delaying birth to receive the extra baby bonus?

[Bellinda]

Hi,
My name is Bellinda and I'm a journalist from the Sydney Morning Herald. I'm looking to interview any expectant mum's who are taking advantage of the extra baby bonus that comes into effect on July 1, by putting off an pre-planned induction or caesarian date.
If you're interested, please contact me at bkontominas@smh.com.au or on 9282 3073.

Cheers,
Bellinda Kontominas

[Mum2Bug]

If you think anyone is likely to answer that question, especially by someone who only joined to ask us that......well.......no comment

[sam's mum]

like if anyone was doing that they would admit to it - to a media person.

can you spell national scapegoat...

[reddwarf]

....

[Chickadee]

Bellinda has posted a fair question. A note to everyone to please be respectful in your responses, as we expect you to be to all members. If you can't contribute to her research then there is no need to respond.

[Mamaduke]

I faced the same 'dilemma' when I was pregnant with Lucas.
Personally, when I was that far into my pregnancy - huge, uncomfortable, tired, emotional etc. an extra $1 million could not have made me wait any longer, and I would inflicted physical pain on anyone who tried to suggest it!!!!
Don't blame the Howard government - you can't legislate against stupidity!
No medical procedure can be performed without your consent.

[reddwarf]

"Don't blame the Howard government - you can't legislate against stupidity!
No medical procedure can be performed without your consent."

Mamaduke, I realise they can't perform a caesarean without your consent but you try and fight the amount of pressure they put me under. I signed for the caesar under duress. It was not my decision. It was the medical professions. However, if the Howard Government hadn't of bought in this $3000 then people wouldn't have delayed their caesars and inductions for after the 1/7/2004 and I wouldn't have been pressured into an unnecessary caesarean.

[Bessie]

This is a bit of a family joke at the moment as we are due on July 5th, we didn't know about the baby bonus until after finding out we were pg... as we are migrants and don't have that history. It was a pleasant suprise to know we'd get any extra money for having a baby.
When I think about it, I would only get an extra $1000 for going past July 1st. It's not that much over a child's life. You still get $3000 for having a baby anyway. Consider things like going to school - the school cut off date here in WA is the last day of June. So if my baby comes early in June, she will go off to school a whole year earlier, meaning I can take steps to resume my career. Daycare fees would be less too. My savings over that year and possible earnings would be well over $1000. Maybe things would be different if we needed the money, if Dh didn't have a good job. For people living pay packet to pay packet a $1000 bonus might influence their birth choices immensely.
I wouldn't be suprised if anyone purposefully delays a CSection or induction for the extra money if it's just a question of days... especially if they are reluctant to go ahead with the procedure anyway. Due dates are pretty debatable and often the risks of being pregnant for a bit longer are negligable. Personally I am avoiding a CS and induction like the plague but for the simple reason of wanting a natural birth. These procedures are well over WHO recommendations anyway, so I guess it would be unlikely someone could harm their baby by waiting longer :confused:
I'd be interested if you have an stats for pg women - is there a marked increase in women due to give birth in July? The waiting rooms certainly look pretty packed at the moment and now I'm wondering if the ward will be heaving with women when I go in, hopefully that will mean less medical interference for me :p

[reddwarf]

Bessie yesterday a number of the country's newspapers ran a story on a study conducted on exactly this.

“Born on the First of July: An (Un)natural Experiment in Birth Timing by Joshua S. Gans and Andrew Leigh.
This is an excerpt from the article in The Australian:



Bonus to spark new birth bonanza

The Australian, 19 June 2006


“But many other parents appeared to have an eye on the money. It has now emerged that there were more births on July 1, 2004, than on any other day in the past 30 years. And with the baby bonus slated to rise a further $1000, to $4000, from this July 1, experts are tipping another birth bonanza.

Professors Joshua Gans and Andrew Leigh, who have been analysing birth figures, believe the introduction of the last baby bonus changed behaviour and the same thing is likely this time.

"An additional $1000 is not the same as the first $3000, but it is still not trivial," Professor Gans said yesterday.

"The hospitals weren't prepared for it last time. In three weeks' time it will be occurring again."

Women ensured they received the money by having their babies induced, or delivered by caesarean section, later than would otherwise have been the case. There was no change in the number of non-induced vaginal births.

Professor Gans said the most disturbing finding was that at least 174 women delayed having their baby by at least two weeks, which jeopardised their own health and that of their baby.

When the baby bonus policy was first announced, in the big-spending pre-election budget of 2004, the families minister at the time, senator Kay Patterson, was asked whether it would have been better to have announced and introduced the policy on the same day. She said: "Well, I don't believe mothers would put (their babies) at risk."

