₦airaland Forum

justwise:
Still not a good idea because of the risks involved and you will struggle to get your visa renewed or even get a visa if the VO knew that you will be using birthing center.

This is my second time using a birthing center and I renewed my visa without issues and I believe someone here also had same experience. In fact with my previous birth, I presented payment confirmation and signed contract at the point of entry when I was asked for hospital documents and the man raised no issues, he told me they just need to be convinced you will pay your bills. I haven't seen any document that rules out the use a licensed birthing center in the US if you take full financial responsibility, they are not government assisted.
The difference in cost of a birthing center in Houston area and hospitals like Oakbend may not be more than a thousand or two. For me, it was cheaper because of my unique circumstance. What if one my main reasons for seeking to give birth abroad is because I want an out of hospital birth that I cannot get in Nigeria? VO based on personal convictions may refuse someone wants to use a birthing center but it also has to do with how you present your case.

For me the biggest risk is the possibility that you may need to go to a hospital if issues come up during delivery.

These are my personal thoughts and experience.

Good day people.

I wanted to share my experience has I have gained a lot reading from what other people share on here. This is the second baby I've had in the US. The first was in Virginia, while I stayed in with family in Maryland. Virginia is significantly cheaper depending on your choice but distance was a major challenge for me. This time we decided to do Houston because it was going to be more cost effectve.

I traveled with Turkish airline on May 27th to JFK and spent time with my friends before heading out to Houston. Point of entry was surprisingly easy, I did self check in, printed out a receipt and only thing I was asked was the kind of food I had on me. No questions asked my purpose of visit or my big tummy (I was huge). I was really grateful for that.

I had gone very far with planning for Houston before I noticed in the document one of the doctors sent me that they do not allow VBAC (virginal birth after CS). I found out later that this was a Texas thing, most hospitals will not allow a woman that has had a previous CS try to get birth vaginally. This is my 3rd, I had a VBAC with my second, so I didn't see any reason to have a planned C-Section. We searched for Drs would do VBAC and we found one who uses Ben Taub. The cost estimates was significantly higher than using Oak bend or any of the other cost effective hospitals/doctors. The Dr's fees alone was about $5400 for normal delivery, so I contacted a midwife/birthing center as back up.

I visited both the midwife and the Drs at Ben Taub (they are 5 minutes apart in distance) but we eventually settled for the birthing center because my chances of having a natural delivery and staying within my budget was better. We had Ben Taub as backup in case going to the hospital became necessary.

My baby came on the 12th of July at the birthing center, it was easy and the best birthing experience of my three births. Baby came 2 weeks late and was happy to not have been under any pressure to be induced. Antenatal visits was easy and schedules flexible, service was very personal, midwife came home to check on us after the birth, they had free group prenatal classes and breastfeeding support meetings.

I know people on here have made a valid point of the risk of using birthing centers but for VBAC mums like me, who really want do things naturally and are low risk, its definitely an option. Also a cheaper option if you are low risk.

I got the birth certificate in less than a week, I've got the passport and also got approval for the Nigerian visa on arrival in less than 24 hours. I sent an e-mail with all necessary documents to the immigrations email address (oa@nigeriaimmigration.gov.ng) and was very impressed to hear back from them same day.

Good day everyone. Has anyone been successful at doing a VBAC in Houston area. I have done once in Virginia but can't seem to find Drs in Houston who are open to it especially considering I will be arriving at later stages of pregnancy. Kindly share your experience and info if you have been able to. Many thanks

Olorilee:
Turkish airline is okay, I used them about 2weeks ago to NY and there were no problems.

Thank you

Hi everyone. Great job and thanks for sharing valuable information on this platform.

I'm planning to travel to Houston in May, is it advisable to travel via Turkish airline. Its the cheapest I have seen. Has anyone used this airline recently and are border control officers really suspicious of flights originating from that region?
Some people have said to avoid Qatar and Emirate.

Its really exciting to see. Well done!

organicfoods:
Weight at 19 days. All birds appears to be on "weight gain steroids" without any synthetic drugs. Now they are on combo cocktails of organic nutrients and antibiotics. Who is afraid of organic poultry production?

organicfoods:
There is a long way to go, because a lot of synthetic materials associated with commercial poultry management that is detrimental to human health...we will seek to replace them with effective natural herbs. From housing to feeds, drugs to vaccines, nutrients to vitamins...a lot are being used presently. The journey first is to deal with vaccines and drugs, then feeds, vitamin and nutrients. My experience so far tells me there's more to nature that can be unearth with super results that will put drugs and other synthetic enhancer to shame...luckily I have a firm foundation that can go all the way to attain success. For Africa, we must earnestly look for cheap alternative to poultry production that reduce our protein short fall and improves quality of lives. My dreams are huge, I really want to see a lot of people prosper in agriculture.

