Moving to the UK at 36 weeks.

[Alligatorpie]

I have decided to go to England to have this baby. I have been back and forth between the UK and Canada / other countries for years, but had my dd in Canada, so don't know what i need to do in Engand.

I have a national health number, and am registered with a dr.s surgery next to my inlaws, but have never been a patient there.

They live in Crawley, where I will be staying until the baby comes, dh finishes his contract 3 weeks later and we will rent a place then.

So at 36 weeks, ( the latest I can fly) I know I need to find a midwife, should I call before I arrive to set up an appointment? It seems like midwives are very busy, how long does it take to actually get an appointment?

And any advice on where to give birth in Crawley? Or advice on anything else?
Thank you!

I'd definitely try to book an appointment first. I'm not near Crawley but find it hard to get appointments with the mws as they are so busy here.

You could ask your in laws to get the info/make an appointment/enquire on your behalf, that might be easier for you while you are still in Canada, :)

Just check before you make any plans that you are eligibile for NHS treatment: if you aren't life can get very expensive as private healthcare is geared exclusively towards the rich and travel insurance will not always cover births at full term. The government page on this matter is [[http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Entitlementsandcharges/OverseasVisitors/Browsable/DH_074374 here]

I know I was asked to prove this when I registered with the hospital here, and that you do need to organise an appointment before you get here as it takes 2-3 weeks usually to get into the system. Obviously in an emergency you can just turn up at the hospital, but they will not have medical records etc for you.

Oops! Here's the link

Thanks for the info. I am probably ok for NHS, (am resident, dh and dd are British citizens) but even if I end up paying, it is way less than what it would cost me in Canada. We let our Cdn health care run out when we moved to Egypt and it takes three months of living in the country before we can get it back.
I will make the appt three weeks before!
Cheers!