Insurance, stress
Anne Casey (annec@musumail.union.unimelb.edu.au)
Fri, 29 Mar 1996 13:18:47 +0700
Susan says her babies cost $2.8 million, paid for by insurance, thankfully.
Our babies are priceless but who pays for the care of prem babies whose
parents have no insurance? And is there a quality difference in the care
of insured and uninsured babies?
I'm concerned because our wonderful Australian healthcare system is under review
with our newly elected Liberal government. At the moment, and for the past
decade we have a universal health care system. Neonatal Intensive and
Special Care are available for all babies equally at no cost to the
parents. Public hospitals are also free as are support services offered by
the Early Intervention Unit.
The birth of a very premature or sick baby is so distressing that I can't
imagine how we would have coped if we had a huge financial burden as well.
On other matters - I'm sorry I don't mail more often. I read and print the
letters each day with great delight and compassion. I think our group is
fantastic! I have sent a bundle of letters to one of the doctors in the
NICU unit at Monash Medical Center in the hope that some form of public
access to this list will be made available to support parents without
access. Talking to other parents is the best thing.
John, I'm so glad your daughters are continuing to do well. We think of
them often. And all the other little babies and children of fellow
subscribers - what a triumph of the human spirit they are.
Tammy, your recent experience with C.P.S. sounds very trying, given your
obvious devotion as a mother. Offer your mail on this list as evidence. I
may never meet you but I know beyond doubt that you are a very loving
mother. That a child abuse complaint should be filed against you is
grotesque but is exactly the kind of strange and inexplicable twist on life
that seems to happen. I'd love to know the answers.
I'm very interested in the current discussion on stress and preterm labour.
I was working full-time in a busy job when Vincent was born due to an
infection. I hadn't felt great for months but felt that I shouldn't take
sick leave, for a number of reasons. When Vincent was born early, I
immediately felt that it was my fault (of course). Guilt is such an
all-embracing thing. I had a previous fullterm baby (9lb.) and my
pregnancy had been developing well. Once again, I'd love to know the
answers. Has anyone found medical literature to support the connection
between stress and preterm labour? Dr Doug?
Love to you all and your precious babies
Anne Casey/Gary Hardy, parents of jessica 4 and Vincent 14 months corrected.