₦airaland Forum

dazzing:
Dsquare, I am so excited to read your story, I have not been here for a while so it is such a joy to read your story which is similar to my second trip. Your experience with the second immigration point is interesting and it's making me think if their process has changed slightly because of the kind of questions you got, I wasn't asked those. One may need to carry a lot more documents when traveling based on what you shared. Another thing, did you use the line for Canadian citizens since you were already traveling with a Canadian child. It wasn't clear in your story. And was there any advantage to that in terms of your wait time? congratulations again, this was an awesome read!

Hi Dazzing. Thanks. We were all on the regular queue. Only when the Parent is a citizen or permanent resident do you go on the citizen queue. There were other parents who had Canadian kids. Once the officer asked who is a citizen or permanent resident. And several of us raised our hands and said our kids are citizen. He asked how old are the kids( they were all below 18 years old). The officer said we can only go on citizen queue if one parent is a citizen or permanent resident.

CANADA BIRTH PART 1

Good day all
This is to share the first part of my experience on the birth of my 2nd child in Canada. Please note that my wife and I had our first baby in Canada 2 years ago, the experience of which was shared on this platform. COVID happened few months after and this platform has been mostly quiet. So, I will give details of our journey so far.

Visas:
The visas used were the same visa we’ve had since 2017. Still valid until our passports expire next year. This is why I always emphasize that if you plan to give birth in Canada, please get your visa before you are pregnant. The visa will remain valid until your passport expires, so try to get it and you will avoid the problems that comes with having to apply based on medical grounds. Please don’t wait until you are pregnant to get a visa, it might almost be too late. If you had your visa already and you come in a year later to give birth, nobody can prove misrepresentation, since as at when the visa was given, you were not pregnant.

Flight and Accommodation:
Accommodation was in Mississauga, even though the plan was to use Humber River Hospital (It’s only a 30-minute drive). Mississauga was a better choice for us because it was cheaper to get a self-catering serviced apartment with free parking in the city center compared to Toronto downtown. Everything we needed was just within walking distance, except for African grocery shop which was like 5-minutes’ drive. The accommodation was found and booked on booking.com since around July 2021 (please choose the option of free cancellation). We had hoped that the travel restrictions will be lifted in September as announced in July. So, we booked accommodation without payment and held on for the flight until the restriction was lifted September 7th, 2021. Flight route was from Abuja to Toronto through Paris (Charles de Gaulle).

Preparation:
Please note that with the travel restrictions as at the time of travel, only vaccinated people were allowed to enter Canada for tourism (which includes giving birth). They are also required to present a negative covid test within 72 hours of their last flight to Canada and to fill the arrivecan information either on the site or on the app. The only exception for the vaccination is if you are exempted. So, my mother-in-law went for her vaccination. My wife and I also went for ours, but my wife was refused vaccination because she was pregnant. This on its own is a dilemma because on the NPHCDA site, it in line with WHO, recommends vaccination to pregnant women if they are at risk of getting the virus such as health workers or those who have comorbidities. I believe for the purpose of travel where there is mandatory requirement for vaccination, the decision to take the vaccine or not should be made by the pregnant individual and not by the vaccination team (My opinion though). But when you go as pregnant woman, you would be refused. So, for first time births in Canada, this will pose a problem if you’re not vaccinated. So, my proposed solution is to get the vaccine before you are pregnant (that’s if you’re not against vaccination). Fortunately for us, we fell under the exemption list. This list can be found on the IRCC website, and it allows Parents of Canadian citizens to enter Canada, even if they are not vaccinated as long as they quarantine. Children below 5 years are neither required to be vaccinated or do a pre-covid test, so my daughter was exempted. The rest of us had to take covid test that must be negative to be able to enter Canada. Finally, we filled the Arrivecan information on the arrivecan app to allow entry into Canada and to give proof of vaccination
Aside the arrivcan certificate, vaccination proof and negative covid test results, all other usual requirement had to be in place such as fit-to-fly medical certificate from the airport, passports, visas etc.

