Oh Babyyy - Mothers/soon To Be Moms, Please Help!

[dgonzalez]

Hi everyone!

Hoping the ladies who see this thread might be able to assist. I just found out I'm (about) 4 weeks pregnant (YAY!), but now the nightmare begins of trying to find doctors that speak english and figuring out what the whole process is here and all that super fun stuff I have no desire to deal with so, a couple questions;

Not sure if this will factor into anyone's answers but just FYI about me; I live in Pilar, I am here on a permanent residency visa and I have a DNI.

a. What insurance to people recommend? Obviously I would like the insurance that covers the most at the hospitals that would feel most like they would at home in the states - clean, high-tech, all that jazz.
b. What the hell do I do next? I went to get the blood test, but apparently insurance companies aren't a fan of women who are already pregnant so they make you get echocardiographia(sp?) (sonography) done BEFORE you get your insurance confirmed so they can find out how many months they're going to penalize you so do you have to get that prescribed through a gyno or does that get prescribed only through an obstetrician? Apparently there are some private sonography places that will take you without a prescription but I can't seem to find any - does anyone have any recommendations?

HELP.

Sincerely,
Stressed out mama

 

[dgonzalez]

Oh and one more question. I hear Austral in Pilar is one of the best hospitals but apparently they don't conduct some of the tests that most hospitals do because it's a christian hospital and they don't believe in that, or something? Anyone have any clue what I'm talking about and if the tests they don't perform are actually needed.

 

[citygirl]

Not sure what tests they would't perform? Abortion is illegal in Argentina so that's a moot point. Genetic testing is optional and I can't think of why they wouldn't give you a doctors order if you choose to do that - I had to do mine at a specialist anyway.

As far as health insurance - you'll have to call around and see what providers will cover you since you're already pregnant and what the costs will be. Most health insurances have a mandatory waiting period for offering maternity coverage. I think Hospital Aleman in CABA and others may do it with a penalty. Definitely check with Austral.

I delivered at Mater Dei in CABA and it was fine. In my case, I had OSDE and then I chose my OB and I could deliver at any of the hospitals where he had delivery privileges and my insurance covered. We went with MD because they had a very good neonatal department and my twins were in neo for 2 weeks or so. But most of the bigger hospitals are fine. I've hear very good things about Austral in Pilar and since that's where you are living, you'll probably want to stay close if possible.

As far as getting the initial sonogram, any gyn can order it. In many cases, you would stay under your gyn's care until the end of the first trimester and then find an OB. If you have a regular gyn, just call the office and chances are, they'll write the order for you to go get a sonogram.

Congratulations.

 

[summysammy]

Hi! I am also in Pilar, and I am almost full term in my pregnancy. I have definitely learned a lot during this time. This is my first pregnancy and there was a lot to learn PERIOD.

In general, there is a ton more covered here in Argentina than in the United States for example. I feel well cared for. Choosing to go with a prepaid insurance (I have Medife Plan Plata for example) will be worth it. Even though the word "penalty" sounds harsh, it's not that bad. Usually, you need to have to have been with a plan for 10 months before they will cover your baby's birth. So, if you make it to 9 months (almost 10) in your pregnancy, what they plan to do is make you back pay 1-2 months (9 months of pregnancy + 1 month back pay) so that you will be covered when the baby is born. So the sooner you sign up for a prepaid plan, the less you'll have to pay. There are plenty of doctors who are willing to play the game and say that you're a few weeks less pregnant than you really are in order to save you a month's payment. I didn't need it but was offered that like it was nothing! I did contemplate switching from Medife Plan Plata to OSDE's 210, but I didn't want to back pay 2 months when I was already covered decently.

Sign up for a plan NOW. Tell them you are aren't sure if you are pregnant. You simply are trying and might already be a few weeks, but you need to find out and get it covered. Just ask them straight up, if "If I am pregnant will you still take me and what is the minimum amount of time I need to be covered because you will cover my baby's birth". They have no interest in redoing your paperwork. You have no interest in the additional stress (I assume). Just be up front with them.

