walmart: quote author=uchetobi]@Tobiojo..congrats on your new baby

@all who has given birth in Houston, Texas before? i need suggestions on hospital and the associated cost. thanks

@uchetobi A friend said she paid about $1200 for anesthesiology, $2500 for physician and $3000 for hospital bill at West Houston medical Centre. There are also test charges. I gave them a call in June and asked about the price and they said its what is on the website, You can check <http://westhoustonmedical.com/patient-financial/index.dot?page_name=pricing>
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uchetobi:

That is about N1.1m thabks a lot will check it out. any other suggestions pls?

utcheylee: good morning all, please am still waiting for someone to tell me about the details on how to go about with family visa processing and other info plsss.
God bless.

walmart:

The $1200 anesthesiology is if you are doing CS or epidural. My friend had a CS

aldehyde: @starafricababy, do you know anyone in el paso or where are you staying there? I'm thinking of using the same facility but my baby is due in December so i'll be travellling in November.

starafricababy:

Hello dear, I do not know anyone in El Paso but the reviews are best and I will be staying in a hotel mentioned on this thread, its still much cheaper. The place is called Intown Suites and it is mentioned in their website. Low rates and close distance to hospital.

Babababy: Hello everyone,sure everybody is doing great? Please can anyone throw some light on the "letter of consent " for mothers requesting American passport after delivery and the father of the baby is not in town. I understand only a notary done by an American institution is recognized,while someone once mentioned a notary from Nigeria is accepted ? Any mother in the house with a good explanation please.?

Mrs Bee:

If d father of your child will not be joining you before or after the baby is born; then you may need to have his Parental Consent Form filled out, signed and notarized by a lawyer in order to process your baby's US passport.
 
For perspective, when applying for a US passport for a minor below 16years, both parents and the child need to be present to submit the application. However, if one parent cannot be present, then he/she would need to fill a Parental Consent form which will need to be notarized by a lawyer.
 
Scanned copies of this form are not accepted; only the original copy with the notary seal will be accepted. You therefore have 2 options- it's either you wait till the baby is born; and this form is filled by your husband, notarized and original copy sent to you via courier OR you fill in the key details +notarization before your trip and travel with the original copy thus saving you the courier costs.

If you decide to fill the form prior to your trip, click here to download the form. While filling the form, do note the following:
Fill in baby's name (if agreed) but do not fill the birth date yet; as this can only be filled after the baby is born.
The form needs to be signed by the father of your child and his signature notarized by a lawyer. Both father and lawyer should not date their signatures. Once the baby is born, you can date their signatures with a date like 5-7days after the baby's birth date.
The ID details to be filled by the father in this form should be his international passport details. You will also need a coloured photocopy of his passport page as you travel.
Hope dis helps. Cheers

Babababy:

Thanks for the heads up Mrs bee!! Much appreciated. I understand the notary can not be three months old when the baby is born, meaning by the time baby arrives and application is filed ,the notary should not be older than three moths ? I was reading an article about the notary " it said only notary done in America or by any American embassy in foreign territory is acceptable? Is that a fact of fiction.?

hardeymijuh: Thanks Mrs bee & Fabulousmum for the clarification.

@Fabulousmum,
Been a while we heard from you on this trend. Wecome back....Hope you are good?

@Mrs Bee,
Hope you re better and discharged now? It is well with you and the baby.
The baby will coordinate and port accordingly at its time....Amen

@All
Anyone planning to travel around Nov/Dec...Let's know where you are going, plans arrangement, accomodation, flights etc...

hardeymijuh: Thanks Mrs bee & Fabulousmum for the clarification.

@Fabulousmum,
Been a while we heard from you on this trend. Wecome back....Hope you are good?

@Mrs Bee,
Hope you re better and discharged now? It is well with you and the baby.
The baby will coordinate and port accordingly at its time....Amen

@All
Anyone planning to travel around Nov/Dec...Let's know where you are going, plans arrangement, accomodation, flights etc...

fabulousmom:

@babababy,

Yes, the notary must be as recent as possible, that's why Mrs Bee said that if you'll notarize the statement of consent before your wife leaves nigeria, you and the notary public shouldn't include any date on the statement of consent. Let your wife be the one to write dates on it for you and the notary public, after the birth of your child.

