Momo13:


I flew royal air maroc to the UK yesterday..the flights ( Casablanca and then Gatwick) were not as bad as I envisaged. None of my bags went missing too.
They apparently don't accept fit to fly from hospitals cos they sent me to port health to get another..

Air Maroc is not a bad option. It saves you time and money, more so they're highly professional. It's the best thing to happen after Arik.

justwise:
@MamaToks

Sorry i have to edit some part of your post where you unintentionally did a marketing/promotional pieces for certain hospital.

No vex...i don't want to rain on your parade

No problem.

nefertitiram:
@MamaToks, road trip, from NY to El Paso, with belle?? I am shocked! With toddler again!!!

I will like to hear the impostor story and how you were scammed.

@Nerf...I will try and update later..hmmn!

This my write up is dedicated to the Glory of God and for the benefits of humanity.

First of all, I want to thank God for directing me to Nairaland in my quest to give birth in America. In the same vein, may the Lord bless Justwise, uchetobi and thababe for their personal push in giving me the courage to go ahead on my choice of hospital. God will reward Skelemba for starting this thread and the person who made mention of the possible use of Birthing Centres in the USA. For the lady who first birth at Del Sol Hospital, El Paso, Vivianoba for discovering MIHS and the lady who suggested birthing at Grand Prairie Dallas, thereby making it realisable to birth in America without 'breaking' the Banks or taking loans; you all are the guiding lights.

This is bumzespecial before the tsunami that hit nairaland and there had been delay in giving back because my hands have been full as I know I'll like to write a 'lengthy epistle'. My story is going to be in parts for easy read and digestion, so relax with your bottle of groundnut and your cup of wine (lolz). I will be breaking some 'old Myths' about birthing in America, so please, have an open mind and pick the ones that will benefit you. I went, I saw, I conquered and came back victorious and triumphantly, so whatever tip you get from my write-up is borne out of an experience. So don't hesitate to take some step after this, as nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The Road to America

I had my B1/B2 visa late 2013 for tourism purpose as a family, a month after I discovered I had taken in so couldn't go for the vacation that year due to morning sickness, though hubby went for conference a month after we got it. He is a frequent US traveller while I was a first timer though being to other countries together.
Families and friends suggested I use the visa for birthing purpose, so I stumbled on to Nairaland early 2014 in my bid for research. Read from page 1 for an informed decision and made up my mind on what I wanted in terms of the city to go juxtaposing it with the funds at hand. Considering the fact that before getting the visa I didn't plan to birth in the US in the first place but when the chance presented itself, I wanted to pay my bill and come back in peace and be able to enter the US again. With the help of info I got from here, I wrote to the embassy on change of intent and for my record to be updated, got the usual response and this further gave me the courage to move on.

My Choice of Hospital
I stream lined my search to Phoenix and El Paso, I wanted to go to MIHS but preferred El Paso as a city having researched it as a peaceful and quite affordable in terms of living. So I got University Medical Centre (UMC) with a choice of using the Midwifery option. This led me to a clinic Maternidad La Luz (MLL), the birth place; they specialise in womanly delivery with the choice of using water birth and a host of others as birth plans to relieve the woman of labour pain rather than the medical intervention. This was good by me as I'm not really a fan of the epidural thingy and didn't want a situation where I could be forced to go for a CS for a no just cause. After reading up on the place from their website and their reviews, I sent a mail to the clinic requesting for a tour once I arrived El Paso before making up my mind.

POE exprience: Flew Air Maroc to JFK with my 3years old toddler then, it wasn't a bad experiment and journey was short. Told the officer I came to have a baby and asked how much I had with me of which I replied $500. He was obviously in a hurry to go as it was their closing hour, we arrived around 6pm, so he handed my docs over to another guy in their inner chamber. He asked same question and I told him my mission, he asked for supporting documents like change of intent, accommodation, hospital, statement of account and return tickets, I gladly showed everything to him and he was impressed and praised me for my honesty, we also shared some jokes. Though $400 was stolen from my $500 cash at LaGuardia by an impostor Military officer who was trying to help me book my local flight on his laptop...story for another day. This made me to travel by road (as suggested by the thief) to El Paso the next morning as I couldn't afford the exorbitant fare at the airport since I didn't book ahead. (Road trip was fun).

FASTForward...
Arrived El Paso, made a tour of the clinic and was ok by it, I had thought if my mind wasn't at peace with it I would go to MIHS as I already booked appointment with them, so had to call them to cancel it after settling down.


Though was meant to stay at His Grace Lodge but wasn't ready at the time, so I majorly stayed in Intown Suites and made some lasting friendship from across the globe.

The city of El Paso
I was given so many nicknames by co-sojourners due to my disoveries of the city and how to move around by Metro Bus...some called me 'The General of El Paso', to some I was the Iyalaje of El Paso and to some others I was called Ojukwu Eji Aba...lol! The Church (RCCG) stood for us all and had a name for me as well, 'Kingdom Helper'.
Should you need places to hang out, dine or shop in El Paso, feel free to ask.
I did Nigeria passport for my son on my way back to Nigeria in NY.

I hope I didn't leave any part out? Should you need clarification on any segment of my write-up or some other things, please do not hesitate to ask, though hardly come here now cos my hands are full but inbox or a mention should alert me.

NB: There are other Midwifery Clinics in El Paso and in Houston, in fact all over Texas and other States. I have read here how some people criticize Birthing Centers operated by Midwives, by saying they will rather give birth in Nigeria. I would like to burst your bubble, the difference is clear, America Standard cannot be watered down in any practice, we must put God first in everything and let your faith speak for you. I gave birth to my daughter in Mother and Child in Ikeja Lagos, with the hope that the owner who happened to be a Gynecologist would take my delivery, I went into labour middle of the night, it was the midwife on duty with the assistance of a young GP that took my delivery.
Besides, Midwives usually take deliveries in the UK, so nothing to fear as long as it's an uncomplicated pregnancy.

I'm free now, as I promised myself I would give back, come what may..thank God for hubby for his constant reminder as well.

I hope I didn't bore you all with the Epistle. Thank you and God bless.

irridemi:
While I wait for more insightful comments, I just want to appreciate nairalanders for the way u guys made this thread educative with opinions from both angles. God bless u.

You can apply for open work permit, (www.cic.gc.ca/ctc-vac/cometocanada.asp) answer the questions there, it will give you the documents to gather, while your hubby goes the student way (don't pay anybody, you can do everything yourself online). Pls go as soon as possible, so that your baby can be born there. You can start work by Jan cos of your baby & within 6m apply for PR thru EE, all things being equal, it could work out in another 1yr. As a PR, u can then do all ur professional certifications & further studies as it will be cheaper for you. Give & take, in the next 2yrs, you will be the better for the decision of today. Regards to your husband. If you need more assistance, pls feel free to contact me.