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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Relocating to give birth

42 replies

ClaireDaBear1001 · 17/10/2019 15:58

I'm pregnant and my partner wants us to go to Northern Ireland for the birth. He tells me that the baby will be able to get an Irish passport off the back of being born in Northern Ireland.

Not sure that I'm up for it. Has anyone done this, know anything about this, or even got any experience of relocating to give birth?

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BendingSpoons · 17/10/2019 16:12

Sounds crazy. I don't know the rules, but can you really get a passport based on that?! And even if you can now, who is to say it won't change with Brexit. An EU passport won't be useful until your child is old enough to travel alone and things may be very different then.

You would be away from home for ages. You can't fly too late on and the ferry probably has similar rules. Once you got there, you might have difficulty accessing antenatal care and you wouldn't be known to that hospital. You also would have to wait a while after the baby is born. It sounds far too stressful at an already stressful time. Would your partner come too or would he have to stay to work? Personally I wouldn't consider it.

Gazelda · 17/10/2019 16:20

I think the most important considerations when pregnant are

Good ante natal and post natal care
Good support network
Stable home life, including income (whether that be salary, benefits or whatever)

I'm not sure if a relocation to NI while pregnant would offer any of those 3.

Original poster

ClaireDaBear1001 · 17/10/2019 16:57

Thanks for replying @BendingSpoons, and Gazelda too. My partner thinks that he's got most of it figured out. He'd come and work remotely. We'd leave a couple of weeks before the due date (i'd start maternity slightly early). We'd spend about six weeks away. Ferries allow the pregnant apparently. NI has the NHS (obvs), so there must be a way of getting stuff transferred. But... having my first child in Belfast without my people around is definitely not I imagined it. And the lack of continuity between hospitals etc bothers me too. Tbh the whole thing sounds terrible.

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Original poster

ClaireDaBear1001 · 17/10/2019 17:02

@BendingSpoons and he got an Irish lawyer to confirm that side of things (if it sounds like he's being a psycho about it, he is)

OP posts:

BendingSpoons · 17/10/2019 17:05

I think this is a scenario where you have to put your foot down and say I am pregnant and more vulnerable and I'm not doing it. I see his logic but he doesn't have to give birth. I wouldn't fancy the ferry (and long car drive depending on where you live) let alone being away from home, family etc. It could put your mental health at more risk. Also if you plan to have other children, would you do this again? That would be even more complicated if you had another small child with you.

BendingSpoons · 17/10/2019 17:08

Cross post with your last message. To be honest, if he/you have the ability and resource to consider this sort of plan, your child will probably have plenty of opportunities in life regardless of Brexit.

If he is really pressuring you, do you have someone who can support you in real life? Family member/friend or midwife?

GrumpyHoonMain · 17/10/2019 17:15

It’s very possible that the benefits of NI passports in Europe will, post Brexit, be tied to NI residency. You could go to all this expense and because you don’t live in NI your child will only be eligible for a British passport.

Erismorn · 17/10/2019 17:21

Has he found out how long it would take to get a passport sorted for the baby? I'm fairly sure that the baby would need ID to travel back to England, so would need Irish citizenship plus passport or British passport in order for you all to come home.

Original poster

ClaireDaBear1001 · 17/10/2019 17:22

@BendingSpoons Thanks for asking. He's being bad and it's becoming a big thing and stressful, but I do have people.

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kenandbarbie · 17/10/2019 17:32

I think that sounds crazy! What if there are complications, baby comes early or baby goes in special care? Traveling back even on a ferry with a newborn would be really hard, most new mums find it hard to go out and want to stay at home for a while and establish breastfeeding. You need familiarity and your own support network.

DPotter · 17/10/2019 17:34

Have been thinking of applying for Irish citizenship myself.

