The prospect of giving birth in a country where you don’t speak the language or have family and friends surrounding you can be a daunting one. When I got pregnant with our second child, Joe had already signed a contract to be in Italy for the season. With a due date in April, I could have gone back to the U.S. to have the baby and Joe would have been back a few weeks later. But for us, Joe being at the birth and also being able to play basketball were big priorities. So we made the decision to trust that God would provide for the delivery and birth in Italy. You can find my birth story with Elijah here.
When I got pregnant with our third child, Joe was not yet under contract. I was once again due in April, and again we wanted to have the baby overseas so we could all be together. When Joe got the offer to go to Turkey, I was hesitant. But I knew God would provide what we needed. After arriving in Bandirma, I was a little less sure. I debated heading back home, but I had the feeling I was going to see God act in an awesome way through this birth. You can find the birth story of Naomi here.
When a year a half had passed after Naomi’s birth we were surprised we were pregnant once again. This time the due date was in early May and Joe was once again under contract in Italy for the season. After some prayer and thought, we felt the wise thing to do was to have me come home to have the baby to have the help of family and friends with our three other children. We were taking a gamble in having Joe present for the birth though. The only way he would be home at the beginning of May would be if his team came in first place in Lega Due. Plus I could always go before my due day (which had never happened before, but you never know!) Thankfully God showed Himself beyond merciful once again and after praying all season for a first place finish (which at many times did not look like it would happen), Joe’s team won the league, he was home 4 days before my due date and I delivered a week late. To read my birth story with Isaiah, click here.
Some of the main differences I experienced with having a baby in the States (which I did also with our first, Abby) and having a baby overseas, were the following:
March 2004: Abigail's Birth Day
1. You are provided with much less in the hospital for yourself and the baby. I had to provide clothing, diapers, and even a crib for the baby. For myself, I had to bring my own gown, nursing pads, personal care, food and drink, and even toilet paper! It will depend where you are, so check to see what the hospital provides.
2. Doctors may do different tests (either more or less). You have to be flexible to know that different countries may do things differently, so your doctor may not follow the schedule you find on websites from the U.S.
3. There is typically a lower recommendation on weight gain overseas. While the U.S. may give a range of 25-35 pounds, 10 kilograms (22 pounds) is often given as the upper limit where I have given birth.
4. The hospital stay may be different than in the U.S. In Italy, Elijah was not allowed to be in the room with me. In contrast, the hospital in Turkey had no nursery. I was not able to shower in either of the hospitals and the beds were not the most comfortable.
5. There are different philosophies on medication depending on where you are. In Italy, an epidural was never even discussed, while in Turkey they were pushed on me much more and having a vaginal birth was uncommon.
6. When I gave birth in Turkey, Joe was not permitted to be with me. Check and see if husbands are allowed to support their wives or not.
7. After the baby is born you have to go through getting out of the country. This involves reporting the birth at the nearest embassy/consulate. Each country is different, but you will probably need much of the following:
- 2 copies of the local birth certificate with both parents’ names on it, probably in both the original and translated form
- each parents’ passport and a copy of the passport
- the parents’ original marriage certificate
- parents’ social security number
- form for applying for a Certification of Report of Birth (new form as of December 2010)
- form SS-5 to apply for a social security number for the child
- form DS-11 to apply for a passport
- 2 photos for the passport
- fees to pay for the passport
- self-paid, addressed envelope to have the passport and Certification of Report of Birth sent (unless applying for an emergency passport, which is only available at certain embassies and/or consulates)
** Some embassies or consulates have companies on site to help you with paying for the sending of the passport and Certification of Report of Birth. In Turkey, after we filled out all of Naomi’s paperwork, we went to another section to pay to have UPS deliver the materials to our home.
When you got to apply for the Certification of Report of Birth and the passport, make sure all the information you need is written down in paper form and not kept on your cell phone. You will not be able to use your cell phone inside the embassy or consulate. This list is only a guide, please make sure you check your country’s embassy or consulate for more details. There is often the option to telephone with questions and/or schedule an appointment.
Birth can be done anywhere! Find out as much information as you can, so you aren’t caught off guard. Each and every place has its positives and negatives. And each country may have a different experience depending on what city you are in. If you want any more information on birthing overseas, please send me a message through my Contact Page. You can also contact other Basket Wives who have offered to be a source of information for the respective countries they have experienced either prenatal care or deliveries.
Australia
Lesa- lesa.burgess@gmail.com
Maisha- ladymai21@gmail.com
Belgium
Angie- angiesears@hotmail.com
Anita- anitabonita78@msn.com (read Anita’s birth story)
Kim Leaty- kimleaty@hotmail.com
Monica- monicamiller_1@hotmail.com
Reggen- loving2smile_97@yahoo.com
France
Anadia- anadiadarden@yahoo.com
Germany
Emma- emmaenazzaro@gmail.com
Lamisha- lamishaharrison@yahoo.com
Maria- mariawj@gmail.com (read Maria’s birth story and about registering a birth in Germany)
Italy
Anne- ai2428@aol.com
Alexandra- adomercant@yahoo.com
Barbara- barbara_radulovic@hotmail.it
Dana- dajamonica@gmail.com
Edwina- EddieBU@Hotmail.com
Erin- erin@marriedtoaballer.com
Kristin- jobeyt@hotmail.com
Japan
Maisha- ladymai21@gmail.com
New Zealand
Maisha- ladymai21@gmail.com
Spain
Donna- steefinkys@aim.com
Sonia- sonialewis10@yahoo.com
Stephanie- stephiekaydevries@hotmail.com
Turkey
Erin- erin@marriedtoaballer.com
Lesa- lesa.burgess@gmail.com
Ukraine
Lesa- lesa.burgess@gmail.com