Korean Job Discussion Forums

pangaea · Joined: 20 Dec 2007

Just for future reference, I have some questions about pregnancy and giving birth in Korea.

I have heard that c-sections are very common in Korea. I am adamantly opposed to having a c-section unless it is medically necessary. Do doctors push women to have c-sections here or is it no problem to choose to have a baby the natural way?

What kind of pain relief is available? I don't like the idea of having an epidural as the thought of a needle in my spine makes me very uneasy.

Are there any Western-style birthing centers in Korea?

What kind of prenatal vitamins are available here?

I'm sure I will think of more questions later. Thanks for any info!

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

tatu · Joined: 23 Jun 2006

ttompatz are you real? You have so much good info. about everything.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 4:05 am Post subject:

Tom is dead on.

My wife gave birth to our son in Busan and what he described is pretty much on target.

fugitive chicken · Joined: 20 Apr 2010 Location: Bucheon

I'm going to have a baby here next month, so far, so good! Far cheaper here than in the states and the quality of care I would say is just as good...sometimes too good if the pregnancy is going well, they still monitor you very closely.

My only concern is that I was told that no one in labor and delivery speak fluent English, so I am going to have a korean friend come and help keep my mind at ease as well as those of the doctors and nurses.

if tou have any questions, let me know!

Jane · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

Avoid the MizMedi hospitals in Seoul: there is one near Gimpo Airport and one in Gangnam. Terrible places to have a baby. Doctors who are too busy and unwilling to give information because they are not your primary doctor; pressured into unnecessary procedures, etc. It's nothing but a baby factory.

Make sure you go to a big hospital like the ones recommended above.

taobenli · Joined: 26 Apr 2004

I'm glad for this thread, as I'd also like to follow it for future reference. I'm thinking of having a baby in Korea and it will be a bonus if it ends up being cheaper here than in the states. (I'm a grad student and my medical coverage in the US- when I'm there- is not great).

I guess I would have a harder time finding a really great hospital since I'm not near Seoul (Jeonju). One thing I'm worried about is cost of prenatal care. I am on a VERY weird visa as a researcher and am currently NOT eligible for national health care. I will be eligible starting in March. So, some questions:

1) If I required prenatal care before going on Korean national insurance, any idea how much that would cost without insurance? (My medical insurance is a travel plan from the US and simply doesn't cover maternity at all).

2) Has anyone used a doula in Korea and if so, can you give contact information? Bilingual would be great. (I guess the tricky part would be finding one outside of Seoul or who was willing to travel).

Thanks!

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

youtuber · Joined: 13 Sep 2009

Having a baby can have many complications.

You do not want to be in Korea if there are complications. Having had 2 medical procedures here, there is no way in hell that I would go through that again.

Sure you blindly go in and hope for the best, but it would be more prudent to err on the side of caution.

The National Health Insurance system is woefully insufficient.

And supporting a family on an ESL teacher's salary would be hell. Do you have any idea how small the apartments are here? Do you know how awful children's lives are in Korea?

Vimfuego · Joined: 10 Apr 2009