Professor Gans said the publicly available figures on infant mortality did not make it possible to demonstrate whether any deaths resulted. However he said there were 20 more infant deaths in July 2004 than normal.

The average number of babies born on a weekday is 729. On June 30, 2004, there was an extraordinarily low number of 490 babies born, but this rocketed to 978 babies on July 1, the highest number in the more than 10,000 days for which there are records.

There were 907 babies born on July 2, with above average numbers of babies over the following weeks.

There were 1089 more births in July than can be explained by normal statistical variation. Two thirds of the increase was the result of people delaying having their babies by less than a week.
On July 1 and in the following days, the number of induced and caesarian births soared by between 42 and 55 per cent. “

[bigglet]

I think there is a marked increase in births full stop! :p

When I was in labour in February the hospital was already busy and I had to wait until they found a birthing suite available!!

[wa mum of 4]

If you can hold it off go for it I say.:smiliedance:

If it was me I would.:yes:

$1000 can go a long way for a new baby.
It’s your choice you are the ones who say yey or ney.
Just my opinion
Sarah

[Seekrit]

I'm due mid-july and I have to admit, I get a bit anxious if I think Nugget's going to come early.. although with Prep Year being what it is in QLD I'd be glad if she DID come early because while I'd miss out on an extra $1000, I she'd get into school a year earlier. :rolleyes: decisions decisions.

[bronny-jane]

well im not due to september, but with dd 2 we were among the first to recieve the $3000, she was born on the 21st of july 2004.

anyhow i just want to say that i think any women who'd risk hers and her babys health for $1000 is an idiot, why would you want to be pg for longer than you have to:shame: ;)

[zenifa]

I was working in maternity at Logan Hospital in 2004 when the $3000 came in and its true there were some mothers (a small minority I admit) who were trying to delay their c/s or inductions in order to get the baby bonus. I wouldn't be surprised if this happened again this time.....but who are we to judge? For those of us with kids and those of us expecting, we know having a baby is an expensive business and its the government that has introduced these baby bonus' and the timescale for their introduction. I guess it comes down to what is best for the baby and I know most (if not all) mothers would look to that over an extra $1000.

[Bessie]

Thanks reddwarf, that was really interesting :yes:
I just hope they are too busy to poke around with me too much but not so busy I can't get a labour suite :D

[MummyCharmzy]

I was OFFERED a later date for my csect (I was offered the 3rd July) because of the baby bonus DESPITE the medical reasons they had told me they wanted me delivering earlier than then and declined for that reason. Medically they had told me many times they didnt want me going that far because of all the problems I've had, I'm not about to go against that for any amount of money.

No thanks, I'd rather my bub and I be healthy :)

[Tarnya]

To answer your question in short the only people I know who have even thought of anything less than the fact they are so happy to be pregnant or having a baby are all the teenagers who got excited about the 3000 and excess. I have over the past 3 weeks overheard 3 conversations on a bus on 3 seperate occasions that entailed 16 year old girls saying they wanted babies to get that money. I would gladly not take the money just to make a point. CHILDREN COST MONEY NOT EARN IT!

[reddwarf]

You're kidding yourself if you don't think people will put off their caesars and inductions to take advantage of the money. It happened in 2004 and it will happen again this year. The study proves it! I know for a fact that at the large maternity hospital I had my son at, they had only a couple of booked caesars for the 28/6/04, me and another lady for 29/6/04 and then when I cancelled, just her and then on the 30/6/04 there was NOBODY until they booked me in. Their lists were booked out for elective caesars and inductions for the first 2 weeks of July. You cannot say that this isn't people cashing in!!!!!!

[Bellinda]

Thank you all for your thoughts on this issue, I really appreciate you welcoming me into the hub bub community, even if only for a couple of days. Best of luck to those who are due shortly. I hope it all goes smoothly.
Cheers,
Bellinda

[DIANNEKB]

To risk your life or your babies life for a mere $1000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ridiculous and selfish if you ask me. $1000 is not a lot of money.. But hey that's just my opinion.

[WizzFizz]

Hi,
My name is Bellinda and I'm a journalist from the Sydney Morning Herald. I'm looking to interview any expectant mum's who are taking advantage of the extra baby bonus that comes into effect on July 1, by putting off an pre-planned induction or caesarian date.
If you're interested, please contact me at bkontominas@smh.com.au or on 9282 3073.

Cheers,
Bellinda Kontominas


This thread was not supposed to become a vent, and as you can all see from above, Bellinda was simply asking a question for her work.

Perhaps some of you should have read this first if before you posted your comments. Poor Bellinda!

[Oscar's mum]

Perhaps some of you should have read this first if before you posted your comments. Poor Bellinda!


I agree, some of those comments made were a bit harsh!;)

[Bubble*Crazy]

And ... to be technical, it is only an extra $834 that is received, as the current allowance is $3166 due to the indexing increase.

