Anyone else far from home?

[helloworld19]

I'm due in April and it kind of hit me today how we'll have no support at all as my husband and I are both new to the UK and don't have any friends and family around, I'd love to hear how others in this situation have coped with it.

We live in New Zealand and although we do have friends now, we have no family here at all. I can't say how I have coped as I am only 12 weeks, but it is something that I think about too. No automatically babysitters or people to help out. I am sure our friends will a little, but it'd not the same as family!

I am hoping to join some kind of mothers group maybe to meet others going through similar things for support. But other than that I don't have many plans in place!

Hi helloworld! I moved to the UK and we got pregnant within 6 months. My DH is from here, but we live on the other side of the country from his family. I was nervous about the whole experience of babies without the family support. At times it has been amazing and then there are the days I'm super jealous when I see my sister with pics of her kids at my mom & dad's place! Overall though it has been fine. There are a lot of baby groups around so it is good to meet up with others. It won't take long and you'll be friends with those around which will make it so much better!

Am british and live in denmark. We get assigned to a static mother group by the health visitor, so we dont have the option of drop in groups like in the uk. I think people value friendship more in the uk and are more open to making friends. Plus there are so many more activities to go to in the uk. music, tumbling, baby massage... so getting out and about shouldnt be too hard. Also you can get most stuff delivered, and shops are open later. Perhaps use your ml to research groups and activities and go to a mn local meetup. Also what about joining nct?

Rainbow555 there seems to be a very established little community of MNers on the Living Overseas board.

Oh thank you, I will try and find it!

Hi,

I had my wee one last year in Australia with all our family back in the UK. You manage because you have to, and it's really okay.

Get out lots - seeing other people does the world of good. Join pregnant fitness classes to meet other girls, and go to stuff once the baby is born.

When you do see family it's extra special which is really lovely.

Good luck

I've just had my 4th dc (currently in hospital with her enjoying snuggles ) and I'm in NZ with no family here at all. Had my 3rd dc here too, 2 years ago. We have some good friends here, one of them for example had all 3 of my dc for day when I was in hospital, and I've got people I can call on if I need childcare in an emergency, so I'd say having a good friend network is invaluable, especially for your own sanity!

We have had to mainly give up evenings out together and lots of my friends here have grandparents who are very active with their grandkids which can be hard to see, but for us our family were barely involved in the UK anyway, so isn't too different for us anyway.

rainbow whereabouts in NZ are you in? if its the north island then the group on living overseas would be great for you to meet mums as think most of them are in Auckland. I'm on south island Plunket (equivalent of health visitors in UK) are great as they organise playgroups and coffee mornings for new mums.

blink yes! the north island but not as far north as Auckland! I found a thread about where to live in NZ - is that the one you mean?

Yes, will try to get to coffee mornings etc and we do have some friends that are a bit older with kids so they have the experience to help! All are family are pretty close and get together often, so it is hard but we skype lots and I am sure we will be ok. It's been seven years now, will just be interesting for them with a grandchild on the other of the world!

here

I lurk on the thread cos we are contemplating a move to NZ