Hi Cherina,
I will let you know next weekend! I have my first appointment with them on June 19th.
When I called and the receptionist told me I they wouldn't see me until 9 weeks, I couldn't stand the wait--so I went to a private doctor at 6 weeks.
As for symptoms, I get nauseous at times, but the hardest thing is sheer exhaustion. I am definitely looking forward to summer break!
I went back to the doctor this Wednesday because I had a week of brown spotting and pain. Got to see the heartbeat again. Pain is probably a combination of the ligaments stretching and ovarian cysts. Spotting is as of yet a mystery.
I don't really mind paying for the visits--it is HK$ 1000 for the consultation and the scan together. Worth it for peace of mind!
You do have a rather annoying situation there...your insurance doesn't start until December, but you are due at the end of January right?
Did you inquire about how your insurance handles "preexisting condition"? (How awful does that sound?) But some insurance companies will not cover you because you were pregnant before you went on the plan. In that case you definitely need the public system unless you want to pay for the private doctor and the private hospital.
I can't imagine that it would cost a lot if you had to use the public system for an emergency delivery...you have your HKID, so that should act as your coverage. And if you were to deliver in one of the private hospitals and something went wrong, they would most likely send you to a public hospital anyway. If you register--it might just make things easier if it did come to that.
Just a guess, though.
Hope you are able to keep morning sickness at bay : )