Posted on 06/20/2004 8:50:25 AM PDT by qam1
Pregnant women in Australia who are planning caesarean births are trying to delay their operations until July 1 to cash in on the government's new A$3,000 (US$2,068) "baby bonus" beginning in the new fiscal year.
Several hospitals are completely booked for scheduled caesarean sections on the first two days of next month because pregnant women delayed the planned births until the new payment kicks in, Sydney's "The Daily Telegraph" newspaper said.
Other mothers who give birth before June 30 will receive just A$700, missing the new "baby bonus'.
The government announced the bonus 11 May as part of a big-spending budget for the next fiscal year, which some critics agree is designed to win votes in elections due before Christmas.
Prime Minister John Howard was not convinced that the government's new policy has affected the timing of caesarean sections.
"If that were happening, I would be concerned. Whether it's happening, it's very hard to tell," Howard said on Friday.
About 10 per cent of pregnant women book a planned caesarean section for a number of medical and physiological reasons. While doctors offer advice, the mother decides when to have the operation.
Meanwhile, doctors concerned about medical implications of delaying caesarean sections have asked Health Minister Tony Abbott to hasten the start date, but the government says there isn't enough time to pass a new bill to change the date before it goes into effect.
Doctors at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred obstetrics and gynecology met this week to plan for the mini baby boom.
Andrew Child, director of obstetrics and gynecology at Royal Prince Alfred, said the ideal time for a planned caesarean is in the week leading up to the due date, but some women are trying to book 10 days after the due date.
"Once they go 10 days past their due date, there starts to be risk to the baby," Child said.
"We would always suggest that the baby comes first.
"It is not worth A$3,000 (US$2,100) to put your baby's whole life at risk."
One person that will not put up with this little scam is baby itself. When the baby is ready to come a government promise will not make a bit on difference.
My third one was due 10-10 and the doc was hoping I would make it into October, but she came 9-16 and needed NICU for the first week.
The first one was due on my sister's birthday (5-7) but his dad's cousin (who was born the same day as his dad) had a wife expecting and we gave birth on the same day and gave the boys nearly identical names.
How can these women think they can schedule the delivery for money?
A low birth rate is very good for the enviroment, very bad for socialist ponzi schemes. The Kyoto crowd responds by giving financial incentives to the poor to breed. That is nuts.
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