Point of Entry:
The journey from Abuja to Toronto through Paris was quite smooth. No drama, just the norm. At the Abuja airport, they asked for the negative covid test or proof of vaccination, arrivecan receipt, and fit-to-fly certificate from the airport port health authority. Then at the Paris airport, they asked for the arrivecan receipt, negative covid test and the vaccine certificate. I told them my wife was not vaccinated and that she is exempted. He initially asked to see a documentation that proves my wife is exempted and I directed him to the exemption list of the IRCC. He then asked for my daughter’s birth certificate and let us board after seeing a copy.
At Toronto airport procedure was smooth, but long waiting times. The first queue was meant to self-check with your passport scan on a scanning machine and declare whatever you need to declare such as animal pets, animal meat or foreign currency in excess of 10,000CAD. After that, we got on another queue which I believe is customs. Good thing a female officer noticed my wife was pregnant and called us out of the queue so as to hasten our check. We were asked why we’re here, what we were carrying, and our passport and vaccination proofs were checked. Since my wife was not vaccinated but was a parent of a Canadian citizen, she was given a quarantine instruction after confirming that we have a suitable place to quarantine. We got on the 3rd queue which I believe was immigration. We were not prioritized but my wife, daughter and mother-in-law were taken to sit somewhere while I waited on the queue. The wait was long though. Eventually we got to our turn. Immigration officer asked why we’re here (told her we’re here to give birth), what’s my relationship with those travelling in my group, how long we’ll be staying, the address we’ll be staying, if we have foreign currency and how much, what I do for a living, how much is my annual income, what my wife does for a living, how much is her annual income, what happens to our source of living while we’re here in Canada, if we’re on health insurance or will pay by cash, how much we spent on hospital bills the last time we gave birth in Canada as well as the receipts (good thing I carried copies), if we already have a doctor and a hospital, when do we plan to leave Canada, where are our return tickets. She wrote down all our answers and collected the documents including the vaccination proofs. She told us to go back to sit down while she reviews the information. She went to their supervisor’s office to discuss with him and came back after about 10 minutes to ask for the specific reason my wife was not vaccinated. I told her it’s because she was pregnant. She went back again and after about 25 minutes, she came back to tell us that entry has been granted and she’ll prepare a document for us. She gave us the document which was an approval to enter Canada to give birth. Both my wife’s name and mine were on the document as well as date to leave Canada (which was like 4 days after our planned return date). And that’s it. We were in! Such a huge sigh of relief it was for us, but God pass them. My wife is still on quarantine for now. Appointment has been made for first visit with Dr. Ted Kosalka after her quarantine ends.

Unfortunately, due to the Omicron variant of the covid virus, Canada has now banned flight from Nigeria except for their permanent residents and citizens who now must quarantine regardless of their vaccination status. I do not know if the exemption includes parents of Canadians though. I don’t know how those who plan to give birth there this year or early next year are going to go about this. An option to try though might be booking a flight through another country that is not on the red list after staying in that country for 2-3 weeks. For example, travelling to Ghana to stay for 2-3 weeks and then leave from Ghana to Toronto. In that case, it can be said that you have not been to Nigeria within the last 2 weeks (my opinion though). In any case, I hope that this restriction will be lifted within a few months as was the case with India and Pakistan.

That’s it for part 1. By God’s grace I will be able to share part 2 at the end of our journey. I do hope you guys have been able to grab a thing or two from my experience. Thanks to y’all for reading.

[quote author=Tutsy50 post=85860877]What were the required documents for the Nigerian passport please.

Hi Tutsy50,
Please visit here to find the requirements. Aside the general requirements, check additional requirements for applicants under the age of 18.

https://nigeriahcottawa.ca/citizen-services/e-passport-application

Thanks @Hotstepper
@Newmomof2, it's exactly as Hotstepper said. Canadian Passport application was submitted on a Friday and it was ready for pickup the following Tuesday (2 business days). Service is Express service. Baby presence not required. But baby passport photograph must be taken (can be taken at any photo studio as long as it meets requirements). Both husband and wife must sign the form but only one of them may go to the passport office for the application.