@Organicfoods: I really commend you for your contributions here on Nairaland. We really under estimate how inputs in raising or growing food affects our health and the environment. Your approach is commendable because its gone from just saying some things are bad to showing us what the better options are. Please keep up the good work believing the reward isn't just for you but for Nigeria. God bless you richly.

richiepolymer:
Why do I smell lies? All these social media carpenters painters and stuff.....only a few females actually are artisans. Some others just want social media attention by posing with tools and taking selfies.

I get that you may feel this is all for the media because many people do this but I know this lady personally. In fact, I was the one who let her know her pictures were up here. she does not even visit nairaland. Someone pulled these pictures from her instagram page for a blog post without permission from her. She simply followed her passion which she shares with very few followers on her page, plus she's been in the interior decoration space before now. So to everyone looking for the negatives in this story, some people don't really care about media or need the hype to succeed or to feel fulfilled.

GWILLCONCEPT:
How may help your business today

I'm interested but curious as to why you don't want to leave your contact here. Why do you need people to drop their details for you to make contact.

Everyone will have to take this sort of decision at different points in life. Its a personal thing to draw limits on what looks to you like a violation of your sense of self. All forms of abuse in relationships, family, work place and government have become endemic because our moral compass continues to shift, people continue dumb down and disrespect themselves because of the fear of the unknown. If each individual resists abuse at every point, it will no longer be fashionable in Nigeria.

If your company winds down or there was a fire incident, will you not look for another source of sustenance? Is then ok to allow your sense of self/dignity to violated because your feel you have no option? A man/woman who doesn't stand for anything will fall for anything. Your feelings are valid.

Let us restrain from encouraging abuse by advising people to endure. If I got this story right, her manager apologised, not the MD who slapped her. If she acted unprofessionally, has the MD responded within professional boundaries? If the MD himself apologises, its your choice to consider letting go.

Farm Manager needed in a medium sized vegetable farm in Ikorodu. We grow both in a few greenhouses and Open field.

The person MUST have studied agronomy or a crop science related course at least at OND level.

Some experience in managing/working in a farm with greenhouses is desirable.

Accommodation close to the farm can be arranged if you live far from Ikorodu.

kindly send an email with your CV attached to shallomee@yahoo.ca with the title "Application for Farm Manager Role" if interested.

Thanks

Farm Manager needed in a medium sized vegetable farm in Ikorodu. We grow both in a few greenhouses and Open field.

The person should have studied agronomy or a crop science related course at least at OND level. Some experience in managing/working in a farm with greenhouses is desirable. Accommodation close to the farm can be arranged if you live far from Ikorodu. kindly send an email to shallomee@yahoo.ca if interested.

world1:
800 meters

Thank you @world1

@world1 How many meters is required to irrigate 4 plots (100ft x 120ft)of cucumber cultivation.

Lesgupnigeria:
Ok.will do

Still waiting to be added

08025818577/ shallomee@yahoo.ca
Please add

Does anyone have information on where cocopeat can be sourced locally?

LUKINGUY:
What exactly do you want to know the price, the mulch or the irrigation system?

Price of the irrigation system

how much?

Thanks for the video Pavore9. Been wanting to try this but most of the set up online works with a pump and timer circulating water 24/7. Looking forward to reading more details when you have feedback from him. Another challenge here is finding a good grow medium; rookwool, perlite, cocopeat etc.

@FrankNetter: Totally agree with you.
It will be nice if OP continues to update his thread....Am sure lessons have been learnt. Sites like nairaland is a faceless place, its good to treat ourselves with civility. We all out here to share and learn.

@Pavore9. Is this set up powered by pumps which will require constant electricity?

boluwajokosegun:
I can train you on how to produce hydroponic nutrient using locally available naterials call 08182355047
Or u just but d powder nutrients l impoeted from abroad & mix with water to get soluble nutrients very good for plant & purely organic

Thank you. I will get in touch.

Anyone has an idea of where to get hydroponic nutrients in Nigeria?

Am doing a bit of research on Maryland, DC or Virginia as well. If anyone here has experiences or info, pls share.