[Jodiee]

HI,

Sorry for bringing back an old thread, but is this the case?

when I had DD3, in March, 2003, I received $827.
Taxtime 2004, approx $100 for baby bonus
taxtime 2005, $500 baby bonus
taxtime 2006 $500 baby bonus
taxtime 2007 $500 baby bonus
taxtime 2008 $500 baby bonus
taxtie 2009 approx $400 cause she turns 5 this financial year

Total: $ 3,327.... which is more than the change over from the old baby bonus to the new baby bonus which went up on the first of July this year, so why did people hurry to have their babies, to lose money?


But, if I was to have another baby, which we are planning on getting preg at the end of this year, and not that it matters if I get $4000, $400 or $4, cause its the baby we want, not the money, but it all helps, do I receive the full maternity of $4000, as well as the baby bonus for DD4??? its confusing, I know, but are you allowed to double dip like that, for 2 seperate kids? or am I not entitled to either the tax offset baby bonnus for my 3 year old, or the maternity payment?
This has been on my mind
Cheers, Jo

[pegasus]

Hi Jodie

Short answer - No!

The fact is that the maternity payment and the baby bonus used to be separate as the baby bonus was supposed to be received over the next 5 financial years based upon the decrease in income you receive when you have your bubba (assuming you earn less in the five years following the birth). The maternity payment was supposed to be available only to people who qualified for the FTB A.

I worked out that I received more for my son born in 2004 (April) than I would have if he had been born 2 months later. However, people on welfare who's income wouldn't have significantly reduced with the birth of the baby would not have benefitted as much from the maternity payment and baby bonus being structured this way.

For that reason, the government brought in a one off payment that would not be means tested (based upon income) and hence, the $3000, then now $4000. So in answer to your question, the payments are now one payment and therefore the payments you've been receiving for your DD3 are no longer in existence. You can still claim each financial year for children born prior to June 2004 (as I do for my son), but any children born after this time only get the one off payment.

Hope this helps

[mum2four]

Well my youngest was due 29 July 2006, he was born 4.5 wks early on 29 June 2006, and guess what? I wouldn't have kept him in there any longer for $10,000 let alone $1000. Yes the extra $1000 would have been nice, but I prefered to have my baby born then and be safe than later and have all sorts of problems and be in special care or NICU longer! As it was I got to take him home at 5 days old with only 3 days under lights and 4 days in special care, if we had waited to deliver him his pead told us he would have inevtiably needed full blood transfusions.
No comparison in my eyes!

[abelka]

I don't suppose I am helping your study.

I think about how uneducated those who have their baby's births put off until july 1, especially those who live in qld and are working mothers with children in daycare. . Yes you get an extra $1000, but the new prep year coming into effect has schooling cut off dates from july 1 to june 30. So those babies born after july 1 will have to pay a whole year more in day care fees. The allure of $1000 can often cloud ones brain.

[AmandaMum2B]

Hello All,

I was under the impression that the baby bonus only increased by around $400 on 1 July. Prior to that it was around the $3600 mark as it had increased slightly over the last couple of years since it's introduction.
I am also amazed that an elective cesarean date would be changed for such a trivial amount (we are talking about raising children which costs on average upwards of $300,000), however the statistics indicate that it's an amount worth changing not only the baby's birth date, but also putting the medical staff under additional stress.
I am grateful my little one is due late October, it's my first and I'm sure I'll be demanding as much attention as possible. I'm also grateful that the bonus will be exactly that for our family, a "bonus". We will be investing the money for the little one.

Cheers,
Amanda

[jjpb]

when my kids were born in 02 and 03, i got like $900, and now every year i get $500,
i actually think this is a better way to do it,
and it will probebrly deter alot of girls just getting pregnant for the money, if they get it over the next 5 years.

[proud_mum2b]

Hi,
My name is Bellinda and I'm a journalist from the Sydney Morning Herald. I'm looking to interview any expectant mum's who are taking advantage of the extra baby bonus that comes into effect on July 1, by putting off an pre-planned induction or caesarian date.
If you're interested, please contact me at bkontominas@smh.com.au or on 9282 3073.

Cheers,
Bellinda Kontominas

in all seriousness who is going to admit that. i for one am strongly against ppl doing that it is so wrong. i mean a baby isnt something that you have get the money and run a baby is for life

[Megs85Kai06]

Hate to say it but after just having my first bub in may, that baby bonus doesn't go very far. anyone who had a baby just for the money would be in for an unwelcome shock when they realise its still going to set them back hundreds if not thousands initially. anyone deluded enough to have a bub for money wont get very far and its the poor children that need to be pitied, they dont ask to be born but the least we can do for them is want them, for their own sake, not because they come attached with a cheque...