Nigerian passport application was submitted on a Tuesday, and passport was received the same day. Baby presence required. Both husband and wife must sign consent letter. Both or one of them can go with the baby to the passport office
.

Long Post Alert!!
Sorry I’ve been so busy that I have not had time or strength to type up the rest of the journey. Our baby was born about 3 weeks ago. Thanks to Almighty God for the successful delivery. So here’s the rest of the story:
First, update on the lab test at doctor’s office is 55CAD extra for a vaginal swab test for which I got the invoice about a week after birth of our baby. So that brings the total lab test cost to 178CAD
Labor, Hospital, and Delivery:
So my wife got an early labor and baby on a Friday at 37 weeks 2 days. Went to hospital the next day morning only to be turned back in the afternoon because dilation was still 1cm. However, we were charged 650CAD for that visit by the hospital. Later that night labor got worse and we returned to hospital at about 10pm. My wife’s dilation was checked to be almost 3cm and they told us to wait until it’s 3cm. However we were advised to wait and be admitted to the labor room at 12am so we won’t have to pay for 2 nights (This was because, the baby has to be in the hospital for 24 complete hours before being discharged as Ontario law requires.) So were finally admitted 11:30pm on a Saturday and baby was born @ 5:17am on Sunday morning. (I was scared they’d charge us for the 30 minutes before 12am, but when I spoke to them in accounts the following Monday morning, they were understanding, and we only paid for one night.) We were discharged on Monday morning since the 24hrs ended at 5:17am on Monday morning. We used an Epidural which cost us 1,100CAD and it covers as many epidurals as required until birth (it’s non-negotiable as the doctor did not reduce it even when we tried to negotiate. However, I heard the cost of the epidural differ from anesthesiologist to anesthesiologist and could be anywhere from 500CAD to 1200CAD depending on whoever’s on duty)
Hospital bill for one night was 3505CAD(which we had paid earlier) and that included mother and baby, lab tests, drugs, food (for mother and baby if the mother cannot breastfeed), diapers, maternity pads, disposable panties for mother, and accommodation for support person (a collapsible chair in the labor room as well as the mother and baby room).
First pediatric visit was 3 days after birth. We were given a list of Humber river pediatricians and we used the one closest to us. The guy charged 300CAD for first visit and said subsequent visit is 200CAD. After first visit we were supposed to return a week later. However, for some reason we were not comfortable with the price. So we researched about other pediatricians not connected with Humber river hospital. We found Kidscrew children clinic. We were charged 80 dollars for Pediatric visit at Kidscrew. We regretted going to the first guy anyway. But at least thank God the joy of delivery was greater than the regret of spending.
Birth Certificate, Ticket, and Passports Application
Birth certificate was applied for online through service Ontario. Cost 25CAD and was approved the next day. Received it at my address through Canada post 1 week after approval.
Baby ticket was 216CAD with Lufthansa airline. Bassinet seat cost extra 77CAD. Both were obtained over the phone with airline desk and new ticket was sent to my email. (Note that flight ticket with baby’s name showing on it is required to get and urgent or express passport)
Canadian passport was applied for after baby got her passport photograph (20CAD for 4 copies). I wanted to go with the no guarantor option which requires filling a form that shows information about you within the last five years including addresses, and jobs. Then 2 referees which can be reached by the phone numbers you provide. Also, the form must be signed at a notary public office which would cost 78CAD since he will be serving as your guarantor. (Notary public office is less than a minute walk from the downtown passport office I went to. However, I had no need to use the notary public office anymore because I was able to contact a friend whom I thought was not even in the country. Fortunately, she had returned, and she signed as guarantor for me. Passport application and express delivery cost 107CAD. They said I did not qualify for urgent service since I’m not travelling within 2 weeks. So I was given express service and told to come the next 2 business days. Went there and got my baby’s passport
Instead of applying for a Nigerian emergency travel certificate, we decided to apply for a Nigerian passport since we had time and we figured it will be more difficult to get the baby a passport in Nigeria(they don’t even have passport booklet) The Nigerian passport office was in Ottawa. But application has to be made online and payment has to be done online as well (77USD). Printed out all the required documents and got on our way to Ottawa as baby has to be present in person at Ottawa for photograph. Left Toronto on a Monday afternoon, got to Ottawa on a Monday evening and went to passport office on Tuesday morning. (Note that after filling the application online already, appointment was given to come to the Ottawa office 10 days later, however, we went there the next day following the advice I was given when I called the office to come whenever it’s convenient for me). Got to the office on Tuesday morning and submitted the application documents. Got the passport in the afternoon and got on our way back to Toronto the next day.
So all we do now is sit and wait for our flight to return home and hopefully we should not encounter any challenges all through. The God who has started this has brought it to completion. We are just nothing but grateful.

