₦airaland Forum

Tvegas, Nita, Phema, una dey here? No be small matter

I hail o! *space booked*

Anencephaly. Google it and thank me later

Tvegas:
@Phema, anonymousmum, Nita and all the latest mums. It's time to embark on another trip . Make una detain oga for house this week. One love guys.

haaa detain kwaa! Baby has already detained me, how many of us go come dey hostage situation...

Baba Tvegas of life! Sharing information since 1908

Shawbabe:
@anonymusmum, my dear I probably need to calm down

lol I think you should

favouredB:
Extra 2,500. You are lucky. My own na the one wey dem dey call Original Gobe. I was billed extra 9,000 for spending a night at the hospital. A week ....

Pele o! I'm so sorry about this.

I have to blame the doctor at this point. He had no business discharging you. He should have an idea of how the system works, and adapt to his international , self pay clients. Your package only commenced when you went in the second time, and they billed you standart hospital rae for that day.

For example, when my doctor wanted to induce me, he told me to resume at the hospital at 5 mins past midnight so that my 48 hours will start counting from midnight, and so I will not stay too long, even after 24hrs labor I still did not exceed the 48 hours in the hospital.

Pls whatever you do do not fashy them. That zero balance letter is critical. Receipt alone does not show that you paid in full.

Even for pediatrician, drs fees, I collected zero balance letter at every point.

Just find a way to negotiate, last last you can be paying small small from Nigeria (if they will agree) or aggressively negotiate a lower rate if you are able to pay all at once.

Even me I dey vex. The financial counselor showed me the full itemised list of the services I received, I was weak. Thank God for discount.

Just keep thinking about your healthy LO and the end target of the whole venture...it is well...hugs.

Shawbabe:
How did they determine ur baby was big? And at how many weeks? Dunno why I'm feeling I have a big baby and I'm a tad bit scared for labour and delivery. Scared of tear and all. Pls what was ur experience? And yes I'm naive as heck on this, na my 1st.

Why do you feel you have a big baby?? Just be at peace. Tears / Episiotomies are handled pretty well in the US, its not that much of a big deal

My scan done at 40 wks showed 9 pound baby hence Dr recommended induction, that if we waited more the baby may become bigger and bigger and I would be at higher risk for C/S. However scan has an error margin of up to 10%, my baby was far less than that in reality.

bj2012golf:
Congratulations on the birth of ur baby

Thanks a lot.

Airpure:
Hello Dear. Congrats again. Pls can u share a breakdown of ur bill I really like to know d total cos I intend using same hospital.
Regards.

Hi pls see my previous posts.

Hello all,

Update on Houston Methodist Hospital Sugar Land -

I was billed an extra $2500 because:

- My labour was prolonged (almost 24 hours) and included extra fetal monitoring by the nurses...
- I used a whole lot of medications because I was induced (reason for induction was that USS said my baby was big - turned out not to be so big after all).

Baby did not incur any additional charges so I have received my zero balance letter for baby.

Discussed extensively with the financial counsellor, final position is that because I am cash paying she reduced it to roughly $1200, with the option of paying over a period of 1yr. After concluding payment I will get the zero balance letter.

Right now I just tire for the system, I guess it could have been worse so I am grateful to God.

Kykes I have sent you a PM, wanted to know if you had a similar experience with them? I know u have your hands full with your babies, thanks.

Hormones!!! All of una dan do well abi, chase madam america away...

which one na thirded again

Phema:
You know you should apologise for misconstruing her post. No need to be defensive.

And yes! She has EVERY right to be annoyed with the Dr! Her complaints are not unfounded. She asked for the total cost prior to her delivery and that test never came up. Why turn around and include the test much later and still not even tell her how much that will cost?

And yes! I (and many others) are after the blue pali. The good healthcare is a plus. No shame in that. No need to get all sentimental. If we wanted just good healthcare, we have options.

Again, until you walk in her shoes, refrain from being all judgemental.

Seconded!

