HELP....nuchal fold scan in New Zealand...

[Welshmum]

Would be grateful for help from any Kiwi mumsnetters - or anyone else who might know. can I get a nuchal fold scan done in NZ - I think it would have to be privately as I'm not resident but is it available?

Yes you can get them. I didn't get to have one as unfortunately I had m/c at 8 weeks but I was booked for one at the local hospital by GP. I am also not resident but was 37 at the time and was refered because of my age!!!(there are some advantages of being an old mum!!) Cannot do winkey smileys. I also think it was going to be free as part of my antenatal care.
Where in NZ are you? HTH

Should also have said this was just earlier this year.

Thanks Sibble. I'm supposed to be in NZ for 3 weeks in December - exactly when the scan is supposed to happen - I don't want to cancel the trip but consultant says I must have scan as I'm really ancient.....maybe I'lll try to find a hospital that will do it from here and book myself in.
Sorry about your m/c. Whereabouts in NZ do you live?

Hi Welshmum ... congratulations on your pregnancy
I live in Auckland and they do do nuchal fold tests as Sibble says. They offer it as a matter of course to over 35s ... I had to ask for mine as I am 33 but they didn't mind doing it. Well, when I say that - under 35s have to be referred by the doctor of midwife ... I was pregnant last year (I had an m/c too) and had trouble persuading my local hospital to book me in so I switched to another hospital and they were happy to do it.
With this pregnancy I had no trouble getting it (have a wonderful midwife who says I can have what I want!)
If you are only going to be here on holiday I would look into the cost of the scan and having a referral letter from your doctor in the UK ... They are getting really strict about non residents taking advantage of the public health system here (I recently had to prove my residency - not being an NZ citizen - to the health board by sending in copies of my passport in order to get my maternity care on Public Health)
They might do reciprocal care with the UK but I don't know about that ....

Meant to add 'HTH' but I posted too soon

No reciprocal agreement for maternity scans I seem to remember from the notice in the hospital I was scanned in. I could find out the cost of a private scan if you are going to be having it in the south island. It is likely to be more expensive in the North.

Even if the scan is 'really expensive', my experience is that 'really expensive' in NZ and 'really expensive' in the UK are rarely the same. I have heard that the maternity service in NZ is excellent though

After all, spending 100-150 pounds on a scan (I'm guessing) weighed up against cancelling a holiday is probably worth it. It won't even take up much of your holiday because if you pay you don't queue, and you get to keep all the slides they take. Chas 27 you are right, maternity services are excellent here.

Maternity services so far for me have been excellent ...
I agree with your guess bobthebaby - I seem to remember in the deep recesses of my memory that a private scan is $300 in Auckland ... which is about 100 pounds ...
Were will you be Welshmum? I have a friend who was on holiday here in Auckland when pregnant and she had some complications ... she had no problems finding a specialist to sort her out.

Hi welshmum I am in Auckland as well as Ghosty. Where will you be travelling to? Let us know and I am sure somebody on mumsnet can point you in the direction of a decent service in the area.

... this is slightly off the track of nuchal scans, but I just wanted to say it's so nice to see Kiwi (ish) mumsnetters! I used to live in NZ, only moved back last year and we miss it loads!!
Welshmum, you will love your holiday I'm sure, good luck with the scan

Thanks all. Since my last post I found a kiwi midwife working here who has recommended a doctor in Wellington Women's hospital who might be able to do it for me - I'm going to ring his sec tonight and book in if I can. I know it will be expensive but set against cancelling our holiday it's well worth it. He sounds really nice. The midwife was brilliant she couldn't believe that I was thinking of cancelling and has really put my mind at ease.

Really glad to hear that Welshmum .... hope you have a fab holiday and good luck with the pregnancy and scan