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 Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 11:39 am
Okay, first off, a little explaination of my current situation. I am a British national applying to live within the United States. Upon my moving here in November, seems I managed to get pregnant. My Greencard application is still being processed, so at the moment I am an illegal immigrant. (Oh, I feel so naughty.)
My husband, however, is a US national. He is unfortunately not in a stable job at this time and we do not have medical insurance of any kind.
I've heard that paying cash out here is expensive for pregnancies (God bless the British NHS for this situation) and that I should look into some kind of aid. However, because I am not a citizen and probably will not be for a couple of months with the rate my application is going, I'm worried I will not be getting the care I need/my unborn child needs.
I haven't even had a check-up yet and I'm nearing my three months marker. Any suggestions for whom I can speak with about my situation? Any advice for the absolute last date I should leave it before I get my check-up?
Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
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Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2007 2:07 pm
Yikes, that one is a toughie.
I know that for the most part, when you get a visa you have to go through a medical examination. Maybe contact whoever was/will be your designated medical dotor or embassy you went through?
As for the absolute last date, that's really up to you and all relative. Usually, they like to do the first one at least in the first trimester (since determining due dates is the most accurate then), but really if you have no choice, because I know a lot of time with insurance policies, it take a month for them to take effect.
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:49 am
I'm pretty sure on when my due date is, because my morning sickness started the week I conceived. I just want to make sure everything is working as it should and know if I need to take any supplements and such (low blood iron) so that baby is getting all they need.
My mother in law said she waited until she was 5 months to have her first check-up because she didn't have the money at the time, and her children came out just fine. Hopefully if my husband gets the job he's been trying for, we'll get medical insurance from his first paycheck which should be a family medical, even though I'm not a citizen.
Really pissed at the events of 9/11 though. Every new applicant is a potential terrorist and therefore everything is taking 10 times longer.
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Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:25 pm
My 2 cents:
I'm sure we can all agree that it would be a good thing for you to get a checkup sooner than later, but if you don't have the money, you don't have the money. Honestly, if you're feeling okay, and not having bad cramping or bleeding, you can put it off for a little while.
You did mention that you have low iron/are anemic. I was the same way and they put me on iron pills in addition to my prenatal vitamins. If you can buy iron pills over the counter (I don't know if you can?) then you should probably do that. If not, try to up your iron intake by eating red meats and leafy greens, if your stomach can handle it! As for prenatal vitamins, I had trouble keeping mine down, and the doctor told me I could just take regular children's Flintstones chewable vitamins to get the same effect. I got the gummy ones and they were much easier on the stomach! Just take two of them instead of one as it says for children. It should also be a good bit cheaper than the prescription prenatals; I don't know how much they cost since insurance covered mine.
Of course, the sooner you can get in to be seen by a doctor, the better. Hopefully they won't dawdle around and you'll be a citizen sooner than you think. mrgreen
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:17 am
I got a bottle of like, a million prenatils for ten bucks at Sam's club (ok, so it's more like 500, but STILL) and I still have half a bottle, which is good because I'm breast feeding... I also had to get iron pills, because I became anemic for a while there. I got them over the counter, just picked 'em up at target. I ALSO got the lipil pills and were/have been takeing thoes... (maybe that's why Cas is so ahead of his development and so big... All the vitamins he could posibly need and then some?) All of them are over the counter and fairly cheap, the Expecta DHA supplement is a month supply for about $15, the Iron pills are about $7 and have 120 pills in them, and the gigantic prenatils that will last practicly through out the pregnancy and breastfeeding were only $10.
I'm not sure what to say about the medical, maybe try talking to the medicaid people, tell them the situation and maybe they can help.
Best of luck!
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:16 am
I filled out a questionaire thing on their website and they said I might be eligible. I'd have to call the local office to find out, which is pretty cool. I've applied for a Visa Waver extension while I'm awaiting confirmation on my Greencard application.
I'm hopefully going to have some money by the end of this week, so I'll have to check out the local drug store and see what I can get. I'm not used to taking medication, you see, I was raised in a family where you'd ride it out instead of relying on drugs. sweatdrop
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 12:04 pm
;] But prenatals aren't drugs, so it's all good. They're more for you then the baby, your body will take everything from you it needs and deplete all your stores. You'll be playing second fiddle for awhile. Heh.
I hope it works out and you can get coverage. -knocks on wood-
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Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 10:21 am
We've finally got some money into one of our accounts, so that will account for the first check-up if we do end up paying cash for that. Just have to push the other half into checking up on this job thing.
And yeah, I should hope the prenatals would help with a few of the issues I have at the moment. In fact, I'm able to buy some today, so as long as I can find some clothes that fit (gained an awful amount of weight since I became pregnant) then I'll be able to go to the drug store to buy some. xp
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:34 pm
okay.. this may be a silly question.. but were you married in the states or else where? that would make a big difference. anyways... there are always loop-hopes that one can exploit... just see what you can do *nods*
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:36 pm
oh.. and i understand what you mean about the clothes... i have maybe 3 pairs of jeans i can wear.... and my shirts are getting snug around dah belly area <.< >.>
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 1:50 pm
Married in the UK. He managed to get himself a 2 year Visa to be able to stay in England with me, but he assured me his job prospects were better out here, so we moved out in the hopes I'd be accepted as promptly as he was. No such luck!
I bought some prenatal vitamins from the local drug store suggested by the pharmacist. I hope I manage to keep them down! I hear such horror stories about those things. xp
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:25 pm
I found that if I took them in the morning they would make me sick and I couldnt' keep them down, but if I took them at night right before I went to bed then they were fine. It's hard to throw up (not imposable, just less likley) when your sleeping 3nodding
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Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:54 am
RaiRai
I bought some prenatal vitamins from the local drug store suggested by the pharmacist. I hope I manage to keep them down! I hear such horror stories about those things. xp
A midwife told me to break them in half and take half in the afternoon and half at night so it won't upset your stomach as much. 3nodding
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Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 12:10 pm
That's a good idea. My husband was like 'I'll crush them up and you can drink them in a drink!' but that didn't appeal to me. xp
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Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 1:36 pm
3nodding I never had problems taking mine, but I know many people who took theirs right before bed and it helped. It's all the iron in them that can make you sick to your stomach. Taking half at a time sounds like a good idea as well.
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