Pregnant expats - Prexpats if you will....

[Burmama]

So it appears there may be quite a few of us on here...? Going home for birth v. staying in situ? Baby vaccines? Long haul in third trimester? Let's talk about being an expecting expat!

That's very true about not much happening at this stage Rainbow - I still kind of feel like it's not real at the moment and won't be at least until I've passed 12 weeks/seen baby on a scan. But time seems to be going soooo slowly atm! How far along are you? Btw, despite the dodgy bread (!) I think living in China sounds fascinating - I would've loved to have moved there if the US opportunity hadn't arisen first.

I just can't wait to have a little one of my own - I was NEVER broody until my sister had her little girl and I just adore her so much, she totally changed me!! Also my DH just lights up with kids and it will be so lovely to see how happy it makes him. Despite all the tough stuff (and I know there is a lot of that) I hope it will also be really fun! Definitely at a stage in life where I'm ready for career etc to take a back seat - family feels like the most important thing for now :-)

Ahh that's lovely, I think seeing our DH's fall in love with the new baby will be incredible too.

Yeah, the first scan is a turning point as you can visualise the little thing. I kept looking at my scan pic all the time.

I am now 22 weeks, and people have kept saying 'time will fly by' or '9 months is such a short time' but I find they mean that it's short from the other side, not from this side when you're looking forward to everything! I think the busier you are the quicker it passes, so for me weeks 15-20 were the quickest. I've got 12 weeks until I go back home and since I'm looking forward so much I'm certain it will drag!

China is such an adventure, so so different, but for birth I need my home! And my food

Ooh can I join in too? I'm in Belgium so not too far from home, expecting #2 in June - DD born in the UK is now 3.

I've found a lovely UK-trained gynae, which is 'normal care' here. Massive epidural rate and lengthy hospital stays seem to be the norm, and again - no G&A. Weird. I can't imagine having to go to another country for my AN checkups, I have an hour's journey across the city and I moan enough about that - still in the throes of morning afternoon and night sickness :)

Hi Oeuf you certainly can join! In fact we need all the prexpats over here to make this thread a little more lively!

Hope early pregnancy is going well for you.

What new with everyone? I can't help counting down the 11 weeks to go until my return to the UK, but have made a list of things I can do to fill my time. I find the weeks do pass quite quickly, even though I'm only working 4 evenings per week. Nothing really to look forward to before coming back - maybe we should book a weekend away...

Took some more mirror shots today and despite my eyes deceiving me that I haven't got any bigger, the photos don't lie, it's quite amazing! I feel pretty fat and it's getting hard to bend down to get shoes on (22 wks).

Sooooo pleased to find this thread! I am 9+1 and in Panama! We have an 80% section rate here and whilst i have found a lovely (the only) doctor here who does water birth i think i will probably head home to the UK for delivery. It is a tough decision, but i used to be a midwife and i just feel more comfy delivering surrounded by what i know and a language i can speak well. I understand spanish but when in pain etc if i was in an emergency situation with lots of staff talking if i couldn't understand everything it would be hard. The other thing that bugs me is blood donation, whilst medical facilities are good, often they don't have enough here and you have to ring friends to donate! You don't have time for that if you are unlucky enough to haemorrhage.

Fortunately i have marmite here, as i just happened to buy some when i was home this summer ... Don't be jealous i can't eat it as i have horrible all day morning sickness!!

Oh, this thread has gotten very quiet anyone around?

Burmama and lullaby, are you both back in the UK now? Any babies or still waiting it out?

Welcome jmojo you're heading home too? how are you getting on so far?

Hey girls

Can I join you? I'm an expat living in Shanghai and am expecting my first child on the 21st June 2015. We've decided to have the baby here which is a little daunting but luckily I've got friends who have had babies here with no problems.

Have to agree with Dontbeblue about Chinese bread, it's pretty awful although I do have marmite as I remembered to buy some when I was last home!

ooh can I join too? I'm in Holland, so not too far away, but having the baby here, and it's a whole new world to me. I'm expecting #1 in May. It still feels like a very long way away, although I feel huge already

Hi Shanghai another prexpat in China! I think you're very brave going ahead here in China, I really look forward to hearing how you get on - what antenatal care have you had so far?

Hi Mslad, I recognise your name from somewhere, but I'm not sure where...

Congrats to both of you

Hey everyone, I'm from the UK but living in Shanghai. Due twin girls 29th March. Having them here unless my Ob gyn tells me I need to go home.

I'm feeling huge now, someone actually said 'how many days left' ha ha.
Where in China are you Dontbeblue?
Shanghaidoll where a bouts are you? I'm in Puxi.
Has anyone packed a bag yet??? Need to start mine at some point
: )

Hi Babypod congratulations on your twins!

I'm down in Guilin, it's a bit rural. I'm a big fan of Shanghai, what do you think of it? How's your antenatal care so far? Is it private?

I won't be making any preparation until i return at 34 week, so baby had better not come early!

