Search this thread. Lots of useful information here. Your location in Texas also matters.

Jannah7:
Hello house, I'm new here. Well done, and thanks to all who have shared their experience of childbirth in the US. please I need a good and cheap hospital info in Texas for my child birth.

Oakbend

Pompoms:


Which hospital are you using, please?

If you're due in September, you already run the risk that no airline will be able to take you. Limit for most is 36 weeks. Considering that you're looking at scheduling an interview, not sure how you want to play this.

Kenniei:
Good evening house and d gurus! Nice work you're doing here! I have few questions/advice
My visa application was refused on Thursday, I think I got it all wrong when d VO asked me what DH does for a living and I truthfully answered that he schools and work in Canada.. the VO then asked why US and not canada, but due to d tension building within me, d VO wasn't satisfied with my answer. But what I failed to tell the VO was that I actually withdrew my Canada TRV a week prior to my US interview and of which I have a letter from d embassy to back it up..

Now a friend is suggesting I reschudle another interview, arm myself with d letter from Canada embassy, the hospital is willing to give me a supporting letter and convince the VO... please do you think this is a good idea? As am due in September

Thanks in anticipation of replies

You can check in the carton as part of your baggage. But check the baggage dimensions allowable for your airline.

customised87:


I got the 2 letters today. Thanks.

Mamas that bought baby cots from here,pls how did u carry them? Were u allowed to just check in the carton or u needed to put the carton in another travelling bag.
It can be counted as one of my 23kg bags, right?

My query was about understanding what the general practice is as I am wise enough to take to medical advise (not like I have a choice anyway!) Thanks!

Suzyt:


Hi. Please confirm from her that there was no medical exigency that triggered the decision. Typically, it is never advisable for an otherwise healthy singleton pregnancy to undergo voluntary cs before 39 weeks. It's the obgyn board guideline and doesn't differ from state to state. It's a guideline and recommendation, not a law. But if you ask me, I'd advise you wait those extra days even till 40 if you Have no pregnancy induced ailment. Many a 38/37 weeker have found themselves in NICU for a few hours/days due to breathing issues. Not really worth it in my view. You've been "burdened" for 37 plus weeks, 2/3 extra for the sake of a healthy child is well worth it. Don't you think?

What's with other states? A friend if mine had hers 2 weeks ago in Chicago (Cook County) at 38 weeks

firsttymum:
ain't u lucky... Wait till u hear other states...

Thanks.

Vlesparza:


39 weeks is the protocol as advised by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology it is not a law in Texas Law, it is required nationwide unless there is a medical reason. Any doctor delivering the baby before 39 weeks without a reason may risk losing his/her license.

Texas mums, please how long do you typically wait to undergo a scheduled 'normal' CS? I'm having a baby in Houston and the Dr tells me that I have to wait 39 weeks, that this is the law in Texas, except there are complications or specific reasons that warrant bringing out the baby earlier.

Thanks.

Late September may still work, if you can push your travel to 36 weeks. I know this is quite dicey though. Secure the earliest date you can now and keep checking if an earlier date pops up. I don't know if the emergency appointment will work for you. Perhaps people on the house with experience with this can share their views.

yinks13:
31weeks

How many weeks are you?

Have you tried Abuja? For emergency interview, you need to get a regular date first before you request for it to be fast tracked. There's no guarantee though.

yinks13:
Morning people.. I need an urgent interview date for next week,but all I can get is late September/early October. How does the Immergency application work?It's very urgent please, Is there any chance?

I guess the issue has just become more pronounced over the years. I got the visa before I got pregnant. So, it was at the Chicago POE that the lady interrogating me was quite unfriendly and called Dr Akere a scam. I was allowed in anyway. I told Dr Akere about the difficulties I had then. He must be aware of these issues as many more people have had more difficult experiences.

yinks13:
Thanks.. The VO just told me research properly next time when it comes to medicals, my mind just went to the fact that he is not an obgyn. Dint even know he has been red flagged at the POE. So how were you able to use him 4years ago? I guess Dr Akere should known better that being a family physician won't allow entry as several people had gone through same experience.

