Hi
We are not yet TTC (almost) but I'm a huge planner - I know, a habit I will need to get rid off - and like to be maximum prepared, or at least have a good idea of all possible options. If we were to have a kid, my partner would take a sabbatical and I would take 12 months of maternity leave. He's Italian, I'm Belgian, and we are living in London.
The plan is to spend the 12 months between Belgium and Italy, but I can't get my head around where to give birth. I've read on this forum that everyone advises to move abroad before actually giving birth, but there seem to be so many disadvantages to this, that I am wondering how complicated it would be to move away after the birth?
Main disadvantages - in my opinion - are: both of us quitting the job already in month 7 or 8 of the pregnancy (less time afterwards when the kid is there), the language barrier when giving birth (I speak Italian but it's not my mother tongue), & not having the same midwife.
Another thing I struggle with: We will also be moving around quite a lot with the kid, between the north and south of Italy (family in the north, our own place in the south) and my family in Belgium, maybe even back in London for a bit. How feasible is this? We will have loads of stuff of the baby to carry/travel with us? But most of all: how will this impact the baby (sleep etc)?
It sounded like such a nice plan in the beginning, to have the kid and fully enjoy it for 12 months and spend time in our holiday house and with family, but the more I think about it, the more stressful it seems and of course I am worried for the health of the baby.
Anyone has done something similar? Or moved after giving birth?
We will need our flat to be emptied so we can let it out of course, and then drive up to Italy or wherever we will spend the first months...
All tips and advice is much appreciated!