To answer your second question, the statement of consent can definitely be notarized in Nigeria. My husband printed it out in nigeria, notarized it in nigeria (abeokuta for that matter) and sent it to me by courier. So you could either do it that way after the baby is born, or before your wife leaves. Whichever way you choose is fine, so far you do not make the mistake of filling dates that will cause the rejection of the statement of consent by the passport agency.

fabulousmom:

@hardeymijuh,

I just decided to lay low till the heat of the previous incident died down. It's good to be back too. How have you been too?

forevermine: Hi everyone. Pls does anyone have any recent experiences at MIHS Phoenix?(Like within the past few months). I need to confirm some information I got. Will appreciate a response.thanks.

forevermine: Oh nothing of the sort but I was just briefing my sister who lives in Maryland about the MIHS pricing and the whole thingy but she says I should be doubly sure before I commit myself cos she's heard most of these hospitals/centres that appear cheap/affordable are sort of like boarding houses- those were her exact words. Where pts r crumped up and all. Of course I'd have loved to give birth in MD where she is bt I'm tryna save costs, as the price ranges she's told me are over the top( she had a baby in august last year n her bill ws close to 15grand). So js wanted a reconfirmation/new update on MIHS pricing/bill, as in is it all-encompassing,are u allowed to bring ur tests frm naija/will they be accepted? Etc...

Mrs Bee:
MIHS is as it is. If you have any doubt visit their website and call thiem directly. Vivian just had anoda baby there April 2013. And their pricing is the same.

hardeymijuh:

Mrs Bee, Hope you are good....Finalised your plans on leavng? Flight confirmed?

tobiojo2002:

i did not have issuesat POE i was 37 wks i had a really huge tummy , which i disguised by buying a very large size bra and padding this up, this made me look really busty and i wore a free flowing regular top.i looked like i was jusy 24 wks after all the disguise

The immigration officer asked if i was preg , i said yes and that was all, but go with enough cash , cos i guess he dnt make any issue out of the preg cos of the cash i decleared i had.

bridgie:

@tobiojo2002, pls wer was ur POE, newyork, atl or wer?
@ all, for those plannin to go by delta, i hear dt imigration officers at atlanta r quite strict and evn houston. Infct someone said dey stamped her frend's passport wit 2wks at atlanta n she rtnd wtout havin the baby. Please anyone with useful info regarding ease of entry into US should pls post.
I

Rexwoods: Hello everyone. Baptist medical center in saint Louis , Missouri charges $1,500 for a 24hr stay after delivery, 2,100 for 48hrs.... Epidural $800 and you can get a doctor for $2,450, the doctor will refund $900 after delivery, pediatrics is &210. My friend had her baby in this hospital , total was about $4,060. I plan to go there too. I called the hospital and they confirmed the price for the hospital stay so long has you pay 30 days to your EDD. +13149965000.

Mousepad: Hi Fam,

I'm considering using a birth centre oo! Got two in Dallas (at Grand Praire and Garland) i'm trvling on Friday by God's grace and I'll be 34wks by then. The prices I got from the two birth centres are $3,900 and $3,200 respectively (cos i'm coming late) which covers both use of birth centre and services of the midwives. But note that they will not accept anyone considered high risk i.e complications in pregnancy. I had to send them my medical records from my first antenatal visit to date and they both accepted me after reviewing my records. I'll keep u guys posted when I get to the states. Please pray for God's favour at POE oo! I'm thinkin of hvin $8k cash + my bank cards, I also have a letter from the birth centre and another letter from a doctor. I'm using the doctor's own to cross over since the fees are more and these guys want pple who will spend in their country but once I enter I'll jejely cancel the doctor's appt and head to my midwives. By the way I had my first baby in the UK and was attended to by midwives at the hospital so I'm very familiar with their practice. Cheers all!