Birthing centers seem to be the cheaper option. I do not have quotes from any hospital yet because I will prefer a birthing center but info on hospitals would be of help bascially because there's always a chance of endingup there.

I have the quotes for the following Birth centers, no discounts have been discussed, not so sure there might be.

Nova Birthing Natural Birth Center does $4,500 exclusive of labs and ultrascans (They have very good reviews)
Blessing God's way: $3,500 exclusive of labs, ultrascans and supplies ($234)
Brookhaven Natural Birth Center: between $3,200 and $4000.

All these centers are in virginia which not far from MD or DC.

If anyone has info on hospitals kindly share.

subice: Hi guys,

Thanks to everyone on all the info posted, very informative and useful. Trying to get a suitable place around Maryland for my wife to deliver. Still early days in getting info but thought I'd share what I have, someone else might find it useful. Right now, looking at all options .i.e. Birthing Centers and Hospitals. Here's a reply from the Bay Area Midwifery Center (http://www.bayareamidwifery.com/). It's in Annapolis, Maryland.

The cost to have your care here is :

Prenatal, delivery by midwife and postpartum care $4,450.00

The cost for the actual facility which is Birth Center is $2,800.00

This will equal $4.450.00 to be paid before delivery

What this does not include in price is:

Blood work, sonograms, and any other hospital charges that occur. We do not provide other costs outside of this practice; the range of costs varies.

Thank you

Will keep you posted on any feedback i get from the other places I am looking at. Also info from anyone on hospitals/birthing centers in and around Maryland (Virginia, Washington, Delaware) will be appreciated. Thanks!

My husband and I went for our visa interview yesterday, it was successful and i thought to share our experience. I gained a lot from reading people's contributions.

VOTook her time to read stuff on her screen after we got to her)Am sorry. Why do you want to travel to the US
My hubby: We're taking time off work to rest
VO: Where are you visiting
Hubby: Maryland (we gave detailed address)
VO: How long are you staying for
Hubby: Max 7-10 days because we can't be away for too long
VO: Where do you work?
Hubby:Told her
VO: What do you do at work
Hubby: (he explained while she kept reading stuff from her screen)
VO: (she asked my hubby to give me the receiver and asked) Where do you work and what do you do?
Me: (told her and explained my role at work)
VO: What is your monthly take home?
Me: (told her)
VO: Have you travelled out of Nigeria before?
Me: Yes
VO: where
Me: Singapore, Ghana,UAE, Astralia, I am also traveling to Brazil for work next week
(She looked through my passport, typed for a while and asked my husband if he has travelled outside Nigeria)
hubby: Yes. Belguim, Uk, France, Ghana
VO: when?
Hubby: (told her) for my MBA and work.
VO: how long?
Hubby: over 3 years
VO: (she looked through his passport) when did you get married and for how long?
hubby: told her
VO: do you have kids.
hubby: yes. 1
VO: how old? who will take care of him while you travel?
Me: my mum

She typed for a while, smiled at us, put our passports together and asked us to pick up our visa on friday.

Am really glad it went well.

Wish everybody looking apply the best.

VisaOfficer: Greetings! Each of you should fill out your own separate application. It sounds like your husband has made an appointment but you have not. His application will contain your name as a person accompanying him, just as your application will contain his name. Good luck with the interview!

Many thanks

Hi Visaofficer. My husband and I are applying for a US visa for a short visit online. He has filled in his information as the primary applicant and stated that I will be accompanying him. We didn't see any part of the form that allows him to fill in my details apart from my name. Isn't this required, we already made payments for the 2 of us.

@Gbenga77

Thanks

Good day nairalanders,

I intend to apply for a US tourist visa in July. How long does it take from the point of filling out the form online to getting an interview date? I will need my passport around same for a work related trip to another location. I want to avoid not having my passport with me by my interview date. If it so happens that my passport has not been returned to me by my US Visa interview date, can i reschedule my interview.

Thanks.

I can't believe people like this exist. You said something that serious because you had a bottle of Vodka? You attempt to ruin a person's reputation and work because you were drunk and had internet access? Please get help.

Disappointing in what way? Price, quality, customer service, variety? Amazon grew over a long period of time, we can't expect to have a startup become an 'Amazon' in a short period of time. After awhile, the good guys will become stronger and more effiecient. Let's support our own. I don't mean these businesses shouldn't build standard business models which is essential, my point is that our good will is critical to their successful

Orikinla: I have explored most of them and they are just starting and struggling.
None comes close to Amazon.
Many of them are disappointing.