New to babies and NZ
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34637
Printed Date: 20 August 2025 at 4:00pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: New to babies and NZ
Posted By: KT418
Subject: New to babies and NZ
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 5:39pm
|
Hi,
I am pretty sure I am pregnant, (a missed TOM and 3 positive pregnancy tests), but I am new to babies and to to NZ for that matter. I have called the neighborhood GP and have appointment next week but is there anything else i need to be doing at this point, so early in the game? Any advice would be welcome! Thanks! KT 
|
Replies:
Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 6:18pm
|
Taking folic acid and maybe start looking for a midwife. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
|
Posted By: Chickoin
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 7:08pm
|
Welcome to OB (and NZ, if I can welcome you there when I am in Aussie...)
Chelle is right, you should be taking folic acid. Your GP should be able to give you information on how to get a mw. Or you could ask other people in here for recommendations in your area -------------   
|
Posted By: AzzaNZ
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 7:37pm
|
Congrats on the pregnancy and welcome to NZ!
Depending on what area you are in I'd start looking for a good midwife, they can get booked up really fast. Ditto the others on the folic acid too. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
http://intermittentblogger.wordpress.com |
Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 7:40pm
|
Welcome to NZ and OB!!!
I am a brit, so feel free to ask any questions, hope you are settling in ok - feels like there is a lot to do when you first find out, but really apart from finding a midwife and looking after yourself not much needed yet - if you are unsure of dates you may get an early scan. When are you due - they are lots of due in threads to join in with. ------------- 
]  [/URL]
|
Posted By: Bobchannz
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 10:22pm
|
Don't need to see your GP necessarily - you can get a list of midwives/ obstetricians (called LMCs) in your area from the Ministry of Health. Taking folic acid (not the stuff from the supermarket, but at least 800mcg - there is a cheap one at chemist shops).
Good luck! ------------- www.makedomum.blogspot.co.nz |
Posted By: kiwikid
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 12:55am
|
The only other thing is to make sure you are aware of the foods to avoid, things like deli meats / unpasterised cheese / shellfish / runny eggs... I'm sure you can get a comprehensive list if you do a bit of googling.
Congrats, sounds like you are definately up the duff to me!! ------------- 
|
Posted By: ShellyBR
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 12:43pm
|
All the above plus if you are new to nz you need to check out your immigration status if you are permanent resident then you are fine as everything is covered but if you are on another visa you need to check out what you may have to pay for.
your lmc will ask for proof of residency when you sign up. We were here 2 months when we found out ds was on his way, we have pr so ds is a nz citizen. Congratulations, nz is a great place to have children ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: babybrain
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 1:11pm
|
Welcome! This is a great place to get info... i learnt sooo much on here... where to get things, other peoples experiences of products and services etc.
Start reading what you can and cant/shouldnt eat etc.... your doc will have a flyer with all the info.. or ask them directly. Rest up when you can.... it's exhausting being pregnant and you can feel like the living dead the first 3 months!! I stocked up on anti nausea stuff also when i foudn out... figured I wouldnt feel like doing it when i felt really sick.... ginger (dried crystallized ginger was great for me) also ask your doc about metaclompromide.. i took this when i had extreme nausea and it mean ti could function and didnt get too depressed! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
|
Posted By: KT418
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 3:29pm
|
Thanks for all the friendly advice!
We are going to wait a few weeks to tell people I am pregnant so I didn't have anyone to ask the basic questions too just yet. Thank goodness for google and this site!
I can add exhaustion, constant head ache, and nausea to my list of symptoms. After googling what i can and can't eat it was very disheartening to find out my previous remedies for these things are frowned upon in the first trimester. Oh well, still much to learn. Thanks everybody! KT
|
Posted By: Karnie34
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 10:23pm
|
Welcome to NZ and congrats on your pregnancy! We got back from Germany 12 days ago so I'm finding my way around the NZ side of pregnancy too.
Wishing you a happy healthy pregnancy! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 13 July 2010 at 2:30pm
|
Hi KT,
Like everyone else I also welcome you to NZ and to pregnancy. I'm originally from the UK and am having baby number 3 over here. We emigrated 11 months ago and I'm 8 months gone now, so clearly NZ's clean living is doing us both some baby-good. If you're from UK or Oz, then maternity services are free, and if your partner is a kiwi then it's free too. But it is best to check with your LMC. There isn't any need to see your GP who will only give you a Bounty pack and info on LMCs in your area, which you can do by looking in the yellow pages and your LMC will give you the bounty pack at your first appointment anyway. You'll save yourself $40 in GP fees. Most GPs don't have anything to do with maternity services so there's really no need. This site is also a godsend. So much information here. I'm pretty sure you've researched what not to eat etc by now, but folic acid 800mcg daily is advisable and not all pregnancy vitamins actually contain this amount so look carefully. Trade Me is a good website to look for baby stuff, also buy sell and swap, local bulletin boards in villages and local papers that are delivered free. There's also one day sale sites that you can get some pretty cheap stuff on. I use onedaysalefinder.co.nz and log on daily to check out discounts, it's loads of random stuff, but I love it. On the pregnancy side of things: ultrasounds are not free, I pay $40 a time and if you're in a high risk category then you'll have quite a few. Blood tests are free as are all visits to LMC and related necessary obstetric services. If you're new to NZ, then check out with the IRD what you're entitled to when it comes to maternity allowances, your baby will be an NZ citizen I think if one parent is also NZ but go into the IRD office and speak to someone directly, if you phone them, they're useless, I've spoken to 4 people and got 4 different opinions or decisions on what I'm entitled to. At least if you do it in person, they make a record of it and you can get a name and know what they look like if you need to speak to someone higher up the chain. I'm sure that there's loads more, but I've got preggers brain and can't remember, I'm also knackered and bubs is kicking my bladder again so I'm off to my usual spot in the house. Good luck with it all. -------------   
|