Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shaunew]

I'm hope some of the guys out there who have had children, can tell me what to expect when my wife goes into labour.

What do I do here in Korea? Do I go in, cut the cord?

What is it like?

What happens afterwards, Does she go to a special room?

Does she relax for a month?

What are your experiences with having a baby here in Korea and raising your child in Korea.

Thank you for your replies. My baby will be born in 10 weeks and I'm getting alittle bit nervous.

[maeil]

Maybe just ask your wife what she wants to do? She probably knows better than other random dudes here.

[shaunew]

I have found out what Korean women expect is over the top. I'm just asking others who have been in the same position to give some feed back. She has told me a few things, but the process is totally different then what we do in Canada. She says she needs to stay in bed of over 1 month. Baby can not leave the house or have visitors for the first 100 days. She can not have no cold air on her or she will get something wrong with her hips, knees and everything else. My sisters were back at work in a week?

[purple_buddha]

A brief run-down of my recent experience in such matters: 1) as mother is giving birth, father goes in towards the end of the delivery for support and to cut the umbilical cord; mom stays in hospital portion 2 days, longer if complications or C-section (each mom has own room, like a hotel with meals provided); nurses take care of new born. 2) mom moves to a rest facility, 조리원 (in another hotel-like room) with new born for recovery (usually 2-4 weeks); nurses take care of new born; mom rests, eats well, and tries to breastfeed, etc.

Koreans believe the mother should have limited exposure to the outside environment in order to prevent her from becoming seriously ill. This includes a room with a heated floor, even during the summer months. Child birthing is particularly taxing on Korean women, and, if proper rest and recovery are not afforded, the mother has a higher risk of major health issues (particularly skeletal- hips, major joints) later in life.

My thinking is: whether or not the Korean way is excessive by Western standards, if it makes my wife more comfortable and healthier, then so be it. Giving birth and subsequent child rearing is difficult enough.

Hope this helps. Congratulations!

[shaunew]

Thank you for your help. You are right. The health of my wife and baby are the most important. I'm just alittle nervous about being a dad and having no family here and no friends that understand. Thanks again for the help.

[kitekid]

[Captain Corea]

Just had a baby on Saturday...

Basically, we went to the "emergency" birthing room. Sat around for 11 hours 'till the contractions got realy close together (ok, I sat - wife was in pain). When the time came, they took her away and shooed meinto the waiting room.

I sat there until a nurse ran in, threw a smock at me, and told me to come with her.

I went into the delivery room and got to see about 3 pushes from my wife (I'm guessing I missed a whole lot more). Out came the baby and they handed me the scissors to cut the cord. 30 seconds later, they kicked me out of the room.

They wheeled the baby out to show meand the in-laws that she had 10 ingers and 10 toes and then took her away.

My wife was brought out to her room (read: shared with 4 others because everything was full). I stayed with her the first night (in a cot besie the bed), her mother the second. We're headingto the hospital in an hour to bring her home.

Oh, and every 2 hours or so they will call the room and ask your wife to come to the "breast feeding room".


Ok, my baby is 2 days old and that's pretty mcuh all I know.

I still have yet to hold her

[Cerriowen]

OMG she has 10 ingers?

They didn't let you hold her yet? Wow. I'd be throwing a fit right about now.

Congrats though. Having a baby is scary. Having a baby in a foriegn country must be terrifying.

[dogbert]

[jbpatlanta]

I had a son here almost two years ago now. I was in the delivery room the whole time my wife was in labor. I got to cut the cord. They let my wife and me hold the baby before they wheeled him away to wash him. They brought him back in about 30 minutes and he stayed with us for about 2 hours in the labor room.

We moved into a private room. We asked and they let my son stay with us for all three days. The nurses came to our room to check on thebaby and help my wife. They took my son away to wash him when it was time for my wife to eat.

After three days we went home. My mother-in-law stayed at our house for the next 6 weeks to make sure that I did all the work and my wife got to rest. Kept the heat up pretty high so I slept on the veranda the whole time.

All in all though I thought it was a painless experience. Planning to do it again next year, I think. Only this time I want a daughter.