Nogen:
Congratulations anonymousmum

favouredB:
@ Anonymousmum Congratulations

Thank you wishing us all the best

mummyprincess:
Tnx Dear! This is really comprehensive. Tnx for your time for answering my questions. Take care of yourself n the baby.

U are welcome

mummyprincess:
@ anonymousmum, Congrats, pls I wld like to know how much you prepaid for every thing. Tnx.

Hospital - Houston Methodist Hospital Sugar Land - Normal Vaginal Delivery $2,536 for 48 hours stay. If its Normal C/S I think its $3,500 or so.

Anesthesia (optional for vaginal delivery, but required for C/S) - $1,500

Dr Fee - Dr. Le - Vaginal Delivery $2,500, includes all Ultrasounds, all prenatal visits, and one post natal visit. He accepted all my tests from Nigeria. If you register later, maybe 37 weeks I think they give some discount, I registered at 34 weeks tho.

Total Prepaid is $6,536.

Additional Fees not yet prepaid:

Paediatrician: (Dr. Sung) -She came to see the baby after delivery, and baby will see her in 2 weeks time. I have not paid this though, but total is to come to about $300 or so.

Circumsition
The Doctor also performs circumcision for additional $200, in his clinic. If u do the circumcision at the hospital they will charge about $800.

Pathology

At the hospital when I came in to deliver, they took blood samples from me, I asked them how much it would cost, because they did not tell me before, the nurse said its part of the package. I'm just waiting to see what will come out of this.

Hospital said final statement will be sent to me in about 7 days so I am hopeful that there will be no surprises...

Hey people,

Had my baby boy Thursday night at Methodist Houston Sugar Land, Thursday evening, discharged Saturday morning, Mummy, LO and Daddy are doing great! Overall experience was fantastic, nurses tripping over themselves to help you, etc, etc.

Also Dr. Duc Le was great too.

Shout out to everyone that contributed to this thread, extremely tired out from baby duty so I wont call names for fear of offending anyone

LOL at freebies, Freebies were not fantastic here o, just formula (which I don't want to use)

Will give feedback when I get my final bill (if any sef because I had pre paid for everything, and had no complications).

To everyone that is bored in America, put up your feet even more, cuz once the baby comes, end of honeymoon period...

favouredB:
@ Anonymous mum...." At POE, I met a harsh woman that asked me how I knew that it was ok to come and deliver in the US, I no even talk too much story, I just showed her the letter."

I strongly believe if you had looked straight into her eyes with all boldness and said " with my B1/B2 visa I know I am entitled to medical services in the US and I know it's not illegal to have my baby in the US...." she would have simply let you be. Information is power Sis, that is why we are here in Nairaland. You committed no offence cos you were not pregnant when they gave you the visa. Shikeena.

I agree with you. No worries.

Hmm shawbabe you did not say it was overated until you landed US safely ooo

I get where you are coning from, but like kykes and virtuousdiva have said, t builds burden of proof.

You said you have traveled to the US up to 12 times (ajala things) , ur own confidence is different from everyone.

All cases are different. Me for example, when I applied I was specifically asked if I would use it for medical purposes, I sad no, as I was not pregnant at the time. I then used the visa in 2013, regular holiday.

Will you say that I should not have written to them? All cases are different biko...

As someone had noted (cant remember who) this letter of intent may be abused at the rate we are going, but still, it may be a factor at POE.

At POE, I met a harsh woman that asked me how I knew that it was ok to come and deliver in the US, I no even talk too much story, I just showed her the letter.

My 2 cents...

zeezahbee:
As soon as you step you foot into any POE in America, you are also giving everyone the license to touch your belle and ask your questions about your pregnancy. Be it Nigerian or American, they will rub your belle and ask for the sex. Nothing can happen to you. I ask for people sex and expect you to reply sharply with no attitude because that's the America trend. Don't feel bad, keep the flow. It's to show love, nothing intended

I hear you...initially it was annoying but I take it in my stride now..

Airpure:
My Dear I call it Monitoring Spirit and its disgusting.

LOL! MFM Activated.

Saved2Serve:
[size=15pt]Ojikwanu EDD and baby's sex eme gini? Ijuta ishii nkita iwere ya mee gini? Those things are personal bikko. [/size]

Pls u have to translate this part for us o!

MamaTobenna:
Please house. I am scared of something I. What happens if baby has jaundice. I am seriously praying that my child won't have big my first child had jaundice when he was born. That's some serious extra money. Docs said there is nothing I can do to avoid it than to pray that my child does not have it. I know someone mentioned it sometime ago and how they called the social worker when she insisted on leaving withe her baby. Biko who else has any experience with this to share as per implication on costs and all

Hi Mama T,

There are 2 types of jaundice, the physiological type ( i.e "normal" ) type which typically shows up on the 2nd day and usually clears without any issues within 2 days or so.

The 2nd type is pathological (abnormal) jaundice - which is usually a sign of an underlying problem with the baby's liver/bile clearance mechanism, however there are many causes.

There is not much that you can do before birth really, like your doctor said. All you can do is pray about it...

Also because your first child had it does not mean that your second child is likely to develop it.

Hope this helps

zeezahbee:
Those people asking you that question, do they live in USA or Nigeria ? I need to be sure before I say anything.

I think I get where you are going, these are Naija folks oh I am talking about. I am not sure if they are asking for gist purposes or they actually care. maybe I am just being paranoid sha but abeg, there are limits.

what is my own with Americans, they are always asking questions in taxi, in the shops etc but I dont know them so I don't send...

Airpure:
So I know this is not the tread for it but I need to vent. I totally hate it when people ask me intimate questions about my pregnancy n travel plans like when is my EDD, Sex of my baby in fact yesterday some asked me wen my traveling n I said d month n she asked 4 d date I had to tell her cos it's not in my nature to Lie. (Not that much a saint) I just think it's personal info n people should mind their business. Argggggggg.

OMG I thought I was the only one. Its so bloody annoying, whats the sex, when is your EDD, how fr, you never drop, some people even ask questions like are u still having *** I swear I just want to slap them

I am usually very tactful when it comes to stuff like that and I expect the same from others. But no, everyone wants to know whats going on. i am tempted to switch off my BBM self.

@ tvegas Congratulations! We will show for naming ceremony #teamsugarland #teamstafford

Shawbabe:
u don ban am abi? Lmao

this Shawbabe...Comedian of the Thread...

MadameU:
My old passport has been stamped "cancelled without prejudice" and yet the CBP officer mistakenly stamped on it. What do I do?

In addition to carrying your old passport with the new one I would suggest you keep your used boarding pass esp the one for your return ... Just to be on the. Very safe side in future....

There is a website where you can check the status of your stay.

"This website provides limited access to arrival and departure date records of nonimmigrant aliens entering and departing the United States which are maintained in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) Nonimmigrant Information System (NIIS)."

You can use the website to check which passport number they have on record in relation to your most recent entry into the US.

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html

aye88:
..... all that was on my mind was that God shld punish our leaders for not giving us a good healthcare. Lool. The doctor was so patient and detailed

I swear as I was counting the live dollars for the Dr and hospital I was like chai! See hard currency flowing into another man's economy due to our leaders' ineptitude ... diaris God o

GenoMI:
Hello house, long time no see or should I say chat ? Happy new year to everyone in the house.

I'm just here to share my experience since I learnt a whole lot from this forum and was able to plan and organise my US trip successfully.
I was scheduled to travel to Houston on Friday 5th December 2015 at 33weeks 6 days.

Anyway I just though to share my experience, even though I had thought my next post on this thread would be about my Atl POE experience. All in all I thank God for everything.

Hey GenoMI, congratulations on your LO, the key thing which we all wish for at the end of the day is a healthy baby to a healthy mother.

