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SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY, anyway i believe this is just for pictures, as flight attendants will not let the child fly strapped that way, when they are Bassinets.

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Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwa very good question.

quote author=zeezahbee post=37171199]How market

Abeg can that your agent attend visa interview for me?!! [/quote]

I guess it depends on the hospital, I used Providence Hospital in Washington Dc and all my bills came as one, epidural and all, they even deducted plus my daughters bill, in fact they have what they call international program where you deposit 12k dollars before they attend to you, in all I got a refund of about 1k dollar, so I guess its close to what drafrican's bill looks like.

Drafrican try to request for a return ticket for your child, it comes cheaper than one way, I used airfrance back they initial bill was around 300, and I was to pay at the airport, but the lady was nice to mention to me that it will be less if she does return. You could try that out too.

koko83:
[ hello, I was told Labtest is charged separely oooo

quote author=drafrican post=37138671]Hello,
My birth package was $10k
All inclusive of labs,epidural,peadiatrician and antenatal care.
Pls for those that flew BA how much was the infant ticket pls its urgent am getting a quote for $300

modath:


Babe, you do not want to buy wipes from the US, especially if you live in lagos, those things weigh a ton & the difference in price is non existent.

Do an experiment, ask someone to price it for you & compare the price, on another note, you paid for baggage allowance, you may as well gbadun it...

So true, I had loads of gifts and most of them were wipes and diapers, I left all the extra wipes I had with my sister as it made no sense carrying them, they weigh a lot.

Moreover I can still use them soonest.

shrekandfiona:

please go open an account with fidelity bank. It's better than diamond on the PTA stuff.

I have account with both fidelity and diamond bank. Before I travelled, I first went to fidelity in abuja for pta, my passport and ticket was confirmed and I was given at 199.54/usd

I still wanted more so I went to diamond bank, i was told they couldn't give me since I had already gotten from fidelity until another quarter

Had to use a work colleague that was also travelling but didn't need the pta and had a diamond account. On a Friday, we went to all the diamond bank branches in abuja and we were told in all, they had run out of usd. Asked us to check back the coming week.

The next Monday, went to their regional office by chealsea hotel central area after much delay, they finally told us they just had stock. We were eventually given at 204/ usd higher than the cbn stipulated rate. Had no choice than to accept it.

For those looking for pta, go to your bank's regional offices in your state. If other branches don't have, the regional offices will have. In abuja, fidelity bank's regional office is beside ceddi mall central area and diamond bank is by chealsea hotel central area.

Hope this helps.

Thanks A lot

dyout:
I don't want to believe this. I spoke with my account officer on Friday when I went to open stanbic account. He never mentioned anything like that to me.

I am equally surprised cause first bank said they would load the money on a card for me and not give me the usual cash, now I had to open an account with Diamond bank all for this transaction, in fact let me call my account officer, I no fit shout.

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Hummmm this people should know what they are doing, before they create issues for travelers, I no want drama at any American airport POE.

ozycy:
are you going for another birth trip? I haven't bot ticket yet but will be going around same time wt Lufthansa

Not a birth trip, going for post Summer and our little girl will be one in Sept, we want to celebrate her birthday over there. Would be nice to have someone to chat with anyway while waiting, Though my little girl is a handful.

Hoping our flight date corresponds.

Anyone travelling first week of Sept to America with Lufthansa, connecting at Frankfurt, you can holla if you need someone to chat with while waiting for the connecting flight.

You are so right at IsySleek, Those peeps at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC are just funny, I paid for expedited and the young man there asked me to come back next day, when I met my aunt who works there and told her I was leaving and that I had paid for Expedited Passport and was told to come back next day she was so angry, she went to them took back our money and gave back to us, and still we got the Passport same day, in fact she told me to go home that she will bring it when it is ready instead of me waiting.

Nigerians are truly the same everywhere, I was so shocked, and that their business centre in the embassy, very funny idea, everything is billed.

Beryl15:
Pls mamas who have travelled at 35weeks which airline did you use. This Qatar airways has messed up things for me...after they rescheduled my flight twice it seems I might not travel with them.
Biko its urgent, I need to Travel this week.
Plssss

I would pick Air France, their rules for pregnancy is cool. I flew with them same timing (35weeks), you can google their policies concerning pregnant women.

