Living Overseas
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Name: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Description: Trying to get pregnant? Going through fertility treatment? Just planning your first or second child? There are many people out there in the same boat to help and listen and share with
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23635
Printed Date: 20 August 2025 at 7:39am
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Topic: Living Overseas
Posted By: Charlieface
Subject: Living Overseas
Date Posted: 10 January 2009 at 8:07pm
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Is anyone else out there a kiwi who is looking at getting pregnant and having a baby overseas? I am in Egypt and more than a little freaked out it all. I try not to go to the doctors over here, going a hospital here is one of my worst fears but now we are ready to start trying for a baby I'm looking at all that being neccesary. And... no coffee group, antenatal group, Plunket or organic nursery is on the cards for our baby! I'd love to get in touch with any other women in similar situations.
Charlie |
Replies:
Posted By: HippyMama
Date Posted: 10 January 2009 at 10:32pm
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Hi Charlie,
I can't say I have any useful advice but I can try and do some research for you (through friends)... are you in Egypt permanently? Where are you based? ------------- Mama to two earth walkers & two angels. Remember, you are not managing an inconvenience; You are raising a human being. ~ Kittie Franz Next Slingbabies! Meet - Friday 4th May !! |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 10 January 2009 at 11:02pm
| Hi Charlie - not in your situation now, but was living in japan when i found out I was pregnant with Jake and Taine, and so went through pregnancy overseas. |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 10 January 2009 at 11:21pm
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Im in Australia but the health system here is just as good as NZ so I cant related to that but can with the no plunket or family!
What is keeping you in Egypt? ------------- Our Angel July 08  Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: Kim
Date Posted: 11 January 2009 at 8:49pm
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I had both of my children in Saudi Arabia (2005 and 2007) and my ob/gyn and the hospital were both great. The hospital was like staying in a hotel. After hearing stories from friends that have had babies in NZ I am so glad I had them over there.
I was really lucky as my first was such an easy baby - you are basically sent home without any help and only go to the hospital for vaccinations. Luckily there were lots of mothers on our compound so I went to them if I had any questions. ------------- Zac Mark - 30.11.05 Samara Ailsa - 13.08.07 |
Posted By: Charlieface
Date Posted: 18 January 2009 at 1:26am
| Thanks heaps for your replies, it was so great to see your messages. Ummmmm... have done four pregnancy tests so far today and all are positive! Now I'm going to have to get really serious about this and start researching options around here. My husband and I are here for work and are contracted to stay until at least September 2010 so no chance of a NZ birth as my husband won't be able to join me there. What next? My hot little hands have been madly searching the net for any information! |
Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 19 January 2009 at 12:24pm
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Hey there
I know exactly what you are going thru. I lived in Saudi for 2 years and then Bahrain for 4 years. I was pregnant with my third whilst in bahrain and I decided to go home to NZ to have her. My husband had fantastic leave and he came back 1 week before my due date and we spent 3 weeks together before heading back. I left 1 day before my no fly time at 36 weeks and with my pregnancy brain missed the first flight home. 17.00 hours is not 7pm. I know that but my brain was just not working. Luckily I managed to get another flight and it all worked out ok. I had had two previous pregnancy and the labours both had complications which is why I went home. For a normal healthy pregnancy these countries are well set up. Do you have insurance thru your work. If so you should have access to some great medical facilities. Cairo especially. But be prepared for a more american style labor etc. Lots of monitoring and drugs rather than al naturale. The upside is I got two 3D scans during my pregnancy which were so cool. With eid they will probably want to induce you early so you don't interfere with the holiday. That is something you may want to think seriously about as I wouldn't guarantee your doctor being available during the holiday. How long have you been there and are you over the upset tummy thing. I got so sick on my trip to egypt that I can only imagine being pregnant and sick too. Are you a member of any expat groups. Maybe contact the british wives association or the american womans groups for info on where other expats give birth etc. Take care and hope you have a great pregnancy. |
Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 19 January 2009 at 12:30pm
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Hey kim
Where in saudi were you? My daughter was born dec 9th 2005 and if we had of had her in the middle east it would have been at saad hospital in al khobar. Only a few days after your baby was born. Although we lived in bahrain our visas meant we would have had to have her in saudi. Then waiting for b/c and visas to get back to bahrain meant we might as well go back to nz. So we did. As mentioned above the main reason was also that we had had complications in two previous births and I just needed familiarity. I had many friends have babies in saudi and it all went smoothly with no probs. |
Posted By: Kim
Date Posted: 19 January 2009 at 7:57pm
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Saad hospital is where I had Zac and Samara. We lived in the Al Bustan compound in Al Khobar.
Are you still in the Middle East? ------------- Zac Mark - 30.11.05 Samara Ailsa - 13.08.07 |
Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 2:08am
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Charlieface, congrats on your BFP(s) !!!
DH and I are living overseas, we're in Singapore though which is fairly straightforward .. still frustrating at times and a long way from home though! If you're in Egypt for work does your medical insurance cover maternity? Ours didn't but we chose to stay here for the birth anyway. Turned out super spendy coz Callum was prem and in NICU for 10 days but even if we'd planned on me going home at 30-something weeks I'd have ended up birthing here anyway lol. Expat mothers groups are great for meeting new people, same with antenatal classes if there are any available to you. Definitely recommend getting in touch with a women's association or similar if they're there - finding info relevant to you is the really tough part I've found! If possible, talk your family into coming over after bubs arrives for a few weeks. As Callum was early we're doing it on our own till my Mum arrives mid-Feb and it can be really hard going during the day when DH is at work and I'm watching things pile up around me but all Callum wants to do is feed. I'm really looking forward to having my Mum here just as extra support and reassurance - and an extra set of eyes so I can catch up on some sleep. All the best! ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 4:40am
No we moved to the US two years ago. When we were in khobar we lived in sunrise compound (out by the desalination plant) and then moved into al nada before heading over to bahrain. Ended up becoming aramcons but living in bahrain without the company knowing. Most of my friends have left now however I still know a few hanging out in aramco. Are you still there? I miss my life over there so much and if we got the chance I would be back in a heartbeat. My hubby on the other hand found it so frustrating. It was for his sanity that we left. Sorry to hijack the thread charlie. |
Kim wrote: