Monday, July 21, 2014

So you're going to have a baby in China???

I have gotten this question from folks back home, expats in China and Chinese friends...."Are you going to have this baby in China?"  The answer: Yes.  Knowing we were going to move to China for two years, Brian and I decided to have another baby....Blake didn't have much input as to if he did or did not want a sibling :)  When we visited Changzhou in September 2013 we specially went to a hospital in Shanghai that has international doctors and western medicine to understand what we would be getting into.  The hospital we are going to is accepted by our insurance and has American doctors, as well as; all other doctors in the hospital and nurses speak English.  While I say that I am going to the hospital it might startle some folks at home, but in China this is completely normal.  From my experience so far there are few private practices, the Chinese all go to the hospital for care.  

The hospital we are using is Shanghai United Family Hospital, very much like the hospitals in the US.  However Scottsdale Shea Hospital does offer in-room massages and pedicures.....they don't have that here in China....haha  Blake, Brian and myself all visit the hospital for a variety of reasons, general family doctors, pediatricians, obgyn and even the dentist.  When you walk in there is a similar feel to hospitals or doctor's offices at home, you check in for your appointment then wait in the respective waiting room.  On the second floor is where we spend most of our time, you have the pediatricians and obgyn on the same floor with a woman's waiting room, sick kid and well kid waiting rooms as well.

In China it is against the law to find out the gender of the baby, i think most doctors and nurses were surprised to hear we did not want to know the gender this time :) We had the ultrasound at 20 weeks.

I was recently there on Saturday and while getting my 24-week glucose test (which i passed) completed i went up to the 3rd floor which is labor and delivery.  Most new mom's will stay here for 3 days as the nursery is on the floor for bathing baby and such.  Baby will still stay with the mom in her room.  After 3 days if for any reasons such as a c-section you are required to stay, they will move you to the 4th floor which is more inpatient rooms, not specific to labor and delivery.  Below are some photos i took of the labor and delivery room, the post-delivery rooms are smaller but very similar, i think its just like the one i had a Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, AZ.

When they do blood work they take you to a room with a tray, as you can see in the upper left picture, and they give a fresh armband each time, then draw the blood and have the lab process it.  There is an ultrasound room below, then three pictures of the labor and delivery room, a bed for mom, a warmer and bed for baby and then a couch that turns into a bed for Dad.  They offer laboring in the bath tub as well, but no water births.  At the very bottom is a photo of the in-house pharmacy.  So you go to the pharmacy on your way out if you need medications of OTC items, they pull it for you, then you go to the check-out window, pay for office visit fees, and medications, then take the receipt back to the pharmacy to pick up your items.
In this hospital, they allow the father and siblings to stay in the room with you after birth.  All the doctors i have seen so far have spoke perfect English so I have no worries on being able to communicate with them.  There are 5 doctors in the obgyn area of the hospital, I am working to meet all 5 at my appointments so its a familiar face delivering my baby!  This was the same at the practice i went to in AZ.  On the list of things to bring it does ask that you bring snacks for mother and father, but they offer meals for the mother. 

So, the answer is Yes!  I am going to have baby #2 in China and I am very confident in the doctors I am entrusting mine and my baby 's life to. 
If your curious...the hospital link: Shanghai United Family Hospital

Countdown: 16 weeks to go (give or take)

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