For Parents travelling with infants less than 2yrs, Air france gave me I guess 18kg space allowance for my daughter minus hand luggage, during our next trip Lufthansa gave us 23kg. For those who value luggage space you can try Lufthansa

Please beg him to continue with the Youwin entrepreneurial program. It has been very helpful. Also I hope Nddc Entrepreneurial program releases their list of successful candidates and the amount. waiting patiently

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I did not use a step down with my Evenflo electric dual breast pump.

BA IS HAVING SALES ON TICKETS, IT WILL END ON 31ST MARCH. SO INTENDING TRAVELLERS, YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT SHOULD IT FIT YOUR BUDGET.

drafrican:
Going off course
Please did anyone find a buggie useful in naija
Did anyone find a breast pump useful(electric)

I used Evenflo electric dual pump. its so effective and has the option of battery, though I never used the battery option, and you can pump the two breast at the same time, though I kept one side should one get bad, but it never did, I just finished my 6 months exclusive, and it was super useful, as I had to pump and keep in the freezer on daily basis so my daughter could eat while I was at work. now we are acting drama of introducing food. that's off question, so back to the question, I did find my Evenflo electric dual pump over useful.

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shamecurls:
Hello House,
Please do i have to get to Atlanta before i can get a Nigerian passport for my baby? I am presently in Dallas and will like to know if there is any agent i can use around there to save myself the cost and stress of flying.
Your contributions will be highly appreciated

Nigerian Embassy does not use the baby's passport photograph for their international passport, at such I don't think you can use an agent, you have to be present with the child, I remember meeting a man at the embassy in Washington, he came there from outside the state for his passport.
Funny enough my daughters American passport was done with her passport photograph as against the Nigerian own that I had to strive to wake my 2 weeks old baby for them to snap her. pretty annoying.

Chikacokpala:
Congrats to mums & new born babies in house. Pls l have few questions to ask.
1) Which type of Identification card ll they accept from my husband when submitting Consent letter. Must it be international passport or can Driving Licence or Office ID be accepted here.
2) Must d Zero balance letter come from both d Hospital and Doctor respectively. Or can hospital zero balance letter cover everything. Do they have to state d total amount u paid in d letter.

1) Your husband's international passport I don't know if drivers license or office ID will be accepted.
2) I used Providence hospital in Washington DC and everything was tied to one account, Ante-natal - delivery - nursery etc. after delivery they gave me my bill and a letter that I was not owing the hospital. The only thing I paid separately for was the pediatricians visit.

I guess some other person might be able to help you with the second question, if I where you I will request for letters from all parties involved.

Mum2bee:
Praise God with me my people. My daughter's delivery was very successful! Dr. La is a great doctor and the hospital staff were superb. It is a world of difference between the birth of my first at Park Plaza Hospital and this experience. When you walk into WHMC you would think it was a hotel, beautiful.
I dealt with two ladies on accommodation issue, though I ended up not using either because I am renting/leasing. But the two Soul Care and Pampered Care I would say are kind and very serious minded. The locations and setting they had did not work for me.
I also came here to ask for a car rental service. Again, I ended up not renting a car. Someone was recommended to me. He basically drove me around to where ever I needed to go at an agreed cost which was cheaper than Uber and of course the Yellow Cab. I would use him if I have to go somewhere far and then use Uber for nearer journeys. I met a few Nigerians using the Uber service, one of them prayed for me and baby. Really interesting. There was one Uber driver that carried me from walmart. The guy simply opened his truck and started the journey. He did not even bother to help me load my shopping into his truck. You will meet all sorts! The variety is what interests me. I also met one Mohammed from Afghanistan. If I tell you I was not scared, I will be joking. I simply kept my cool till I got to my destination & just thanked my God! Lol.
I got a few discounts. For the Pathology paid like: $70; Hearing Test: $163 (half price); Surgical Assistant: $200. Just ask for a discount, you never know, they may have concessions.
Now in the process of getting baby's papers together. I have a question though. I have just called BA to add my daughter to my booking. My question is that I hope I will not have any problems with immigration and whether or not I got a return ticket for her. Please any mum that has returned to Nija via BA, did you have such an experience
Hello @weaseloo, Please can you give an insight into getting accommodation in Houston, im planning on having baby there and ive been looking around for apartments but haven't found one. Any advise or recommendations

