Moving to Adelaide Aug 27th - when 7 months pregnant.....

[Guest Greg and Karen]

Hi all

I've been a non-participating observer of the site for a while now - but since we've finally booked our flights, seems like a good time to put up my first post! The 3 of us - myself (Karen), Greg, and Ella, our four and a half year old, arrive in Adelaide on Aug 27th. The scariest bit is that I'll be 34 weeks pregnant with our second child by then - but our visas expire on the 3rd Oct, so it's now or never....

 

Would love to hear from anyone already in Adelaide, or moving over later this year, who is also pregnant or will have a small baby (ours is due Oct 6th). The thought of moving to the other side of the World is petrifying enough, without the added fact that I'll be at home caring for a new born for the first few months (I'm a full time working Mum usually), with no support from friends and family. Added to this is the fact that Ella will start school in January, so we'll have finding a decent school to worry about too.

 

Would love to hear from anyone in a similar position - although there probably aren't many people crazy enough to travel to the other side of the World when just about to give birth!

 

Btw, I'm an international commercial manager with a background in entertainment / media, and Greg is a Solicitor. If anyone has any tips about job availabilities for such professions in Adelaide we'd be very interested to hear (especially for Solicitors as I'll be taking a few months off initially, to look after our new addition).

 

Great site by the way, I've picked up so much useful information on here that makes my fears about moving so far away a little easier to deal with!

 

Karen.

 

[Rachiegarlo]

Hi Karen,

congrats on the move and the expected one.

I came back to Adelaide to have my first child(easiest way to get Aust citizenship for him), flying at 30 wks, didn't look it,could still fit in my jeans, so got through without having to get doctor's letters etc. I bought that card thingy that hosps in UK used to fill out every time you went for a check and gave it to the docs here. It will go fine for you and you will find there are plenty of people who will rally round in your time of need.

Many women here join a mother's group of women who are all expecting around the same time and often continue to meet regularly as their babies are born and grow into toddlers. The midwife at the hospital you book into should be able to point you in the direction of one of these.

 

Once your daughter settles into kindy, you'll meet other families, they may not become close friends but they are just the start. You'll have plenty of time to find a good school, probably it will end up being in the area you choose to live in.

 

Good luck with everything.

Rachel

[Guest cunnah10]

Hi all

I've been a non-participating observer of the site for a while now - but since we've finally booked our flights, seems like a good time to put up my first post! The 3 of us - myself (Karen), Greg, and Ella, our four and a half year old, arrive in Adelaide on Aug 27th. The scariest bit is that I'll be 34 weeks pregnant with our second child by then - but our visas expire on the 3rd Oct, so it's now or never....

 

Would love to hear from anyone already in Adelaide, or moving over later this year, who is also pregnant or will have a small baby (ours is due Oct 6th). The thought of moving to the other side of the World is petrifying enough, without the added fact that I'll be at home caring for a new born for the first few months (I'm a full time working Mum usually), with no support from friends and family. Added to this is the fact that Ella will start school in January, so we'll have finding a decent school to worry about too.

 

Would love to hear from anyone in a similar position - although there probably aren't many people crazy enough to travel to the other side of the World when just about to give birth!

 

Btw, I'm an international commercial manager with a background in entertainment / media, and Greg is a Solicitor. If anyone has any tips about job availabilities for such professions in Adelaide we'd be very interested to hear (especially for Solicitors as I'll be taking a few months off initially, to look after our new addition).

 

Great site by the way, I've picked up so much useful information on here that makes my fears about moving so far away a little easier to deal with!

 

Karen.

 

Wow!U should be very proud of yourself!Not only going to the other side of the world to start a new life with your family but will be 34 weeks pregnant!

Wish you lots of luck on your new adventure!

Hope the flight goes well for you!

Bet you get a few concerned looks on the flight!!!!!

 

Gill

x

[Guest lynne]

Can you get travel insurance to fly at 34 weeks? I thought they only insured you up till 29 weeks.

 

I think it will be easier to move over prior to your baby being born because you do not have all the hastle of traveling with a baby.

 

Also you can sort our the house and settle in. But the problem is post baby with socialising, baby blues etc but the same could happen in England. So its a case of having to deal with it.

