Considering having my baby in my home country vs in UK

[appipa]

Hellooo super son-to-be and already super mommas!
Me and partner recently discovered that I'm pregnant, and now we have a ton of doubts in our heads. The main one is the fact that we live in the UK and there's a scenario where we have our baby here without any support (unfortunately our families wouldn't be able to travel). The other scenario, might be in the summer we just move back home and have the baby there but we don't know very well what would that mean in terms of rights and maternity/paternity leave with our jobs. We've already decided that no matter what, after the baby is born we will go back home in case we have him/her in the UK just because we won't have anyone around to support and see the baby grow up. In my work I know there's a way for them to change my contract somehow and let me work from my home country, but for my partner the scenario is a little bit uncertain. He just wants to make what is more comfortable for me (bless him!) but I also don't want to make him lose is job as well.
Did anyone experienced the same sort of scenario? Or at least similar?
Thanks is advance :)

Sort out your jobs and then decide?

What's the position re healthcare?

My friend moved back to Australia as soon as she found out she was pregnant. Luckily her husband could transfer to the local office in the same company. She doesn’t regret it one bit.

More information needed. Where is your home country? What is the employment situation there like? Have you actually spoken to your workplace and have an actual agreement that they will let you work remotely from another country -- this is generally difficult to do for tax reasons, apart from for fairly short intervals, and companies are reluctant.

I worked in one country, but home was the UK (not originally from there), and I had antenatal care both places, as I was flying back and forth for weekends for my pregnancy and wanted to be set up in case of going into labour in either country. We had our baby in the UK, with no family on hand. It was perfectly doable. DS had a perfectly good relationship with both our families via Skype and visits.

Will you have healthcare coverage in your home country if you go there before your baby is born? What are the implications for your maternity leave?

Im not clear whether you’re thinking of this being a temporary or permanent move. Either way, things to think about!

Do you need to consider the impact on your or partner’s visa status if you don’t have UK citizenship?

What citizenship do you want your child to have, and will that be impacted by their country of birth?

What access do you have to medical care in each country? Plus rent, etc.

If you’re thinking of working remotely from abroad, this has tax implications (here and there). Will it make a difference to your employer whether you do this temporarily vs permanently?

How good will your family support be? I see lots of posts from people who move for support which doesn’t materialise!

If it were me I'd plan to move back to your home country when the baby is a few months old. If you move before you will probably not get maternity/paternity leave. That's something to find out though as that would really change the picture if you could move and still get maternity leave - it would be a much more realistic option to move asap and get settled in your new home before the baby arrives. If you gave birth in your home country I think DH would have to forget paternity leave if you delivered in your home country as I think he can't take it until the baby is actually born. I guess he could save up holiday and use that to join you in your home country a week or two before your due date but it'd be a bit of a risk!

Fwiw I gave birth in my DH's home country and, with the first baby, I found it fine not having any family nearby (we don't live near DH's family). It's when you've got a toddler that you need someone to look after while you go to the hospital that is when it really helps having family around.

Thank you very much for all your views. I think we have some talks to have with our HR departments to understand everything very well, but potentially that's going to be the scenario - having the baby here and only move back home when the baby is a couple of months old.

I'll be able to keep my job that I know, because other people in the business moved abroad and are still working for the company that I work which is a good thing.

It's reassuring to know that it's doable without any support, I guess I'm just anxious and nervous about the birth and all of the logistics and everything not having anyone around but I'll get there x

Thank you all once again 😊