Korean Job Discussion Forums

[goat]

[laynamarya]

I would say that most hospitals (especially the larger ones) definitely do routine shaving, enemas, and episiotomies.

This will probably be the first and last time I disagree with something ttompatz says, but as someone who's actually given birth, I'm going to claim authority over his.

All the afore-mentioned items, shaving, enemas, episiotomies, and also scheduled c-sections, having women lie on their backs while giving birth, pushing on a woman's stomach to make the baby come out faster, happen very frequently in Korea, and they are ALL for the doctor's convenience.

They are also MUCH more likely to cause a new mother a great deal of stress, pain, and fear, and cause distress in the newborn.

I hope that you would not wish such things on your wife or baby (or yourself, if you're the new mom).

There are a few places that you can go to avoid these things. One is Mediflower (great but expensive), one is Yeon and Nature (great but expensive), and one is Soonchunhyang University (SCH), which was very reasonably priced, though with less frills, I suppose. I had my first baby there and plan to give birth there again when our second is born. Dr. Choi is especially great.

Some smaller birthing centers will also allow you to give birth your own way, depending on the doctor. I know some folks who have had great experiences at small clinics and some who have had nightmare experiences.

Good luck! Do your own research, and I hope you find a great place to welcome your new kiddo into the world.

[PatrickGHBusan]

That is pretty distressing for expecting mothers.

My wife (she is Korean) gave birth to our son in Korea in the early 2000s and none of the procedures outlined in the previous post were forced upon her.

I guess we lucked out with the hospital and medical staff!

[ttompatz]

Our daughter was also born here and I was present the entire time or I wouldn't have said anything.

We started at the Samsung Women's hospital (next down the street from Home-plus) in Yeongtong dong in Suwon and when we moved to Bundang (Seohyun dong) we used the Cheil Women's Hospital there (across from the big public hospital.

The service and doctors were excellent. The prenatal care was great and the birthing and after-birth care we also good (by western standards).

We had insurance and the costs were reasonable. Our total bill for prenatal care was about 550k won and we paid about 500k won for the birth and 3-day stay (private room with western meals).

.

[Lazio]

[naturegirl321]

I'm a certified childbirth educator and postpartum doula, and in the process of becoming a lactaction educator counselor and La Leche League leader. I believe that a lot of what you get in Korea is due to what you know and planning. The c-section rate is high, but it's just as high as the USA. There are a lot of interventions done here as well as in other countries, but you can avoid this by going to good places such as MediFlower or Yeon and Nature both of which are about two mil if you have insurance.

If you're on FB check out the group called Expat Parents Korea! For info about good hospitals and birthing centers and more.

Get a doula.

Have a birthing plan. Have your doctor sign and stamp it. Have a back up plan. Be prepared to give and take.

Talk to your doctor and change hospitals if necessary.

Take a child birthing class.

I've got a list of birthing centers, hospitals, doulas, birthing classes, breastfeeding support, and more info about pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum that I'd be happy to send anyone. I also have sample birth plans in English and Korean.

Do your research and be prepared, you'll be glad you did.

[harringt]

I read a post somewhere else that the only epidurals in Korea are "walking" epidurals and thus they're not as effective as the epidurals in other countries? Is this true? Can anyone who has had an epidural for labor in Korea comment on her experience?

[naturegirl321]

[World Traveler]