Am not too sure i understood ur question, but if u meant someone calling the doctor's office and booking an appointment, then yes, that's possible.
For visiting a location different from what is stated in your application, i don't think that should be a problem since the visa allows you to visit anywhere in Canada.

Otokini01:
So can someone just call and they will be attended to? Plus is it compulsory I go to the place I initially said in my applicationi was going to or I can just change? Cos I cant seem to find any doctor over there.

JESUnifemi4eva:
Thank you for this selfless update Dsquare2017.
May GOD grant your wife safe delivery.Amen
It was an interesting read, and GOD pass all these village (Lufthansa) people.
I shared my experience on this thread several years ago, although on a different moniker.
You are on the right track, I just want to share my point of view about getting a Social Insurance Number for your child/children - if they are not fully resident in Canada. I feel it exposes them to the risk of Identity theft, as there are unscrupulous elements who are tracking idle S.I.N & looking for avenues to collect government benefits using other people's details; and this is the easy aspect, identify theft can be very serious. You can always apply for the Social Insurance Number whenever you or your children decide to reside in Canada - at least that is what I did.
Also appeal to the hospital staff to check you out within 24hrs - if possible, as you a cash-paying patient.
Best regards!

Thanks JESUnifemi4ever. I'll take note of that

[quote author=SA44LA44 post=83346119][/quote]I meant that the issuing authority was the London office. We did everything in Nigeria. But on the visa, it stated that it was issued in London

Thanks for the info

Hotstepper:
Thank you so much for taking your time to write this. Wishing you both a safe delivery .
NB: Baby is not entitled to SIN and Health Card until whenever he/she comes bk for live.

Caution: very, very, very, long post alert!!!!
Good day everyone in the house. I’ve been a silent reader, but I have greatly benefited from this thread and decided to give feedback on my journey so far. Thanks to the likes of Hotstepper, candybright, omobendel, and others (abeg forgive me if I no mention you, you are still acknowledged, please chop your accolade!) who were there to give kind guidance all the way. So, I would talk about my experience in stages. I know it’s very detailed but then I’m trying to cover whatever question you may have to ask me. For those who are not patient to read it all, here are the highlights so far:
• Visa Application was online. Applied in September and approved in December 2018. Application was done before my wife was pregnant, so it was tourism visa.
• Accommodation was in an Airbnb for 10 weeks
• Hospital selected was Humber River Hospital
• Doctor spoken with was Doctor Ted Kosalka (didn’t require any referral)
• Point of Entry was quite easy though carried around to several desks. No unusual question or suspicion.
• Fees (these are the ones I have gotten so far) are as follows:
o Doctor’s fee: 2500 (both vaginal and CS)
o Pediatrician fee: 500 (both doctor and pediatrician fee paid at doctor’s office)
o Epidural: Doctor wasn’t too sure but said it’s about 1000 and will be paid on the day of delivery if required
o Hospital stay per night 3505 (mother and baby)
o Laboratory: 95(blood work) and 28(urine analysis)
o Ultrasound: 82
o Total: 7710 (Paid 6710 so far. Delivery day will determine the epidural cost)
Now to the details in stages.
Visa Application:
The VFS office Abuja was the Visa application center we used for the visa application. We applied for the visitor’s visa online on September 12, 2018. We initially intended to use it solely for tourism. Biometrics was requested for my wife in September 13, 2018 (I had already had my biometrics done in 2014 when I got my first Canadian visa). Passports were requested in November 19, 2018 and visas were issued in December 19, 2018 in London, England. Validity was till 2022 (around the time our passport was to expire). We intended to use visa for tourism in July 2019. However, my wife took-in in February 2019. Plans had to change since it did not make sense for use to arrive in Canada in July with a 5 months pregnancy and attempt to convince the border officer that we are not there for birth. That was how we decided that our baby would be born in Canada. Now I had no idea about what needs to be done for this to happen. So, I decided to make research and ask question. I was initially looking for an agent to help me do all of it. However, after I asked a colleague who had his children in USA how he did it, he directed me to nairaland, and then I realized that I don’t need an agent for this. That was how my search for this thread started. I was so anxious that I wanted to immediately ask all my questions at once. However, I noticed that those who asked were directed to read the thread from the beginning. So, I did the same. I didn’t really read it word for word but took note of experiences that relates to my situation. I saved several of those experiences which were helpful. And it’s true, most of the questions people ask here, have already been answered in previous posts, so for the newcomers, please read the thread from the beginning. Finally, my advice on visa application is to apply before you are pregnant so that you can apply as a tourist. The visa can last for as long as 10 years depending on the expiry date of your passport. So, don’t wait till you are pregnant to apply, just apply for it and get it. You are not required to make the journey after being issued the visa, so you can keep it till you are pregnant
Travel Preparation:
So, with the information I had gathered from the thread, I started making travel arrangement. For accommodation, first, neither my wife nor I have family or close friends to live with in Canada. Second, we actually needed an entire place to ourselves for the advantage of privacy and to be able to bring in visitors if necessary. Third, I needed to find a hospital first before making a final decision on accommodation, so as to make access to hospital facilities easier. So, I was on the internet every now and then looking for hospital and finding doctors. Over 90% of doctors phones go on voicemail and even when voicemails are dropped they don’t call back. However, I managed to get the cost of hospital fees for some hospitals such as St. Michael, Scarborough general, Humber River, and Lakeridge hospital. But getting doctors was the most difficult task. Eventually though I was able to get Dr. Ted Kosalka at Humber River Hospital. I spoke directly with him after his secretary handed me over to him, and he told me to expect to spend between 7000 and 8000CAD for my delivery. He also mentioned that doctor’s fee is 2000CAD for vaginal delivery and 2500CAD for CS. That money will be paid on the second visit. First antenatal visit is 120CAD and subsequent visit is 60CAD. Pediatrician fee is 500CAD and lab test is between 100 – 170CAD. I told him that I don’t have a referral from a family doctor, and he said there was no need for me to get referral. The hospital itself mentioned that hospital stay is 3505CAD per night (2680CAD for mother and 825CAD for baby) I made an oral appointment with the secretary for my wife’s first visit.
With Hospital and Doctor secured, it was time to book accommodation. I was already in discussion with a Nigerian who lives in Whitby, Ontario - one Mr. Folorunso (whom I found his contact on this thread) for accommodation. He had an entire basement that he rents at a very good price. Lakeridge hospital is also very close to his house. However, while Lakeridge hospital’s prices per night was reasonable, I was unable to get any doctor from Lakeridge hospital to answer my calls and the hospital itself said I have to get a referral. Though I would have loved to stay in the man’s house since he’s Nigerian and would understand things from a Nigerian point of view, I had to turn down the accommodation since the place was a little far from Humber river hospital which I eventually decided to use. So, I was back in search for accommodation. I finally got an Airbnb for 70 nights (10 weeks) in York, Ontario which was only about 10 mins drive to the doctor’s office, and about 15mins drive to the hospital. I also got return flight tickets booked as well.
Point of Entry:
Ok so I was a little scared of what will happen at POE because my purpose of visa application was only tourism. So I sent a mail to the Canadian High commission in Abuja in April 2019 to inform them of the change of intent…………… no reply. That got me even scarier. I then figured out that since the visas were issued in London, England, I would send the London office the mail. So I did. Unfortunately, I received an automatic reply that they don’t attend to visas inquiry. So I gave up, but printed the letter I mailed to them as evidence that I did not keep my intention hidden. As God would have it, I received a response one week later from the Canadian High commission in Lagos as a reply to the one I sent to London office. They confirmed that the visas were issued to me and my wife and that I only have to prove to the border officer that I have enough funds to cover the cost of delivery. The joy of that alone was more than the joy of getting visa approval. I immediately printed the letter as evidence.
We took the flight to Toronto, through Frankfurt Germany. Come and see where village people wan follow person cross border..lol. While boarding the flight from Frankfurt to Toronto, an African officer(his accent was not Nigerian though. Seems like he’s from some other African country) who was making checks on passports and boarding passes immediately started questioning us as if we are already at Canadian immigration and he is a CBSA. What’s your purpose of travelling to Canada? (Tourism and birth) Do you have 10000 dollars?(yes) Have you paid for your hospital fees and doctor’s fees already? Where are the receipts? (I have not paid because when I called the doctor….) No no no doctor is a private person, I need to see what you have paid to the hospital, the hospital is what is for the government. (Sir, I also called the hospital and I was told that I have to be in the country first….) No no no sir, that’s not how it works. The procedure is that you have to pay before you get there. Just stand here sir. I have to call the CBSA for you. (Okay, I’ll wait here)
Chaiiii, black man! Black man! Who do us this kain thing? So tey you wan pour sand for your own brother garri? Well after keeping us standing for about 20 mins, he came and showed us pictures of our passport and visa he has taken and that he spoke to the CBSA and that though the procedure is that we have to make payment first, he was able to convince them to let us board the flight. (For my mind I said this one now wan form say he speak on our behalf. Instead of him to acknowledge say he don fall hand and find out the correct procedure, he wan use African sense.) Anyway I thank God say God pass them
So we took the flight and arrived in Toronto International Airport. As soon as we got of the airplane door, some officers were there checking passport. They asked us what’s our purpose of coming to Canada, and we told them we came for tourism and to give birth. He directed us to another of his colleague who asked that we produce two forms of ID. I gave her passport and Nigerian driver’s license. She looked through and asked when the due date is. We told her and then she asked about the food items we were carrying. Then she let us go. We got to immigration and a lady there asked us what’s our purpose of coming to Canada. We told her same thing and she asked for the due date and how much we have on hand. (she didn’t ask to see though). She then directed us to another queue to see another immigration officer.
We eventually met an old man who is CBSA. He asked us our purpose of coming to Canada. We told him the same thing and he asked when is the due date, which hospital we were using, our doctor’s name, if we were on insurance or are cash patients, an estimate how much we have (he didn’t asked to see though), what my occupation is as well as that of my wife, when we planned to leave Canada, and other questions I can’t remember. He then asked if we were sure to leave on date of departure. We said we hope so. Then he added 11 more days to it as our maximum date of departure on the stamp. He gave my wife a document that she should hold on to it, as it would be required when we return. The document contained details that shows that we were not just there for tourism but to also give birth. The name of the doctor and hospital was there in the document. He also advised us to try to apply for the baby’s birth certificate and social insurance number (SIN) before we leave Canada. He told us to be sure it’s the right form we fill for it otherwise it can create problems for us. Generally, the man was extra nice. And that’s it – we were in!