And your baby is fine even after being born so early, loads to thank God for *hugs*

godblessamerica:
That's before discounts. But they still have over charged me. They charged $875 for 5 IVY Which they gave me during child birth. IVY can't be that expensive. Secondly why charged for recovery room and labor room again. Plus anesthesia charges are $1300 remember the charges of anesthesologist isn't yet come to me! Wondering what is that 1300 for?

So its a case of discussing with them naa ni.

Before you harrass them, just secure the agreed discount first o! Before you will go and hassle them, and they pull back on the discount.

Also the ATL / Gwinett folks can weigh in too, to tell you how its done and who exactly you should be discussing with.

Cheers, and congrats!

mimibe:
call the billing guys, if they prove difficult, request for their supervisor.
Is the 9k after the discount?

I was just going to ask sef. Because this may just be the entire bill assuming you are not self pay. Have you discussed with them that you are self pay?

godblessamerica:
Private Room OB $2400 (during child birth)
Private Room after birth $1400 (shifted to other room)
Pharmacy $480 (fentanyl citrate, fentanyl Bupivac, Bupivacaine & Oxytocin)
Pharmacy others $36 (pain killer)
Lab Charges for various test $271
Anesthesia Level 2 $1193 (they charged me for this and above this i am gonna get a separate bill of $1200 from Anesthesiologist so dont know what are this charges for)
Durgs details $875 (they charged me for Lactated ringers @ $154 each dont know for real is that expensive?)
Recovery room - Vaginal EA Hour $1310 (charged 2 times $655 each and dont know why)
labor Room Delivery $720
Fetel monitoring $181
urinary catheterization $140

Total $9006

please advise me to resolve this.

the first question is that did your delivery go smoothly or were there any complications?

Secondly, did you not have a package deal with them i.e an agreement with them for a Birthing plan that should capture some of these costs all in?

Maybe the Atlanta/Gwinnet folks can help here but clearly they have charged you item by item (for example charging you for OB room and then separately for another room when they moved you) - this is usually avoided when you have a package deal.

Also I see some red flags - were you induced? were you informed that the labor would be augmented? I see oxytocin there which is used to induce labor or help labor move along. You will need to investigate this and confirm the useage of all these drugs they have listed here.

Anaesthesia - you will need to speak to the anaesthesia people directly. I see level 2 there, you need to ask them and jack them up seriously

How is recovery room separate from private room after birth

Fetal monitoring?? Was your baby fine after birth? What were they monitoring exactly?

Urinary Catheterisation? Is that a joke? Something that any nurse or junior doctor can do with eyes closed?

This is the reason why the American healthcare system sucks.

Just be armed with your facts and be ready to fight for your rights. I dey vex sef.

Santa2:
@anonymousemum: have you tried using Uber? It did cut wifey's transportation cost by half. Its a mobile app, U download it on ur phone, pretty easy to use. Even wifey that isn't techie at all(emphasis on at all.lol) found it easy to us

Oh yeah? I have heard of the app before now...will check it out, thanks..

kykes:
Pls who else is in sugarland o? I am bored

I'm here o. Transportation is my problem cuz cabbing up and down is running my wallet down like tomorrow no dey.

PM me you no

Babatwi:
@ belfy
There is a consent form for this purpose on the us govt passport website . Here is the link: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/passports/under-16.html. or you can google " us passport application for a minor under 16 "the form is called DS-3053. Print it out and have your husband fill it in front of a notary public and have the notary public notarise it. This was what i did before i left 9ja for Dalla,so that i can use it when applying for my baby's Us passport. I dint have or use any consent letter at poe . Pm me if you have any dififculty downloading the forum ,so that i can email it to you

Hi babatwi, this letter that you are sharing, I think you need to specify that this letter has to be signed before not just any notary public, but in front of the notary that is at the US Embassy after the birth of the child.

There is no way it can be signed before the baby is born. So it is not a letter that the mother can take with her before the birth.

I stand to be corrected however, gurus in the house please confirm?

Please lets circulate complete information, so that would be mothers will not just take it to any notary and carry it with them.

Thanks and cheers.