Pregnant and a long way from home

[Sarice]

Hi,

Im am currently living in South America with my DH. We were shipped out here in january with his job and will here for at least another 18 months!

I have just discovered that I am pregnant, great news and we are both very happy. However, I am a little nervous about the difference in healthcare here to "back home"

I have a wonderful doctor who is very understanding and we can manage out conversations in "spanglish" and the hospitals are wonderful. My main concern is I feel I will be missing out on things like, NCT classes and Midwife support (amongst others). They do have ante natal classes here and my spanish is ok but I dont believe I would be able to follow anything that in depth. Also I dont believe there is any after care here, they certainly dont have midwives. You have the baby and then you are sent home and that (as they say) is that!

THis is my first and I obviously have all the normal worries of a first time mum. I cant help feeling that I would feel diferently if I was back home.

Is there anyone else out there who has given birth to their little ones so far from home? Any advice would be greately received

Sarice

Did this with DD, she was born in Oman. I was lucky in as far as meeting some other english speaking women at an ante natal group, otherwise I would have really been on my own.
I think you are in a fortunate situation being able to understand and communicate in Spanish. I had very little chance of going beyond social pleasantries in Arabic.
If you put out a specific shout for someone in your country, you may be pleasantly surprised.

No practical advice but I sympathise as I'm in a roughly similar situation! Luckily I've found a lovely ob/gyn who is very supportive and like you I can get by well enough (although my medical vocab is expanding rapidly!).

Which country are you in? One of my best friends is in Peru and is a spanish speaker. She'd be a good person to know, if you are in Peru that is.

Sarice Congratulations!

I found lots of help from mn but found it much easier to meet other Mums once I was pregnant IYSWIM and as here is similar in terms of lack of post-natal support we formed our own group.

Where are you? There is a mnetter on my post-natal thread who is in Argentina if that is any help.

sarice

16 months ago i was in the very same situation as you. Found out i was pregnant while living in dubai. The small group of friends we had where far from ready to be parents themselves so we felt a little left out. We managed to get through 8 months by being as normal as possible ie going out etc etc. During the last few months i attended ante natal and in pure desperation asked everyone for contact details in case anyone was free for coffee.

After giving birth i called one of the ladies and we have been firm friends ever since, between us we go on the expat web sites and find things we can do with the little ones. It's easier if you have a friend to do things with.

We have swimming lessons once a week, mums and bumps group and a keep fit class once a week. I have met so many people in the last few weeks i cant keep up!

Is there an expat website with details of local things to do? If not you might have to be brave and gate crash a mums to be class.

As for the lack of care after birth, we were the same.....mn helped loads as did getting to know the local british midwife who let me see her as often as needed.

Good luck and congratulations

Hi

Thanks for your replies ladies, most appreciated.

I am in Colombia and not even in the capital city. I live in a relatively small city with a very small community of ex pats. Mainly american guys of a certain age here for the women and the mining! Im sure there must be someone out there!

I will put a specific shout out on here, you never know your luck do you!

However it is good to know im not completely alone in all this and there are other going through/have been through the same things.

Good to meet you all and thanks again

Sar x

See if there is an American medical center. This is what my DH employer has us use if posted outside of western world. The girls in the Far East, Argentina, Brazil and Russia have confirmed they are quite good.

You should also speak to the British Embassy. They might know of a good doctor who can help. If they don't go to the Canadian and American embassies.