Tag Archives: having a baby abroad

Having a Baby Abroad – Global Differences Series: SCOTLAND

having baby scotland This week I talk the Melaina AKA the “Transatlantic Blonde” who is American and had her son in Scotland as part of the series The Global Differences of Baby-Making. Here is her story:

Tell me a bit about yourself? Where are you from? How old is your son and where did you have him?
I’m a 31 year old American, originally from Ohio, who’s lived in Scotland for 7 years now. I work from home as a Social Media Consultant and am first time mom to Blondie Boy who is 20 months. BB was born here in Glasgow in January of 2010.

Why did you have your son abroad? What do you feel were the benefits to having children abroad?
I had BB here because we lived here but before I got pregnant we definitely talked about having children in Scotland rather than the US. The biggest benefit was that I didn’t pay a single cent towards my pregnancy, birth or ante-natal care. All my prescriptions and dental care were also free while I was pregnant and up until BB’s first birthday. I have so many friends with huge medical bills (with insurance) in the USA and I can’t imagine what all it would have cost for us stateside.

As an expectant mother abroad how did you feel?
Part of it was hard because my friends and family didn’t get to see me pregnant and I didn’t get to do all the normal things you do back home. No showers and certainly no multiple scans. I blogged weekly about my pregnancy which hopefully helped my family feel like they weren’t so far away.

Did you encounter any opinions that would have been different in your home country with regards to your pregnancy or parenting choices?
I feel like I was really bullied about breastfeeding here. Personally I think it is every woman’s choice to make, once she knows all the facts and information, what is best for her and her family. I was persistently asked again and again and even when I quoted back the positive statistics regarding breastfeeding and that I understood them but it wasn’t right for me they didn’t stop. In the hospital when I didn’t know how to make a bottle or feed my son I got massive eye rolls from the midwife– how was I supposed to know though?

What advice would you give other mothers in your situation?

I think you have to think about your pregnancy in relation to other women around you and not those back home. I could easily get jealous of all the extra scans and free formula women get in the US but it wouldn’t make things any better or worse for me to be that way. Universal health care is amazing; I had an emergency section, Blondie Boy required paediatric care and I had a three day hospital stay all of which cost me nothing. I think it’s also really important to keep in touch with your family and make them a part of it as much as possible whether that is blogging or sending bump photos.

Learn more about Melaina by following her on Twitter and checking out her blog

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Want to share your story? Get in touch: ameena@mummyinprovence.com

Having a Baby Abroad – Global Differences Series: BRAZIL

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having a baby abroad in brazil This week I talk to Rachel as part of the series The Global Differences of Baby-Making. She had both her sons in Brazil. Here is her story:

Tell me a bit about yourself? Where are you from? How old are your children and where did you have them?
My name is Rachel and I am from the San Diego, California, USA. I have two boys, 4 1/2 and 2 1/2. Both boys were born here in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Why did you have your children abroad?
My husband and I moved to Rio de Janeiro shortly after finding out I was pregnant with our firstborn. We had been living kind of like nomads and didn’t have healthcare in either country. Thankfully he got an great job offer out of the blue in Rio and Brazil has free public medicine. It was an offer we couldn’t refuse.

What do you feel were the benefits to having children abroad?
My children are truly bilingual. My 4 yr old can switch from one language to the other or translate from one to the other without hardly any effort or thought. That is one of the best gifts I could give my kids.

As an expectant mother abroad how did you feel?
I felt lost and confused. I missed my family during the entire process. Moving while expecting is especially difficult, even if you have been to the country/city you moved to. Not only did I miss the people closest to me, I had to struggle through prenatal care in a second language that I had yet to master. On the plus side, I spoke very well after those last 7 months!

Did you encounter any opinions that would have been different in your home country with regards to your pregnancy or parenting choices?
In Brazil there it is culturally acceptable to breastfeed anywhere and everywhere. That was a lovely part of having my boys here. When I went home for a visit when my oldest was 6 months old, I was shocked by the looks I received while breastfeeding in a corner covered up. That would never happen in Brazil.

