuin said:
You are having a baby but your wife has no medical? Not advisable. Will be cheaper then to add baby as well. Where in CT are you exactly...it is a big area. This info will make it easier to advise on hospitals and classes. We have two kids 3 and 8 mnths, so I have some recent experience here in CT.
Click to expand...

I know it is not advisable, but it is the situation we are in, so...
We are in CBD.
 
gdiza said:
My friend said the following to me;

"Hi, Mowbray private side is where I had my baby, It's actually called Liesbeeck maternity"
"It cost R105 for every check up"
"For normal vertex/vaginal births it costs R4500"
"C-section is costs R7500"
Click to expand...

Wow, it was fast, thank you!
Does your friend have any name of the doctor/midwife/nurse she can recommend to speak to?
 
She just said;

"If I had to do it all again I would goto the government side at Mowbray as it would've probably costed me less than R1000. And they are quite good and I was very impressed with them than the midwives and nurses on the private side"

So obviously she went the private route but because of complications she ended up at the government side anyways...

I also agree with her because I've seen the Government side in action and they are lovely people.
You just expect the best because you pay so much for it (private) but people have lost faith in government side and let's just all remember 1 thing.

ALL THOSE PRIVATE DOCS LEARNT/DID THEIR TRAINING FROM/AT THE GOVERNMENT SIDE!!!!
 
DJ Yoda said:
1. We are NOT on a medical aid.
2. Yes, we are currently looking at GSH Maternity, but it looks like they want to assign us to Somerset Hospital. It would be great if ther would be some way to get to the GSH or Mowbray, but how?
In general, I'm very sceptical about government hospitals, they look ok, it's just I find it almost impossible to trust them.
On the other hand, I got screwed up by private doctors so many times, that I don't really trust them either, unless I have solid references from other people.
3. We are going on regular checkup, every 30 days.
4. Bag with necessities - thank you, will put on my list.
Click to expand...

From your posts and questions it is obvious that you have not planned well and are not prepared at all. Good luck to you, but mostly to the kid........
 
DJ Yoda said:
1. We are NOT on a medical aid.
2. Yes, we are currently looking at GSH Maternity, but it looks like they want to assign us to Somerset Hospital. It would be great if ther would be some way to get to the GSH or Mowbray, but how?
Click to expand...
Easy, lie about the area you're staying in. Give them some random address in Obs or the surrounding areas.

My wife still use the clinic in Parow for various things (contraceptives especially) because she gave a friend's address who stays in the area. Simply because its the neatest and most professional clinic and since there arent any RDP areas close to it its almost always empty. I stay in Blue Downs by the way. Saves me a lot of bucks on the medical aid :)

Where do you stay by the way?

Edit: oops, I see you're in the CBD
 
Last edited:
MightyQuin said:
From your posts and questions it is obvious that you have not planned well and are not prepared at all. Good luck to you, but mostly to the kid........
Click to expand...

I think your post was very inconsiderate - that is why the forums are here, we are here to help each other!
Your post didn't help at all... so please - if you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything.
 
OP; remember, if you goto private hospitals, they charge you for everything - that is why your bill is always high!

Seriously, if they use a trauma pad to wipe blood up - they write it down and bill you for it.
If you use a linen saver, they bill you for it - even the lancets they use to check your HGT (sugar levels) they bill you for.
 
gdiza said:
She just said;

"If I had to do it all again I would goto the government side at Mowbray as it would've probably costed me less than R1000. And they are quite good and I was very impressed with them than the midwives and nurses on the private side"
Click to expand...

Absolutely. My wife had her first at a private hospital on med aid, and the second babe when at Mowbray when we were off med aid. Mowbray wins hands down! I was present for both births, and Mowbray's staff were very supportive of ME TOO! :)
 
gdiza said:
OP; remember, if you goto private hospitals, they charge you for everything - that is why your bill is always high!

Seriously, if they use a trauma pad to wipe blood up - they write it down and bill you for it.
If you use a linen saver, they bill you for it - even the lancets they use to check your HGT (sugar levels) they bill you for.
Click to expand...

furk i went for 6 stiches ...every swab and bandage and pin they charge for ...if blood spilld on the floor im sure that would have been on the bill :D
 
Mowbray came highly recommended to us, although we didn't end up needing to use the hospital.

Based on a friend's recent experience I'd say stay far away from Groote Schuur.