Hospital/Doctor’s Bills
Got to Doctor Ted Kosalka’s Office (we had booked an appointment over the phone back in Nigeria). Front desk lady was quite nice and welcoming and asked if it was first time. Told us first visit is 120CAD and subsequent visit is 60CAD. Paid for the first visit(they accept cash only) and waited to see the doctor. Doctor outlined all bills required. Said Doctor’s fee is 2500CAD (both for vaginal or caesarean section. He said it’s best we pay full so that they wouldn’t have to ask for more money in case it turns out to be a CS). Pediatrician fee is 500CAD. Hospital fee is 3505CAD both for mother(2680CAD) and baby(825CAD) per day. If needed, Epidural fee or other pain management fee can be paid. He wasn’t too sure of Epidural fee but said it’s around 1000CAD. He said Doctor and Pediatrician’s fee is paid there in his office in cash (3000CAD). Hospital fees are paid at the hospital (Humber River Hospital) at the cashier’s office. Then we should go to the 4th floor at Humber River Hospital where the birthing unit is and see those at the registration for further information of what we need to bring along for birthing. He said hospital fees has to be paid well in advance and if possible, we should pay it that day. Also, doctor’s fees can be paid that day, but if not, we can pay it on our next appointment in two weeks. After checking my wife vital signs and doing a scan with a mini scanning machine, he confirmed baby’s ok, but we still need to do a full ultrasound. He gave us referral to laboratory and ultrasound which were in the same building as his office. Laboratory was for blood work (95CAD) and Urine analysis (28CAD). Lab accepted card payment. Ultrasound accepted only cash payment (82CAD).
Then we went to the hospital to make payments. Went first to the 4th floor and the lady at the reception said we were supposed to call first and book an appointment since she doesn’t normally attend to walk-ins. Any way she said we were already here and gave us two forms to fill at home which were basically birth preferences and a pre-operative anesthetic questionnaire. She said we should be sure to bring both forms on the day of delivery and then directed us to the ground floor where the cashier’s office is. We got there and made payment for the first 24hrs of stay for both mother and baby. Got all my receipt and kept them.
So, this has been my journey so far. I would update you guys when the rest of it is over. And I am confident that the God that saw us through the process up until this moment, we see us through to the end.