No matter what plan you have, or none, pregnancy here isn't determined as viable unless you show a positive blood test AND an ultrasound with a positive (found) embryo WITH a heart beat. That's when you're "maternity plan" kicks in. You have to wait until week 8 ish for that anyways. So. Go sign up NOW! OSDE 210 is ~$350 pesos more than Medife Plan Plata. Those two have the most offerings in this area. Both can go to the Austral. OSDE can go to San Isidro's Trinidad, but Medife does not go there unless you are plan Oro. Other than that, the differences are minor and both are great.

I didn't ask for a doctor that speaks English, so I can't help you there. I just went for a good doctor that I liked.

PS. For what it's worth, the Austral is painted pretty, but it's not always the best. I am not having my baby there. I am going to a not so pretty, but well known and experienced CEMIC in Saavedra. If I had OSDE before I got pregnant, I would have considered la Trinidad in San Isidro.

Feel free to reach out to my via inbox if you want more info.

 

[RSPlayer]

We live in Pilar and my wife delivered our second son in Hospital Austral in 2010. Our first son was born in the U.S. in 2006. As far as the hospital facilities, knowledge and training of the doctors and level of pre and post-natal mother/baby care, I found no difference at all between the 2 experiences. For purpose of comparison the hospital in the U.S. was a Woman’s Hospital that delivers more than 8,000 babies per year. Both were excellent and top notch. We have Omint Insurance that covered everything. A rep from Omint even visited us each day in Austral just to make sure everything was OK.
Hospital Austral is a private, Catholic Hospital and part of Opus Dei (like “super catholic”), however in all our dealings with Austral, birth of our son, checkups, accidents, surgeries, etc., that fact has never entered into any part of provider care. I have lots of acquaintances and contacts at Austral. Feel free to contact me if you need assistance.

 

[summysammy]

Hospital Austral is a private, Catholic Hospital and part of Opus Dei (like “super catholic”), however in all our dealings with Austral, birth of our son, checkups, accidents, surgeries, etc., that fact has never entered into any part of provider care.

Austral doesn't like to perform c-sections unless it's a must need situation because of their religious beliefs. They tend to not always have a doctor than can do that on hand. It came into a factor with a friend of mine who had twins. She was several hours into labor, water broke, everything. They told her she would need a c-section. They left her in a room and never told her what and when something would happen. Her doctor never showed up (who was from Austral). After 12 hours or so they asked her to sign a form to transfer her to San Isidro's Trinidad hospital where they could perform a c-section. As soon as she arrived at the other hospital, they did a c-section on the spot and let her know that she was borderline on losing the twins had the Austral waited any longer. The fact that they waited so long to transfer her and make a decision, and never have a doctor follow up with her is just unjustifiable for me. As a mom-to-be with the clock ticking, their lack of sense of urgency makes me really uncomfortable.

 

[citygirl]

Austral doesn't like to perform c-sections unless it's a must need situation because of their religious beliefs. They tend to not always have a doctor than can do that on hand. It came into a factor with a friend of mine who had twins. She was several hours into labor, water broke, everything. They told her she would need a c-section. They left her in a room and never told her what and when something would happen. Her doctor never showed up (who was from Austral). After 12 hours or so they asked her to sign a form to transfer her to San Isidro's Trinidad hospital where they could perform a c-section. As soon as she arrived at the other hospital, they did a c-section on the spot and let her know that she was borderline on losing the twins had the Austral waited any longer. The fact that they waited so long to transfer her and make a decision, and never have a doctor follow up with her is just unjustifiable for me. As a mom-to-be with the clock ticking, their lack of sense of urgency makes me really uncomfortable.

OMG - that is an awful story. My OB was pretty clear from Day 1 that with twins, a C was the most likely outcome for medical reasons and to prepare myself for that. I can't believe they didn't talk about that with her, much left leaving her to wait.

 

[RSPlayer]

Yes, that is awful and does not make any sense. That was not our experience at all. Our son was delivered via C-Section at Austral with no issues or problems.

 

[dgonzalez]

I cannot thank you all so much for your help! This process is confusing enough - even more-so when you don't speak the language and your husband needs to translate everything so I really really appreciate your guidance!

 

[glasgowjohn]

GlasgowJohn Jr was born at the Hospital Aleman . We had no insurance when we found out we were pregnant. Just over 90 days after conception.......

Mrs GlasgowJohn was fined three months of cuotas to get in the plan

We are still with the Aleman six years later.