mama-to-be in Seoul

[expat-mama]

Hi!
I already introduced myself on the main board, but thought I'd pop in here and say "hello" as well. :wave
I'm in Seoul with my husband- we are both Canadians teaching English in the public schools here. I'm hoping to soon be pregnant with our first and very excited! :D
We are not planning to stay in Korea for a very long time, just a year or so, long enough to pay off some student loans and for DH to save for his PhD which he hopes to start in Christchurch, NZ in the next couple of years.

Parenting stuff I'm into: natural birth, breastfeeding, cosleeping, EC/cloth diapering, attachment parenting, delayed/selective vax, eventually homeschooling...
Other stuff I'm into: travel, "radical" politics/anarchism, organic/natural living, literature, gardening/agriculture, music of all kinds, education.

Anyone else out there in Seoul?

[cairomama]

I am an American in Seoul with a 22 month old breastfeeding, cloth diapered son. Do you have a Doctor, yet? A lot of the expats use Dr. Sung in Hannam for gynecology and the first part of pregnancy (she doesn't deliver).

There is a hypnobirthing instructor here:

http://www.hypnobirthing.com/south_korea.htm

I contacted her and confirmed she is still here an instructing. I think she will be a good resource. She had her 2 year old here.

[expat-mama]

Hi there and a belated happy independence day to you!
I'm happy to see another expat in Seoul on MDC. I'm quickly growing to love this web community and it's so nice to have another local here! I'm living south of river, near Sindorim, how about you?

Yes, I'm with Dr. Sung in Hannam- her English is great and she is very professional, but she always seems a bit rushed:eyesroll I've contacted the hypnobirthing instructor too.

Did you give birth in Seoul or move here later?
So far, I've been told about a lot of the different hospitals and I'm not very impressed in the least- even Soon Chung Hyang, the hospital that "encourages natural birth" and allows women to labour in the water, doesn't really sound even close to ideal to me. I'm not pregnant yet, but when I am we will be considering other options for our first baby's birth.

Do you buy your cloth diapers in Seoul, or did you order them and have them shipped/bring them with you?

Well, it's great to see you here!:D

[cairomama]

I got pregnant in Cairo and went to the States to get a doctor where my parents lived because the Embassy did not want anyone delivering in Cairo (I found some people later that had homebirths for their 4-7 children, but I didn't even know about that option at that time). While in the States at 3 months pregnant, I hired a doula, got set up with a doctor and prepared to return to Cairo until the end of my pregnancy, but I had two bleeding episodes and ended up staying in the States. I took two labor classes (the one at the hospital and one offered by a doula in town) and ended up with a scheduled cesarean due to breech. My son was breech from 6 months on and never moved. I tried everything to get him to turn, except external version b/c I couldn't find anyone who was confident about doing it. I met 4 people who had it done, said it was incredibly painful and didn't work. The lack of a confident provider combined with my placental hematoma to make me to decide to have a scheduled cearean, though I did make them wait to do it. I had no labor. It was a great surgery and great recovery, but I am looking to VBAC this time. I just took a pregnancy test yesterday and it was positive. I am scheduled to go to Dr. Sung on Thursday.

I bought my cloth diapers (Fuzzi Bunz and Bum Genius One Size 2.0) online when I was in the States. They are pocket diapers and very easy to use. There are tons of options, though.

Natural birth in NZ is supposed to be awesome! Everyone has a midwife and you can't see an OB unless there is a problem. I think many people do homebirth as well, but I don't remember. I met someone from NZ and they were telling me about it.

Another option is for you to return to Canada late in your pregnancy. My friend gave birth in Canada though the national system and was not happy with it. It was very impersonal and medical, but maybe you could find a midwife.

It is great that you are looking into your options before you need to make decisions, but just know, that no matter what happens you can be successful with breastfeeding.

We should get together soon so we can share information.

[expat-mama]

Hi again!

Congrats on your BFP! :joy: That is so wonderful!!! :joy:
I'm hoping to get one someday soon!
You should read all the wonderful VBAC stories here on MDC. It sounds like your first pregnancy was trying, but that you handled it all really well and everything turned out fine- that's all I am hoping for, but I'm nervous about doing this the first time so far away from home.

At this point, we are really dedicated to finding another option other than hospital delivery. I have been in Korean hospitals before-once for a chest x-ray, another time for a severe allergic reaction...and the thought of doing something this important there terrifies me. Normally, I don't like hospitals much, the smells and fluorescent lights and heavy atmospheres really get to me- I just can't imagine having a good birthing experience there- especially when the strangers around me are speaking a different language and might have very different ideas of what is "ok".

Also...a Korean friend who was in medical school told me that Korean medical school is not the same as north american schools- it's 3-4 years straight after high school, multiple choice exams, etc. I have seen such botched procedures in the couple of years I have lived in the country (simple stitches on legs and arms that look like frankenstein scars, one of my students had a bone reset in the hospital that came out noticeably very CROOKED- this from the Seoul National U. hospital- the "best" in the country), that although I have a general dislike of hospitals, I don't think my fear about hospitals here is irrational. Sorry, don't mean to scare you. :(

All of this is not stopping us from TTC though. Truthfully, my husband and I are very seriously looking into unassisted childbirth, something we never considered before. If it's possible to have a midwife or doula attend that would be nice...but I emailed the hypnobirthing instructor (I forget her name) a while ago and she said there really are no homebirths in Korea. So we are left cautiously approaching the notion of a UC and actually getting more used to the idea. I'm actually surprised how positive my husband is about the whole idea.
Anyway, nothing is decided for us. I think when I am pregnant we will look into things more closely. Until then, we are just kind of thinking over what might be the options available to us.

As for New Zealand, I've heard great things about it too. Hopefully we'll have our second there- after two years of residence we'll be eligible to receive all their great prenatal/birth services for free!:thumb

Good luck with your appointment!

[cairomama]

I am going to meet Patricia, the Hypnobirthing instructor in Itaewon on August 13. She is in the UK right now. You are welcome to join if you'd like, though we are meeting in the day. If you can't make it and would like me to ask her some questions, let me know. I will e-mail you with what I find out from her, if I find anything helpful/interesting.

I thought I posted a reply earlier, but it isn't showing up.

It you go the unassisted route, maybe you could find an experienced mother/laborer to provide a little assistance, more like a doula role.

[expat-mama]

Cool~ Yep, I'll be working then but yes, please definitely email any helpful info...that would be really great!
If I think of any questions I'll be sure to email you! Thanks!

[cairomama]

N-

Good news! I just talked to the Hypnobirthing instructor and she has a contact for a doctor who will attend homebirth. She had a client recently who used him. We don't know his name and can't publish the contact info b/c of legal issues, but you can get it from her.

Also, there are some good places in Seoul to have a baby where they let you do more of what you want.

I definitely recommend the Hypnobirthing class.

Also, here is the name and contact for a doula. She is Canadian also. Lisa 010-7235-8667

Keun Hae is also a doula/Lamaze instructor/breastfeeding consultant but she isn't taking on many doula clients b/c she has 4 kids. Her number is 010-5416-5155

There is also a prenatal yoga class on Tuesdays at 10:30am at Yes yoga studio between Dr. Sung's office and UN Village near Paris Croissant.

Also, there is a Baby Expo at Coex August 21-24. They have tons of info on baby, maternity, everything including cloth diapers.
-K