i am totally new to fodor's but i saw a link and thought maybe someone can help me out here... i will be relocating to vancouver this november but i will be 32 weeks pregnant. i am used to private health care in singapore but understand that in BC, mainstream healthcare is public, and i don't really know which hospital to head to for the delivery of my 2nd child. we are canadian PRs but have only been to vancouver for 2 weeks some 2.5 yrs ago, so being pregnant like this, i have my insecurities about not being able to find a good OBGYNE to see to my delivery as i did not have a good experience the first time round. could someone offer some advice please?

I recommend that you ask these questions at the British Expats forum. Here is the URL for the Canada sub-forum:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=56

You don't have to be British to post there. I'm not British, and they've been very welcoming to me. (But maybe you are British after all.)

The BE forum has a couple of nurses who live in Vancouver, and they will point you in the right direction.

One issue that could be problematic for you is that British Columbia has a three month waiting period before you're eligible for its provincial health care insurance program. But the nurses on the BE forum could definitely tell you what your options are.

Here is the BE Wiki section's article on Vancouver. It gives a brief description of the metropolitan area's residential neighbourhoods:

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Vancouver

The Wiki section of the BE website has articles on other practical topics, e.g., medical insurance in Canada, schooling in Canada (if your first child is old enough to attend school), etc., etc.:

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Category:Canada

Hope that helps.

judy, u are so kind, i appreciate your recommendations and suggestions! i was feeling pretty sad after getting an email from "birthdocs" in BC, a family styled clinic for preggies, which informed me that BC women's would not be able to accept me as i have not been a long term resident of BC. so that leaves me with st paul's hospital and perhaps the vancouver general hospital. i really need to talk to someone so i will go to the forum u mentioned and see if i have some kind soul to offer me a solution. thanks again judy, we will keep in touch by email!

Here is the website for BC Medical it will certainly answer some of your questions. Good Luck to you in your new home and your new baby!
http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/msp/info...gible.html#who

Hi, I'm a labour and delivery nurse in Vancouver. Yes it is true you may not be able to go to BC Women's because they also take high risk mom's at preference. St. Pauls, Royal Columbian, Richmond general or Burnaby General are all good options. They are teaching hospitals which IMO increases the level of care because there are people questioning the standards.

What does "we are Canadian PRs" mean?

I'm assuming it means "permanent residents."