What advice would you give other mothers in your situation?
Keep your chin up! You are in a situation where you have the opportunity to grow and experience new things. Although those lessons aren’t always at the most ideal time, it will make you a more flexible person. I find that flexibility is an excellent quality to have as a Mother, wife, and friend. Thankfully we have things like skype, facebook, and email to keep us in touch with our loved ones who are far away. And when you are having one of those low days where you just hate where you are at, don’t be hard on yourself. We all have those days and they pass!

Check out Rachel’s blog: Rachel’s Rantings in Rio
Follow her on Twitter and like her on Facebook

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Want to share your story? Get in touch

Having a Baby Abroad – Global Differences Series: DUBAI, UAE

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Sahar with her husband and newborn baby girl

Next up in the series of The Global Differences of Baby-Making we go to Dubai to where Sahar had her baby girl just under a year ago.

Here is her story:

Tell me a bit about yourself? Where are you from? How old is your daughter and where did you have her?

My name is Sahar Wahbeh and I am the founder of DUMYÉ and I’m living in the United Arab Emirates. I was born and raised in Northern Virginia, studied communication arts in Georgia and started my career in NYC. After meeting a tall, dark and handsome man (my husband) I moved to his country of residence, Dubai. I have been here since 2006. We now have a little girl who is 10 months old.

Why did you have your daughter abroad?

Simply answered it was more practical to have the baby in Dubai. The alternative meant I would have to fly back to the US a couple months before the birth and return a month or so after. My husband would only be able to fly in for a short period around the birth. The idea of being a part at such a physically and emotionally exhausting time was just too much to bear.

Ironically I had prenatal insurance in the US but not in Dubai. So the decision to have the baby in Dubai also meant we would have to foot the bill. But it seemed worth it at the time (and it was). Being comfortable and relaxed, especially with your caregiver during delivery was important to me.

To be honest, at first, I was horrified at the idea of having our baby overseas. My experience with the health care in Dubai had been less than stellar. I did a lot of research to find a doctor in Dubai that I could trust and allow me the kind of natural birth I desired. Everything ended up working out wonderfully.

What do you feel were the benefits to having children abroad?

In retrospect I think that if I had demanded the same ‘hands off approach’ of my doctor in America I would have been met with more resistance. America’s health care, for all its advantages, is driven by insurance companies. Protocol is difficult to overturn. For instance I refused to be prepped with an IV upon arriving at the hospital. I refused an episiotomy. I refused to have a shot to aid the delivery of the placenta. Oh and the list goes on.

I must say that I have never had a baby in the US, but based on the stories I have heard from other mothers I think I was actually lucky to have experienced giving birth overseas. I was able to hold and nurse my baby for the first hour immediately following the birth. She came out and went straight into my arms. I delivered in a private hospital, which guaranteed me a private room. There was even a full-size couch bed for my husband to sleep on in the room. The day after my delivery a physical therapist came by my room to give me exercise that would help my body properly recover. As far as I know the above is not routine in America.

I also think that the unknown of Dubai forced me to really do my homework. I don’t think I would have been as diligent in my learning’s of pregnancy and delivery had I been in the US. I would have been less likely to question the information provided to me by my doctor.

As an expectant mother abroad how did you feel?

I felt the way I think all mothers feel, no matter what country your in. I was excited, determined and anxious.

Did you encounter any opinions that would have been different in your home country with regards to your pregnancy or parenting choices?

Honestly I don’t know… I do find that people (abroad and back home) tend to be surprised at times by my choices. I had a completely natural, un-medicated delivery, by choice. My daughter was in cloth nappies for the first few months. I exclusively breast fed up until my daughter was 6 months. People seem to be overwhelmingly in support of breastfeeding but are always surprised I have been ‘able’ to do it as long as I have. I am still breastfeeding her while following the baby led weaning approach to solids. She is also on an alternative vaccine schedule.

The only thing I can say is, the norm in Dubai is to have a full time, live-in nanny. This was something my husband and I agreed was not for us. People thought and still do think we are insane.

What advice would you give other mothers in your situation?

Do your homework and believe in your body. Expatwoman.com was a wonderful resource.

About Sahar

Sahar is the founder of DUMYÉ – this gorgeous brand handcrafts limited edition, eco-friendly rag dolls that you can personalize. For every doll you purchase, we gift a doll to one of the millions of orphaned children around the world. Find out more at DUMYÉ.com! Find them on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.