Sorry about your experience. What in particular were you asked regarding the choice of Dr, as I don't see it reflected in your transcript? Dr Akere has been red flagged at Chicago POE and maybe now at the embassy. Like you mentioned, you should show correspondence from an OBGY not a family practice Dr. People have been turned back on account of him no being an OBGY, at POE. I'll advise you get another Dr and reapply ASAP. Fya, Dr Akere delivered my son 4 years ago.

yinks13:
Sharing my experience at the Lagos embassy. I was denied Visa, I used Dr Ayoade Akere of J.I.L Medical Consultants in Chicago as my correspondence Dr. Though he is a Family physician and not an Obstetrician/Gynecologist. But he said he delivers babies too,so I felt he he is an all rounder,meanwhile his bill is higher than the Obgyn we exchanged mails with in Texas. Had to settle for Chicago cause I have a family frnd to stay with,who recommended him as well.
ME: Hello,good morning
VO: Good morning
VO: passport pls
ME: handed the passport over
VO: why are you traveling
ME: To have my baby
VO: congratulations with a huge smile
ME: thank you,smiling right back
VO: what do you do
ME: Bleep....
VO: Have you ever travelled
ME: No
VO: She types somethings
VO: Did you say yes
ME: No
VO: Next time when reapplying make sure you research well about medicals and choose wisely
ME: I was confused and asked her to elaborate but
but she dint
VO: handed the blue paper,sorry you have been r
refused Visa
She was actually nice cause some VOs don't even tell you where you went wrong, they just refuse you. And I already have all my documents, budget sheet, Dr's letter etc thanks to this group, but she dint ask to see any document. Please has anyone use Dr Akere in Chicago what do you think about him and what do you suggest I do

I will arrive LA on 31 July.

Udiboy:
Please can any mama coming into US be kind enough to buy me Funbact A, it's in a tiny tube cream. I use it for my lil man eszema and that's the only thing that works for him. I can't find it here even in African stores.
Please I will pay for it and shipping to my address in Maryland.
Please DM me if you can help me with it.
God bless us all .

Just curios, which Dr / hospital did you use previously and why do you want to change? Which are you settling for now?

Senatornuella:
Re: Give birth in the US.
Hello everyone
I am new here but have found so many useful tips here.
I gave birth to my son in the US April 2016, and I am pregnant again. My medical visa is still valid and I intend to use it again to travel to have my baby. Will I need to write the embassy again or just travel with it? This POE thing got me frightened even though I was allowed in the last time but delayed i can't help but ask if there might be any hassle entering from Houston. Again I intend to change my doctor and hospital will that also be a problem at poe?

You can fill another form with the correct /new details and use that to secure an interview.

doreese:
Hello house,

Please I need help. I was in the process of applying for a visa for my mom. Unfortunately I fell ill asked dh to assist as i wanted everything sorted before my travel. While filling the form, I think Dh used a wrong email address I.e he omitted some letters and now he can't remember the password. We tried doing a password reset but I wasn't getting the link for the reset. So I tried scheduling her interview using the correct email only to get a notification that user personal details match that on another user email. It was only then I realised that dh had filled the wrong email. I have sent series of mails to the email on the feedback column but no response.

Please @justwise @nerf @Babatwi and other veterans please I urgently need advise on how to proceed as the earliest interview dates am seeing is Aug 29 and this is really close to my travel date.

Thanks in advance

Costs have increased over time. Self pay is now $1500.

bomly:


Okay thanks, two other mothers said they paid $850. I would have to call the hospital to find out exactly what they charge for self pay

By searching online until you find one that agrees with your budget. Check the options from various airlines.

From what people have shared on this forum, you don't need a prior appointment to notarise a document. You can just walk in. You can search for people's experience on this, here.

DHL is as reliable as can be. Sent a document to UK recently and it was received in less than 2 days. You'll get a tracking number and can monitor progress till delivery.

maideyz:
Good day all,
Pls save a sister. I am here in elpaso to apply for my baby passport but the consent form I presented was rejected because it was not notarised by the US embassy. I have contacted hubby to take the form to US embassy to sign and send it through DHL tomorrow morning but my fear is
Do I need an appointment to enter or get the consent form signed in us embassy?
DHL said i will receive the document if sent Thursday in Tuesday next week. How reliable is DHL cos I ve neva sent a document before. I need am urgent response please promise to come nd share my experience and advise for anyone coming to elpaso

Congrats, DrPrincess. Which hospital / Dr are you using?

If your plan is to give birth, please disclose this upfront, with enough evidence of your ability to pay. It will save you unnecessary hassles in future.

Thanks. Just checked the site and doesn't appear to have any estimates though, but will call the hospital and Dr.

Hello, please how much is the hospital fee and your Dr fee for Whmc?

Riri26:
Thank u all for ur input. So my poe experience goes thus:
I arrived Houston (IAH)with dh and our 2year old at about 1.30pm US time with lufthansa on the 9th of June, flight experience was great thank God. Meanwhile I flew at 33weeks and got the clearance to fly from port health for N2,000.

Before travelling I had sorted out everything from correspondence with hospital(west Houston medical center) and Dr (Jeanie Huynh) already paid part of doctors fee and 100% of hospital fee, mail I sent to Abuja embassy with no specific response but an automated response. I was ready for all forms of questions given all the knowledge I gained from this platform.

Conversation with cpb official
We: good afternoon
Cbp: good afternoon why are u here?
Dh: for vacation and to hv our baby
Cpb: how much do u hv?
Dh:10k
Cpb: pls place ur fingers here to be scanned
And he stamps b2 on our passports for 6 months and sends us off to Agriculture cos we had food.

At agriculture all out bags were scanned and checked one by one. Only my dad's alligator pepper was seized cos it wasn't dry.
The cpb official there actally counted our money to be sure. And after d agricultural check we were off.

I just thank God for his mercy and grace because it was so easy. Total time spent with cpb official was about 3 to 4mins. Wish evryone coming a safe trip, success at the poe and for the pregnant mamas a safe delivery.

nefertitiram:


Austin has done justice to your question. If you are going to Chicago you gast fortify yourself o! Hold beta cash. Those people r not smilint

Nope... You can actually get good self pay packages in Chicago...

Hi house. Asking if anyone knows a cheaper hospital package in Houston, than what Oakbend offers. Grateful for your help!

Hello freshdad, just sent you a pm. Looking for information on Chicago hospital. Was it CC? Kindly assist. Thanks.


quote author=freshdad post=57321253]haaa...please o!!! send me direct message o before the owner of the hospital come cut my head for publicizing their hospital .[/quote]

OK, thanks. Quotes I've got so far from Houston are 9-10k, although for CS. So still researching.

Hello, cutieb, congratulations. Please which Dr / hospital are you using that is costing you $6500? Appreciate your feedback.

cutieb:
Okay! I'm fully relaxed now..
Here's my traveling and POE experience
I left Nigeria on the 1St of June via Qatar..bought my return ticket #360k....take off time was meant to be 2:15pm but was delayed by an HR...I was asked to go to port health for a test which I did and paid #1500.
Flight was smooth to Doha..was suppose to have a 2HR stop over at Doha but we didn't spend up to 45min before we boarded for new york.I only showed port health certificate during check in at Doha...no cbp approached me...flight to JFK NY was very smooth and long..on arrival I did my self service afterwards queued ...the queue wasn't that long and there were just 2 cbp officers 1 American man and 1 chinko man..the American was just passing everyone without too many questions but the chinko spent more than 10mins with each person..so while I was praying not to go to the chinko ll and behold twas my turn to face the chinko guy...

Me: Good morning
Chinko: no response
Then I gave him my passport
Chinko: why are you here
Me: vacation and childbirth
Chinko: really! Have you contacted a Doctor
Me: yes in Houston and I handed him my correspondence
Chinko: oh you are still going to Houston..okay..how much are you gonna spend on hospital bill
Me: about #6500
Chinko: oh OK cos it's self pay right
Me: Yea..
Chinko: stamped me in for 6months and he asked me to proceed to get my luggage and then pronounced my name in a funny way..and said I thought he wouldn't be able to pronounce my name right..
We both laughed and that was it.
My egusi was seized cos twasnt blended...that was all..