Hospitals and health insurance
February 29th, 2008 by nicolejoy
So I found out I was pregnant a week ago today. In Australia, when you’re only 4-5 weeks pregnant, you might relax, enjoy it, start thinking all those happy thoughts, etc… but living in Hong Kong, you’ve gotta decide NOW what hospital you want to give birth at - because if you want to book one when you’re 8 weeks, it’s already too late. But first, you’ve gotta go through your medical insurance and remember exactly what cover you have and how much you’ll be able to afford. So I started going through all our files to try and find the information - finding all kinds of interesting things along the way!!
Finally, I found the brochure - but it’s so ambiguous that neither me nor my husband could figure it out!! So then it was multiple calls to the insurance company to try and get them to pick up the phone (I left multiple messages but they didn’t call back!!) - finally talked with someone and got it figured out!! But we’re covered less than we thought we were, so we may have to use a public hospital, I think.
So then I went through a list of a bunch of doctors, went through what I’d heard about them and decided on a guy who’s meant to be a really great doctor - and an Aussie too!! (added bonus!) I booked an appointment but couldn’t get in until 2 weeks away! But then I heard that he was leaving Hong Kong in July for an extended holiday - and I decided I didn’t want to have to change doctors at 6 months pregnant! So I had to cancel that appointment and go onto my second choice.
The doctor that I’m NOW seeing is a Chinese guy who was educated at UNSW - and I’ve heard really good things about him too. And also - his staff seemed much nicer than the Aussie guy’s staff… and he was also MUCH easier to get into!! So next Tuesday, I have my first appointment with him. I’ll be exactly 6 weeks so there’s a possibility that he’ll be able to do see the heartbeat on the "internal" ultrasound thing! Fingers crossed!!
Next week, I’m going to have to go visit a few hospitals and decide where to give birth. It’s such a headache! I had no idea that it’d be this many decisions so soon!! But at least we’re making progress.
I still don’t have any sickness - WOOHOO! Hopefully that keeps up! I still have a bit of pain from time to time, but nothing serious. It’s still not that "real" to me yet - but I’m sure it will be as I start growing and getting more symptoms!!
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OMG - that is a pain! Here they just leave you waiting until 12 weeks before you have to bother with any of that! That being said though, it would be nice to just get the ball rolling. I must admit that that 12 week wait was really annoying this time around, especially cause I was sick!
But don’t hold your breath about the nausea, they say it kicks in around week 6 or 7! But I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it doesn’t happen for you
I never had it with Charley. 
I was talking to my mum today - apparently she didn’t have ANY morning sickness with any of us three kids - and I’ve heard that it’s hereditary like that - so hopefully I’m one of the lucky ones!