Hi all,

Was in the UK for Christmas but back in Singers now. I'm finishing my job very early next week at 28 weeks in fact so looking forward to (hopefully) 12 weeks of freedom before baby!

To the ladies in China how do you feel about the confinement tradition, will this be forced on you?? Whilst I am respectful of other cultures I am trying to make sure I don't get stuck with the confinement menu in the hospital, I know this is a small thing but bugging me for some reason! fatty fish soup and papaya doesn't really do it for me....

Re confinement month, I'm a bit of a sceptic but try to be open-minded and listen to advice to consider whether there might be any scientific connection. Going back to the UK to have the LO means i won't be cared for by MIL so will only have my DH's limited knowledge of traditions to contend with (and only for 2 weeks ), but i think I've dodged a major bullet there, especially as i don't eat meat/eggs/dairy/etc!

Surely if your paying there must be a choice of food?

I hope you had an excellent Christmas Lullaby, i can't wait to get back!

Hello, I'm in the Gulf region. Due February 11/12th but suspect may be induced a bit early due to blood sugar/blood pressure issues. Having the baby here which is interesting as they are jumpy about how big he/she is, I can almost feel them circling with induction drugs when I go to checkups!

DontBeBlueBeARainbow Guilin, i've visited, so pretty. We all love Shanghai, just wish the air wasn't getting worse : (
I'll be giving birth at Shanghai United Family hospital, so far the care has been great. Very different to the UK. I haven't seen a midwife yet, just a lovely OB/GYN. I get scanned every time I go for a check up, not sure if this is a twin things or China thing.

lullaby23 I will be avoiding the confinement hopefully, it really doesn't sound like me but I have a feeling my Ayi may try her best. She already tries to feed me as much as possible and i can't even put a foot on a step without her running over shouting 'careful'.
Giantbabymama exciting that you may not have to wait long. How big is your little one?

Hello. The last time I checked a couple of weeks ago, he/she was 2.9kg which I don't think is that big but I think the docs are used to seeing Indians, Filipinas and locals who tend to be smaller - smaller than me at any rate, I am 5ft 8 and all my male relatives are way over 6ft. I do feel like a giant when I am out and about, on public transport for example.

Do docs in China think your babies are big?

After the 26 week 3D anomaly scan they said the baby was big and put it down to me being a foreigner and DH being very tall for a Chinese guy, but when i compared to charts online the measurements were bang on, so i guess they are using different charts. When calling out my weight to the nurse i feel a bit ashamed... third trimester Chinese women seem to be around 60kg, there i am at 76kg! Ha!

Babypod i think it's probably both, I've had to resist a lot of scans, had 3 in total now and only want another if really necessary, in fact I've had to resist quite a lot of testing but i think that's because it's a public hospital so they want to charge more, plus overcautious, etc...

Giantbabymama at least they're keeping a close eye on you!

Oh gosh i'm 74kg already and ive got until 30th March until due date, eeeeek. Not been told my two re big yet, just that they are the right size for singletons. I think thats normal for twins up until 28/29 weeks then they slow down due to lack of space.

Yes i do get the impression that they help you get the most out of your insurance here.

I am finding people love telling me their labour stories....usually in great detail ha ha. Also lots of people are rubbing my tummy. Anyone else had that?

Hi prexpats Does anyone who is not travelling home to have their baby have any advice on visiting family members? My DM wants to be here for the birth (not in the labour ward, but here in the same city) which I don't mind but I would prefer her to be here when my dp goes back to work so I have some company/help in the day. He has two weeks off work. We have already agreed that she will stay in a lovely airbnb very near me (dad and sister will visit too), which we're all happy about, but essentially she is offering to come over for a month or longer, which I think will be too much, and dp is a bit at the thought (event though they do get on very well). My question is, would it be rude to say 'don't come over till two weeks after the birth' (I think she would be quite disappointed) and will I miss her around the birth- will I be desperate to see my family or too tired to bother?

I'm sorry if this is a bit rambling, I'm just trying to figure it out and would be interested if you had any experience or thoughts on it?

Hi Mslad, I think it is perfectly okay to say you would like her to visit after two weeks. It might be tricky to arrange unless you know exactly when the baby will be born?
I have my mother coming for a month a couple of weeks before my due date. DH will also have 2 weeks off work but I'm guessing time wise and the babies being twins it could all happen before she arrives anyway.

dontbeblue I totally forgot I had written on this thread already. Thanks for the invite though!

Hello everyone. I have written above a bit about me. But 16 wks now, no longer puking every day (thank God) 38 yrs old living in Panama Central America. Going home at 35 wks for delivery (I think).

I have to say it is really cool to see that the roles are reversed in the far east. I used to be a mw, and we spent all our time looking at scans in the UK from oriental/indian women saying mmmmm must be small because of the genetics! Having said that some Chinese women are very big and have huge babies.

This time in a week I'll be on my 12 hour flight back home compression socks, earplugs and eyemask at the ready, I'm so excited!

What are the chances I can get an upgrade/bulkhead seat?