Pregnancy can be a fascinating process yet a very stressful one. Preparation is key to ensure a smooth and uneventful birth and to welcoming your child merrily. Delivering in a foreign country can cause further anxiety due to the many unfamiliar circumstances. Check out our compiled guide to giving birth abroad, and get organised well in advance for the most important event in your life.
Check the conditions of your health insurance
If you have purchased your international health insurance before your pregnancy, confirm your policy, its limits, and conditions — does it include a maternity and pregnancy cover plan? If you are about to obtain health insurance during your pregnancy, first check with your (or your partner's) employer — does the company you work for offer health insurance? Usually, your employer's plan is cost-effective because you share the premium between the two of you. In any case, before you accept any health plan, inquire whether it covers preventive care (anaemia screening, test for diabetes, supplements, etc.) and how much of the delivery and aftercare comes with your plan. You don't want any last-minute budgetary surprises, so make sure you understand the out-of-pocket costs before signing up for a plan. Last, find out the physicians and hospitals which collaborate with the insurance company and do your research regarding the quality of their services.
Pick an obstetrician and a hospital
If you are new to your host country, it's normal not to have much information about the hospitals in your area. A good first step to your research is to speak to other expats who have already become parents in the country and to obtain as much information and advice as possible. Usually, obstetricians and midwives work with specific hospitals, so when choosing a doctor consider that you are also picking the hospital. Other points to give thought to are the birth options available in your host country (home birth, birth in the labour ward, midwife-led birth) and the distance between your home and the place of birth (which may be covered in different hours depending on the time of day).
Join prenatal and postnatal classes
For every mother-to-be, it's important to receive care and to feel comfortable mentally and physically during this paramount stage of her life — all the more so when she is outside her comfort zone and far away from the support system of family and friends. It's normal to feel homesick at times during your pregnancy, but don't be disheartened as there's a plethora of external support groups, which will give you the sense of community and security that you need. Again, ask within your expat network for recommendations of expecting parents activities and groups such as prenatal yoga and childbirth classes, socialising with other expecting and new mothers, education about new babies, support for postnatal depression, etc.
Explore the maternity and paternity leave options
Long-term paid leave is not a guaranteed benefit for many expecting parents around the world. Regrettably, in a few countries such as the United States, maternity leave is considered a luxury with the provision of this benefit left entirely to the company's' discretion. Most US companies don't offer any maternity leave, while the more generous ones provide only up to 12 weeks. However, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), paid leave is more or less insured in at least 178 countries, with even paid leave granted to fathers in approximately 50 countries. Given the significance of nurturing your child in the first months of their life, and the importance of managing your career, it is crucial to be informed of your rights in your host country. Inquire in advance with your and your partner's HR departments regarding the leave policies and flexible working hours.
Familiarise yourself with cultural particularities
Healthcare differs from one country to another and among different cultures. For example, in Finland home birth isn't recommended and isn't covered by the public healthcare system. Also, maternity clinics in Finland offer training on how to identify the right time to go to the hospital and suggest the services of a volunteer support person (doulas) to be present during childbirth. You would also like to know whether you will be sharing the same hospital room with your baby or it is only brought to you for feeding, and how long are you supposed to stay in the hospital after the birth. Things may be slightly more complicated if you don't speak the local language. Thus, ask the hospital in advance for the interpreter's services and the process to book one at short notice.
Inquire about the formalities
Every country has different immigration rules, and while some countries give citizenship by birth, others give citizenship only through parents. Start the administrative tasks at an early stage of your pregnancy, especially if you are an expat in a bureaucratic country where formalities take longer to be processed. Obtain well in advance all the necessary information about how to register the birth of your child in both your host and home countries; how to obtain the passport for your baby, and know whether your baby is eligible for the citizenship. The sooner you deal with the exhausting and tedious operations of formalities, the less anxious you will feel.
Make childcare arrangements
Last but not least, educate yourself about the childcare system in your host country, and the costs and availability of babysitters and au pairs. Unfortunately, as an expat, you cannot rely on the valuable help of grandparents. Thus, you have to decide with your partner what are the best alternative options for your child and your family's needs. Before hiring a nanny, make sure they have the legal rights to work in the country and challenge their professionalism and experience. If you feel uncomfortable to conduct the interview yourself due to language or cultural barriers, ask the help of a local friend or another expat who has been longer than you in the country. Once you have made up your mind about the person you wish to employ, ask the https://www.expat.community if anyone has worked with this person and what experiences they have had.