Never heard of anyone putting just their child on medical aid.
 
furk i went for 6 stiches ...every swab and bandage and pin they charge for ...if blood spilld on the floor im sure that would have been on the bill
Click to expand...

If you sneeze they charge for the disinfectant used to spray the air.
 
DJ Yoda said:
Hi there,
Uh, here we go, my wife is 6 months pregnant, so, all the questions.

1. to start with - we haven't decided on the hospital yet. Any advice?
Details: we are in Cape Town, our budget is quite limited - around R15k, none of us is on Medical Aid
Click to expand...
Scope out a few places, goto the maternity ward (even if it's just the viewing booth) and tell them you're looking to book-in soon and want to see what they offer. We've never heard-off, or used the hospital where my daughter was born but chose it cause we had a good feeling about it. My mother who's a heart nurse later told me it's one of the better hospitals in the area.

Also, ask friends and family with younger children where they went and what their experiences were.

DJ Yoda said:
2. prenatal/antenatal classes - are they worth it?
What would be the good price range? providers that you recommend?
Click to expand...

Many people swear by it. All children survive, and grow-up without ;)

Granted you'll learn a few tips & tricks, but you'll also pickup those same (and often better) tips & tricks from friends, family, baby shows (baba indaba, etc ), your ginea, the clinic, etc. Get some (even old ones) baby books and read what they say on any topic that sounds new. If you hear, or find conflicting suggestions then go with your gut feeling. What worked for one mom won't necessarily work the same way for the next.

DJ Yoda said:
3. Very imortant question - I want my baby to be on medical aid, at least hospital plan, or (if there is any) some sort of special plan for babies. Whats the best way to go about it? Any recommended brokers/companies? What sort of premiums I'd pay?
Click to expand...

Checkout http://www.careline.co.za - they gave us very good advice on this very same topic and we ended up switching from Discovery to Medicahelp, and it's probably been the best move ever.

DJ Yoda said:
4. Any important steps I should be taking now, at this very moment, well, apart from saving as much as possibe money? :)

Any/All advices, links, references wil be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...


Just relax, and enjoy it. Record every moment on camera or video camera and take as many photos as possible (if you're into that kind of thing) Most moments only ever happen once and you'll soon forget a few special ones.

Don't bother buying anything until you actually need it. We returned many items, including clothes, diapers, safety latches, bottles, a dummy, car seat, pram, bath set from Edgars - I'm sure there's more that I can't think off, simply cause a lot of friends gave us their old stuff.

- Bottles & dummies can be sterilized in a bowl of boiling kettle water, no need for an expensive sterilizer.
- use disposable nappies. it's worth it. And try and get the more expensive ones, they hold a lot more fluid before you need to change them so you actually save some cash
- We brought 2 packets of "Size 3" Huggies Gold diapers every single month before her birth and stocked up a bit so it was easier on the pocket later on.


OH, And don't say "no" for any "hand-me-downs", 2nd hand clothing, car seats, prams, etc. It sounds like you could use it.
 
SoftDux-Rudi said:
Don't bother buying anything until you actually need it. We returned many items, including clothes, diapers, safety latches, bottles, a dummy, car seat, pram, bath set from Edgars - I'm sure there's more that I can't think off, simply cause a lot of friends gave us their old stuff.

- Bottles & dummies can be sterilized in a bowl of boiling kettle water, no need for an expensive sterilizer.
- use disposable nappies. it's worth it. And try and get the more expensive ones, they hold a lot more fluid before you need to change them so you actually save some cash
- We brought 2 packets of "Size 3" Huggies Gold diapers every single month before her birth and stocked up a bit so it was easier on the pocket later on.


OH, And don't say "no" for any "hand-me-downs", 2nd hand clothing, car seats, prams, etc. It sounds like you could use it.
Click to expand...


+1 on the nappies. Checkers has a sale on Huggies Gold + free wipes, better start stocking up on size 3 upwards

Its advisable to dress babies in body vests (those vests things that clip underneath) and babygros until they start learning to walk. Makes dressing/undressing & nappy changes easier & stressfree for both baby & parents. Dont buy too many *2-piece* sets, they outgrow those things fatser than you buy bread.

Antenatal classes? waste of money, you are better off using that money for a 4d scan (at least you get a dvd to showoff afterwards).

Any advice your wife needs she can get in the labour ward, those nurses are there for a reason, use them.
 
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