I returned with Airfrance, just a tip off your question but might be useful, when we called to add my daughter to the reservation, the bill came to about 380 dollars and we where asked to pay at the airport on the travel date. now the 380 was for only return to Nigeria, upon getting to the airport, the lady at the counter after checking the reservation told us our bill was about 160 dollars, I told her that was not the initial amount we got, she then explained to us that it was cheaper to make it a round trip than just return. so we got a to and fro ticket in as much as the return was basically wasted as we just picked a date in order to get the ticket at a cheaper rate, but it saved me loads of cash. so you can ask about the option of a round trip as against a return ticket.

Safe flight and do not forget to request for a bassinet so you do not have to carry baby all through the trip. For Airfrance we made the reservation when we called to add her as they said its first come first serve for the bassinet. Don't know how it works for BA. My last trip on BA they did something really nice, they snapped babies on board and gave their parents a frame with the picture, kinda loved it.

fayemzbaba:
Hello nairalanders,
And so I have been silently learning from y'all and I really want to commend everyone who has at some point given pointers, shared personal experiences for the success of fellow expecting mums and Dads.
My situation goes thus, wife had previously travelled to the US (visa obtained while she was in the UK), but was denied twice on renewal because she had an issue at ATL POE ( was stopped and visa almost got cancelled) but was later allowed to continue her trip but I am sure it was recorded because it was mentioned in her interviews. she is 27 weeks pregnant and plan to use Oakbend Medical Centre, I have contacted Dr Fagbohun and he has accepted to cater for her delivery. My issue is this;
a. At the third attempt she was issued the visa for vacation as stated in her application but was not questioned if she was pregnant or expecting and she didn't disclose since she wasn't asked (probably due to fear of being denied again) as she wasn't really showing.
b. Visa was issued in February and she is due in May; I am of the opinion she should send a letter of change on intent to the US Consulate notifying them she intends to have a baby in the US. That she wasn't decided on having the baby in the US initially when applying for the US visa but has a change of mind and wants to. In order to avoid POE issues, proof of funds, and Dr's appointment is not an issue at this point but
I hope the reason stated is (b) above is viable to avoid any allegations of visa fraud or not disclosing true intent of applying for the visa.
Constructive opinions please.
Thanks everyone and any mum due in May/June with a 2 bedroom apartment to share in Richmond or Sugarland should also contact me.

I may not have the direct answer to your question but maybe you could learn from my experience. i applied for a B2 visa dec 2013 and was given, the intention was to go for Easter with my husband, i later realized in Jan i was pregnant, i had to travel Feb 2014 with the pregnancy though it did not show. ( This was so as to avoid my first entry being with obvious pregnancy as i assume first entry with a big stomach might be tricky). Then in July i traveled again this time to have the baby, at the point of entry nobody asked me any pregnancy related question, i remember all we where asked to do was to fill out a form, which had to do with declaration of money, and we where verbally asked what we where going to do with the money and my husband said we intend to spend the summer there as well as shop for the baby, that was when the lady looked at me and did not still ask any question relating to the pregnancy. she just showed us where to submit the form and we passed

You can call the consulate office via this number to make your enquiries, 014406218-US visa enquiry help desk.

So if you ask me i would say writing back to the embassy is useless. that is my personal opinion so long as she has her visa and cash.

The intensity of her initial issue at ATL POE too could affect her, just be guided. but i guess the help desk will be useful since we do not work at the embassy.

Evening people,
Based on experience, i will contribute my quota, i had my baby at Providence hospital in Washignton DC last year september. At Providence all international patients without insurance must make an initial deposit of 12k dollars, now the catch is you will get a 50% discount on your total bill if you register with them before delivery, as compared to the option of waiting at home till labour starts and you call 911, when taken to the hospital they will still attend to you but whatever bill they give you will be without discount. After delivery (normal delivery) i did get a refund of about 1000 dollars, and a letter from the hospital stating i was not owing them. the bill covered anti natal up to nursery and 2 nights stay at the hospital after birth. the hospital will give you everything you need for after childbirth, so you dont even need to pack a bag, even up to pant.

Time to close from work as i am still doing exclusive breast feeding.will log in back to this topic at home and hope i can help someone with my information.