Thanks Damsell. Really helpful

damsell:
Hello house, thought to come give back. Got back from my 3rd and final birthing journey with my family on Friday 26th April. For details about my visa application and related stuff please check my previous post.

Flew Lufthansa to Toronto early February alone, POE was a tad intense in spite of the fact that I got my visa for birthing purposes but I came prepared and was stamped in for 6months. Stayed in an airbnb and only moved out to another accomodation just before my fam(husband and 2kids) got in a month later.

I used Scarborough Birchmount Hospital, Ontario and Dr. Jing Qin was my OBGYN. Paid 2423CAD as hosp fees for 24hr hospital stay. (Mother 1600CAD, Baby 800CAD, Labs 23CAD).
Dr's fee was 1500CAD, 1st visit 200CAD, Subsequent visits 80CAD per visit. She didn't accept my tests and scans from Nigeria and ordered fresh bloodwork, a swab and an ultrasound scan.These came to about 250CAD.

EDD was March 24th, My Dr prescheduled me for induction on March 22nd if nothing happened before then. Had a false labour episode March 19th and went to L&. Was checked and sent back home and wasn't billed for the service. 2am on March 22nd, fell into labour and rushed to the hospital again. Was checked and told I was still a long way off and to just wait for my Dr to come start the induction in the morning. At that point I had to ask for my epidural as the pain was already doing my head in. Long story short, 5mins after the nurse just checked and told me I was only 3cm dilated, baby boy showed up. The anesthesiologist didnt even make it to me. Delivery(or what was left of the event), placenta Delivery, stitching up were taken by the Dr on call.

The epidural was supposed to be 800CAD.