Please check the citizenship criteria as from my reading of it, your baby would not qualify even if born in Ireland itself, let alone Northern Ireland, because of lack of residency. 6 weeks in Belfast wont do the trick there

Have a look at the link, especially the FAQ about the Chinese family -www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/irish_citizenship/who_can_become_an_irish_citizen.html. Quote from this page -

You are not automatically an Irish citizen if you were born on the island of Ireland.

I would check with the Irish Embassy, rather than relying on an irish solicitor.
Even if it were possible - its a daft idea, taking you away from your family & social network.

I think maybe you have a bigger concern about your partner then his wish for an Irish passport for your child.

helpmum2003 · 17/10/2019 17:38

How bizarre. I think it is totally inappropriate full stop. In every way. I'm stunned he would consider it.

Gazelda · 17/10/2019 17:49

I'm sensing that you're firmly against this idea, aren't you OP?
Is he listening to your opinion?

Erismorn · 17/10/2019 17:50

Everything everyone else has said too. I'm 39 weeks with DD2 and wouldn't consider this for a second. Too much uncertainty, being away from support network and my home plus childbirth doesn't run to schedule....

It doesn't sound like he is considering you at all in his grand scheme and, quite frankly, that should really be his only consideration right now. Not whether your child will want EEA citizen rights in several years.

MrsMaiselsMuff · 17/10/2019 17:53

Are either of you Irish citizens? If not the child will not qualify simply by virtue of being born there.

Caselgarcia · 17/10/2019 17:55

I found the time around the birth of my children really stressful, the thought of doing what your partner is suggesting sounds madness to me.

FriedasCarLoad · 17/10/2019 17:58

Tell him you’re totally up for the plan when it’s his turn to give birth?

Original poster

ClaireDaBear1001 · 17/10/2019 18:06

Thanks all for the supportive comments. It's clear where you all stand!

I'm pretty sure that my partner's got it right on the law. As for the baby needing a passport, in my partner's plan we'd never leave the UK.

OP posts:

LH1987 · 17/10/2019 18:07

While I do see the value of having an EU passport post Brexit, at this point no one know what the future situation with Northern Ireland would be so being born in NI may have no benefit at all.

Also, not having an EU passport will not mean you can't access EU countries in the future or work there. Similarly, we could all get visa's to go to America, Japan, China etc. Brexit doesn't mean the child will be completely stuck in the UK forever...

Finally, I have taken the ferry crossing from UK to Ireland many times (I am Irish), it can be rough. Trust me! I cannot imagine doing this while heavily pregnant or with a newborn child.

Muthaafuckaa · 17/10/2019 18:18

Unless you or your partner are an Irish citizen already, I don't think 6 weeks is anywhere near enough to pass residency criteria? In any case if you are an Irish citizen the baby would be entitled with no need to move. Citizenship for someone who's parents aren't nationals is only eligible if a parent has lived in the island of Ireland for 3 out of 4 years prior to birth according to the INIS website

Your partner should be more focused on you getting the best care and having a support system around you during what is a very emotional and changing time in your life

OccasionalNachos · 17/10/2019 18:21

If neither of you have any connections, family or history in Ireland or Northern Ireland then there is really no point.

tunnocksreturns2019 · 17/10/2019 18:24

Is he SURE he has this right?

www.irishpost.com/news/outrage-uk-court-rules-people-born-northern-ireland-british-not-irish-172516

tunnocksreturns2019 · 17/10/2019 18:26

Madness regardless IMO. Stay home.

zsazsajuju · 17/10/2019 18:27

I moved countries at 36 weeks with my first a lot further than that. I think you could give it a go if you get health care sorted

thecherryontop · 17/10/2019 18:30

I've done that ferry journey countless times, whilst pregnant and with a newborn. It's horrific. If you can travel to Scotland and get the boat from there to Belfast it's better as the journey is shorter... it's still rough though. I thought you had to have an Irish parent to claim the Irish or British passport from N.I.

Quality of life is def better in N.I. Depending on your job work can be hard to find. If my job was available easily I would move in a heartbeat but I am originally from there.

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