 

We wish you all the best and hope you have a speedy painfree (as possible) labour.

 

Young children are very good at settling, so I think your daughter will be fine once you arrive.

[foxychick]

If you know roughly where you will be settling, I would ring the nearest hospital NOW to book an appointment with a midwife, the services are very very busy at the moment and appointments are scarce. Obviously they will have to fit you in,but it might be a little less stressful if you aren't ringing up only to be told there will be a long wait. If you are thinking of Flinders, I can recommend, just had my baby there 2 weeks ago, very similar experience to my local UK hospital. It is the womens and childrens health clinic you need to book into, if you ring them direct, they will book you in, so it should be smoother for you when you arrive. THe hospital also has a free creche facility if you need it.

 

Good luck

[Guest Greg and Karen]

Thanks everyone for the advice! I feel quite excited about the move now. Had my anomaly scan yesterday and all was fine, so now we're counting down the days!

Re. insurance, there's a Danish company (IHI) that will do some form of emergency medical insurance up to 36 weeks. Probably not as comprehensive as standard cover but I don't have much choice.

I'll definitely get in touch with Flinders, thanks so much for the advice.

Will keep you posted on our progress!

Karen

[Guest katieb]

Hi There,

 

Just to let you know that I have moved to Adelaide in a very similar position to yourself although I was only 20 weeks pregnant when I l came over at the beginning of May.

 

My experience so far has been good. My baby is due the 25th September. When I first arrived I was advised by the Medicare Centre to go to the Womens and Childrens Hospital in North Adelaide which I did. They registered me there and then and as they had a cancellation I got to see a mid-wife that day. The service seems to be as good (if not better than in the UK). I have been told by other that there checks are a bit more thorough than that of the UK but I have nothing to compare it too as it is my first baby. The hospital also offers anti-natal classes including exercise classes but you may need to book them now as they seem to get booked up.

 

I hope this helps and I know exactly how you are feeling. Let me know if there is anything else you would like to know.

 

Take care and good luck with your flight out here.

 

Katie

[Guest homesick]

Hi

 

Sorry to put a dampener on things, but I'm sure you need a medical certificate from your doctor before you can fly so late in your pregnancy if at all! You need to check with your airline what their regulations are as some won't let you fly after 32 weeks whether you have a doctors note or not.

[Guest Greg and Karen]

Hi

 

Sorry to put a dampener on things, but I'm sure you need a medical certificate from your doctor before you can fly so late in your pregnancy if at all! You need to check with your airline what their regulations are as some won't let you fly after 32 weeks whether you have a doctors note or not.

 

Hi

 

You're not putting a dampener on things, I really appreciate all the advice I can get and need to make sure I've taken into account every possibility.

 

To be honest, I'd rather not be spending 24 hours on a plane at such an advanced stage of pregnancy (I'm huge already!) - but I don't have much choice. For various job reasons we can't leave the country before the end of Aug - and our visa expires at the beginning of Oct, so we can't travel over after the baby is born. I did contact our case officer and ask if there is any provision for such situations, but her reply was so non-committal that we don't want to take the risk of losing the opportunity (she basically said that we'd have to be re-assessed and it sounded like this could take months and might not even end up with the visa being re-issued).

 

However luckily Qantas have a relatively relaxed policy - their website states "Medical clearance is only required if you are having complications of pregnancy. International travel is not permitted after the 36th week for routine pregnancies." But I'll still ask my doctor for a certificate anyway, just in case. And we're treating ourselves to premium economy for (hopefully) a little bit of extra comfort!

 

Karen.

[Guest homesick]

Hi Karen

 

I'm glad you've checked it out and that you're getting a doctors letter anyway. I wish you all the luck in the world for your new life. I'm moving to Adelaide with my family in 10 days.

 

Caroline

[Guest Greg and Karen]

Hi Karen

 

I'm glad you've checked it out and that you're getting a doctors letter anyway. I wish you all the luck in the world for your new life. I'm moving to Adelaide with my family in 10 days.

 

Caroline

 

Hi Caroline

 

Wish we were going next week! Good luck with the move, let us know how it goes.

 

Karen.