Was roomed in with the baby in a private room and discharged officially 24hrs later. Baby's blood was drawn 24hrs after his birth for a myriad of tests to be carried out, routine state mandated health practice in Canada. Only the bilirubin levels results are ready in an hr and they came back great for my baby so I was free to go home with him.
Asked to have his circumcision done but unfortunately, they didn't do circs at that particular hospital campus but they provided me with a list of Dr's who did. We eventually had it done about 5days later for 250CAD.
We were given information on the birth registration (5 in 1 bundle) at the hospital and got on it soon as we could. We ordered the long BC (35CAD), short BC(25CAD) and certificate of birth registration (20CAD), a total of 80CAD and they came in the mail about 5working days later. a
Next we went to the passport office with baby's passport photographs duly signed by a guarantor as required. Paid 107CAD and picked the passport up 2days later.
Did Visa on Arrival, paid 180USD for our daughter who doesnt have a Nigerian Passport yet and 95CAD for the baby.
Overall, it was a great trip with the only snag being that they refused my mum's initial visa application (story for another post) but hubs and I managed to make it work with 2young kids and a new baby.
We used Uber for almost all our transportation needs and managed to rake up quite a sum in total transportation costs. A rented car would have been a cheaper alternative but we both had only expired driver's licenses.
Also I heard that the hospital I used have recently reviewed their prices upwards so interested mums please do your due diligenve.
I'm super grateful to God for making our path smooth and bringing us back safely and praying divine success for everyone on here.
Hopefully I didnt leave out any detail. All the best with your plans everyone.

Good day Damsell
Congratulations on your successful journey. Please just needed to know. Did you have to get a referral from a family doctor before going to the hospital? If so did you have to call for it while in Nigeria or did you have to get there first?

Good day Gingerlady
Congratulations on your successful journey. Please just needed to know. Did you have to get a referral from a family doctor before going to the hospital? If so did you have to call for it while in Nigeria or did you have to get there first? I read your post earlier for POE and noticed you weren't asked about doctor's appointment. Was wondering what to say if I'm asked that question.
(Wifey's EDD is in November.)

gingalady:
Hello... Long Post alert on missionary journey
I had earlier shared my Visa application story and POE details

We (my 20 month old daughter and I) arrived Canada on the 25th of Jan. We stayed with a family friend in Mississauga

First was getting a hospital and doc to birth the baby, my host drove me to credit Valley which was the closest to us but their fee was CAD 4000/ night for mum and CAD 2800/night for baby.
We headed off to Oakville (Trafalgar memorial hospital) and their fee was CAD 3800/night for mother and CAD 2860/night for baby.

I had already called Scarbrough medical and gotten their bill which was CAD 1800/night for mother and CAD600/night for baby but it was quite a distance from me so we decided to head to Brampton Civic hospital

The lady at the registration desk was super friendly and helped me collate all doctors that take cash and international patients so I called them to get their fees.

I finally decided to go with doctor Nayla Khan, her office was just beside the hospital in the same building with Doc Ayodele
Her fee was CAD 3500 (normal delivery or CS) fee was Including all prenatal visits, delivery, epidural, pediatrician and post delivery visit. You pay this full amount at first visit. She however did not accept my tests from Nigeria so I had to redo them again at Dynacare lab and that cost me CAD67. She saw me every week till delivery since I came in at 34 weeks.

I had my baby on the 5th of March by Csection and it was a very fast and painless sugery. I had begged her to acess me after surgery and let me go after 24 hours and she agreed.
12 hours after birth my baby was jaundiced and they insisted he had to be taken to NICU. My heart sunk!! He was in NICU for 2 days but I was discharged after 24 hours and was given a complementary room in the NICU unit for the rest of the 2 days so I didn't have to pay for that.

I applied for the 4 in 1 birth certificate bundle for CAD 60 which arrived after 10 working days, I made a mistake on the form so it took longer to process.

We applied for the expedited passport and got it the next day. Thank God for Hotstepper who was very ready to guarantee me. Bless her heart

My contact at immigration proceseed the Visa On Arrival for baby and sent approval letter same day. Reach out to Hotstepper if you need help with this

We have added baby to our ticket and are leaving this weekend.

Summery
Hospital 2000/night mother and 2500/night baby because he was in NICU
Doc: 3500
Dynacare: 67
Birth certificate: Long and Short: 60
Passport(expedited): 107
Transport to and fro Brampton: 150
Circumsion: 175
Baby ticket: 77

Overall, it's been an amazing journey. I just wished they treated jaundice with less severity cos it eventually wears out on it's own. So baby alone cost me CAD5000 but he is hale and hearty
So choose a hospital close and cheapest to you to accomodate unforeseen expenses. Thank God it ended in Praise