An interview with an expat mom Having a baby is one of the biggest and most rewarding decisions anyone can make. But delivering in a foreign country can also be daunting. Many expat moms-to-be wonder, “Should I go back to my home country or should I deliver here?” We caught up with Brittany, an expat mom in Shanghai, to hear about her experience choosing a hospital as a first-time mom in China. She delivered her baby boy, Travis, at Jiahui International Hospital last month. This was your first pregnancy. Did you have any concerns about delivering in China? My prenatal care was done at a public hospital and then I switched to an international hospital for the delivery. I made the switch because communication is so important. At the public hospital it became quite stressful because my doctor didn’t speak English and the nurses needed to translate everything. There were…
Ruth is 20 weeks pregnant and discusses the feelings surrounding being pregnant after miscarriage. (Youtube video)
Jacquelyn introduces to the world her 5th daughter. This was her 4th child born in China and she explains what the experience was like. (Youtube video)
Expats living in China may be in for a rude awakening — or not much sleep at all — upon realizing that in China, beds tend to be hard. In China, many people prefer to sleep on hard beds. But expats may consider Chinese beds to feel similar to sleeping on the floor. Although a firm mattress may be a good choice for some sleepers, medium firm is typically a safer choice for the average person. When you sleep on a mattress that’s too hard, it’s difficult to feel well supported and get a good night of sleep. Although more firm mattresses are believed to be better for a bad back, that’s not always the case. The fact is, you need a mattress that can conform to your body to offer the best support, and if your mattress is too hard to do that, you’ll wake up achy and uncomfortable.…
Five weeks after her miscarriage, Ruth has more reminders of the fact that she’s not pregnant any more and it’s a hard reality to face. (Youtube video)
Ruth goes on a mission to find some new clothes in China. It’s not as easy as she thought it would be. (Youtube video)
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Jacquelyn is sitting in style at the hospital as she’s hooked up to a fetal monitor. (Youtube video)
The entire city of Tianjin joins Jacquelyn at IKEA over the October holiday. (Youtube video)
Ruth is outside getting some exercise with some friends. Exercise is excellent for the mind and body. If you’re pregnant, be sure to check with your doctor to see which exercises you should do. (Youtube video)
Ruth talks about appreciating the relationships that she has – especially with her husband – in the aftermath of having a miscarriage. (Youtube video)
Ruth stumbles upon mementos that suddenly propel her back to the pain of having a miscarriage. (YouTube video)
Ruth talks about what it was like to see the fetus after she miscarried. (Youtube video)
This post originally appeared on wwambam.com and is reposted with permission by the author, Felicity Miller. Going into premature labour is a very stressful situation to find yourself in. However, there are ways to increase your chance of having a positive experience. Do your homework early. I can’t emphasis this point enough. Find out the resuscitation cutoff dates in the different local hospitals. They may be different. The hospital I was in (2011) was over 28 weeks and over 1,000g. My baby was born on the morning of 28 weeks and weighed 1,000g exactly! If you go into premature labour at 25 weeks, you do not want to turn up at a hospital that will count the birth as a miscarriage. This first decision is important. If a lady has a placenta abruption while alone in the middle of Shanghai she needs to know where she wants to go. Read…
As Ruth continues her grieving process since the miscarriage, she describes 3 things that she hates. (Youtube video)
It’s important to take time for yourself after a traumatic event. Grief cuts out the margins to be able to handle the daily bumps. (Youtube video)
In this video Jacquelyn discusses her experiences with doctors’ advice in China regarding sexual intercourse. *This post should not be considered medical advice. Always get medical advice from a trusted doctor. Here are some benefits sexual intercourse during a healthy pregnancy: Intimacy between you and your partner Hormone in semen that can cause “practice” contractions Strengthens the pelvic floor Releases oxytocin “the happy hormone” You should absolutely avoid sexual intercourse if: You have placenta previa Your water has broken Carrying multiples You are at risk for preterm labor For more, see this post. (Youtube video)
Ruth finishes talking about her experience with having a miscarriage in China. She also brings up some of the questions she had for the doctor about 2 weeks after the miscarriage. (Youtube video)
Ruth discusses feeling down. Is it the result of lingering hormones from the pregnancy? (Youtube video)
Chinese doctors have different ideas about exercise than that of the West. Jacquelyn discusses a bit about her exercise routine and how it’s been beneficial. (Youtube video)
Jacquelyn explains what it’s like to fly in China while pregnant. Sometimes it feels a bit like a guessing game as to whether they’ll let you fly or not. (Youtube video)
This article first appeared on Travelingwithjc.com and is published with permission from the author. On June 16th we went out with friends to feast on half-price ribs at a restaurant in Qingdao called Korona. During the day I had been experiencing mild period-pain type cramps. These had been coming and going for almost two weeks so I didn’t think too much about them, BUT they were starting to occur more and more frequently. That day at work it literally felt like Elijah was about to fall out of me, so I started to suspect that something was going to happen soon. Before dinner we made sure that our hospital bag was completely ready. Everything, down to computers and cameras, was packed and waiting in our lounge. We also wrote out instructions in case we had to send our friends back to the apartment. We knew that if I went into…
Ruth shares some of the meds involved with a miscarriage and her personal experience with it. (Youtube Video)
One week since the miscarriage, Ruth talks about some practical aspects of the miscarriage. Packing, how to deal with the fetus, things to pass the time. (Youtube video)
Being alone is one of the hardest aspects for Ruth after the miscarriage. (Youtube video)
Ruth shares the name of the baby and how it came to be.
Getting back to the routine is both necessary and heartbreaking after a miscarriage. (Youtube Video)
Ruth explains some ongoing symptoms that she’s experiences and talks about how each member of her family is reacting to news and experience. (Youtube Video)
Ruth has conflicting emotions of relief, pain, emptiness, and thankfulness after her miscarriage. (Youtube Video)
Ruth decides that she’s going to be transparent about the miscarriage process. This is a common enough problem that few people are able to talk about. Hoping it can help others. (Youtube video)
Ruth’s suspicions and fears about the health of the baby are unfortunately confirmed. Doctors confirm that there is no heartbeat for the baby.
