Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nomanshaheer]

As Most of foreigner couples in Korea are living alone, they do might face this issue what I am facing

My Wife is pregnant. Doctor has given a tentative date of child birth. However, she has indicated that labor pain can start any time before given date. I am nervous as how can I take my wife to hospital as labor pain can start any time and my wife will be alone at home.

Can any one please guide me what can I do in this situation? Particularly, if labor pain starts at night, how can I take my wife to hospital as taxis are not available. If it starts in day and I am in office, how can my wife reach hospital (she is having labor pain and off course walking till taxi stand will be difficult for her). What options are available in such scenario? How foreigner couples, living alone, manage such situations?

[Paddycakes]

[nomanshaheer]

Thanks, I was thinking if there is any Ambulance service available? preferably in English? At 3 am, it is difficult to get a Korean friend to get up from deep sleep and call the taxi.

[Paddycakes]

I just asked my Korean friend.

She had my idea: your best bet is to have a pre-arranged Korean friend who would be willing to take a call at 3am.

Also, it's unlikely that when she starts going into labor that the won't be able to walk... you should still be able to make it to the street to catch a cab.

Other option is to phone 119; they'll send an ambulance. Just hope the dispatcher can understand your address over the phone.

[alongway]

Yes, keep in mind that having a baby isn't like they show it on TV and in the movies. It usually isn't some mad rush to the hospital where you need to get there in 15 minutes or you're doing it at the side of the road. The average first stage of labour is actually 12-14 hours for first babies, around 5 for second babies.

An ambulance will usually run you about 60,000won.

[taobenli]

Yeah, don't take an ambulance to the hospital unless it really is an emergency of some kind- that's a good way to add stress and "medicalize" childbirth right away when it really doesn't need to be. Remember, people have babies all the time and have been doing so for a long time!

You often hear about people in labor driving themselves to the hospital, taking buses, etc. It is really not like the movies. In my case, my labor DID start a lot more like the movies, with water breaking and contractions starting fast and close together. But most people start contractions slowly and the water breaks several hours later. Even though mine was especially intense I labored at home for 5 hours before I had any desire to go to the hospital. Then I went down with my husband in front of our apartment and got in a cab when it happened by (about 6 a.m.). It was hard to stand and walk and I had to lean on my husband when a contraction came. But it wasn't impossible.

If you think taxis might not be plentiful just let a Korean friend know you might need to call them. OR a lot of Koreans know at least one taxi driver personally...have them alert the taxi driver to the situation.

[laynamarya]

Just wanted to chime in with alongway and taobenli. I'm taking birthing classes now, and one of the things they stressed a LOT was, don't go the the hospital too early! In the US, they will send you back home if you are in early labor, but in Korea, they'll strap you down and hook you up to a bunch of machines, even though it's completely unnecessary at that point.

Birth is not an emergency.

I really recommend that your wife looks into the options she has for giving birth in Korea. There are a LOT of differences between this country and my home country, and a lot of routine procedures I am against. But there are ways around them.

I recommend contacting birthinginkorea.com. They are in Seoul, but they will have some good ideas and resources for you.

Above all, do not panic. If you panic, your wife will panic, and it will increase the pain and stress of having a baby tenfold, at least.

It's all going to be fine.

[nomanshaheer]

Thank You very much for you rkind respnse. Would you please take some time to guide me that "How early is too early"? When Should the pregnanat women be taken to hospital?

Thanks

[Lolimahro]

[Adam Carolla]

OP: You've had presumably nine months. No offense but, really?

[laynamarya]

Adam, I don't think the OP's wife is anywhere near her due date, he is just trying to start planning now.

I was told the same thing that Lolimahro was told, when your wife's contractions are about three minutes apart, it's time for the taxi. You can go a little earlier than that, but it's best for your wife to try to keep walking around during early labor, because gravity will help things along.

Good luck, and don't worry!

[nomanshaheer]

Well she is in her second trimester but advanced planing is better. Such thread may also help other people. Thanks for the help of you all and I hope that all other people who have valuable comments will share their ideas.