Joining a Medical Aid After Falling Pregnant
Medical aids usually do not cover any procedure or treatment for a pre-existing condition within the first year of joining a scheme. This applies to pregnancy as well and almost all medical aid schemes will not cover the pregnancy and delivery costs for a new member who joins the scheme when pregnant.
Folate (vitamin B9) is one of the B-complex of vitamins that is derived from a number of foods. It is probably best known for being an important part of pregnancy and pregnant women are always advised to use folic acid supplements. There is often confusion between folate and folic acid. Simply folate is the vitamin B9 absorbed from natural sources like food whereas folic acid is the synthetic form derived from supplements.
The termination of a pregnancy is the right of every expectant mother in South Africa. However, many women experience difficulty in getting the appropriate advice on the costs and facilities associated with an abortion. There are many private abortion clinics in South Africa and while government hospitals should also offer this service, the strained public health care system does not always give priority to abortions. Medical aids may cover the cost of an abortion, however, some medical aids limit the number of times the procedure may be conducted or may not cover the procedure at all.
Pregnancy is one of the times when a person reassesses their medical aid cover as the costs associated with childbirth can be expensive. Considering the high costs of private health care, it is only natural for mothers to be concerned about the extent of cover for their pregnancy and childbirth, as well as cover for any complications that may arise, especially those that can affect the baby. Proper cover is essential and ideally you should have comprehensive medical aid cover before you fall pregnant (refer to Medical Aid for Pregnant Women).
People living with HIV have the same reproductive rights as any other person and it is not uncommon for an HIV positive man or woman to consider having a child despite the risks associated with conception. However, women who are HIV positive and planning to fall pregnant or women who are negative but wanting to conceive with a partner who is HIV positive have much to consider before conception. The priority is a healthy pregnancy without transmitting the infection to the child and this is achievable with effective HIV management.
Weight gain during pregnancy is normal and while many pregnant women try to minimise the extent of the weight gain, it is important to remember that this can affect both mother and baby. It is usually acceptable to gain about 10 to 12.5 kg’s during pregnancy but many factors can play a part in considering what is acceptable weight and what is excessive or too little.
From the second trimester onwards, the weight gain should be gradual but steady – around 0.2 to 0.5 kg per week. Most doctors will tell a mother not to worry about the weight issue as it shows that they are eating well and the unborn baby is getting sufficient nutrition. However, excessive weight gain can complicate the pregnancy and delivery as well as aggravate certain conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure in pregnancy.
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