39 weeks. 6 days before birth.
Travelling with a baby is something that I (Robyn) have always dreamed of. Roh, on the other hand, took a little more convincing!
So, as we had committed to staying in Taiwan for 2 years, and with the medical system being not only extremely reliable, but ridiculously cheap, we decided, why not make a Taiwan baby?
And so, on June 8th last year, I got the most amazing 35th birthday present ever - the news that I was pregnant!
So, as we had committed to staying in Taiwan for 2 years, and with the medical system being not only extremely reliable, but ridiculously cheap, we decided, why not make a Taiwan baby?
And so, on June 8th last year, I got the most amazing 35th birthday present ever - the news that I was pregnant!
We are having a what!?!
We researched our birthing options, and after visiting a couple of hospitals near by with doctors that believed the only way to get a baby out was to have a nurse push on the mother's stomach, or where it was recommended I chose a date according to the Chinese calendar for my elective c-section etc, we decided to visit a natural birthing clinic in Taipei that we had heard good things about.
The clinic, whilst being a normal birthing hospital aswell, puts emphasis on all things natural. All of the doctors are trained in America, are comfortable with VBAC or breech births, and believe that medical intervention is a last resort, not something to be planned by your child's horoscope. Water births are encouraged, as is the use of a doula.
Sounds too good to be true? We thought so too, and tentatively enquired about the cost, only to be told that it was probably going to work out cheaper than a normal hospital!! So, where do we sign?
The only downside was that it meant we had to travel to Taipei for each check-up, but really, it was a small price to pay for a visit with a doctor who speaks fluent English and who genuinely cares for you.
Pregnancy for me was no party.. I had morning sickness until about 17 weeks, and even after that the nausea didn't really leave.. Horrendous cramps that saw me hospitalised.. Exhaustion, aches and pains.. I threw my entire spinal cord out just from being pregnant and had to visit a Chiro.. It just wasn't fun..
But, I didn't gain excessive weight, I ended up with no stretch marks, and at each appointment we got to hear that baby was growing perfectly and was healthy.
Being in Taiwan to save money, I worked until 38 weeks. I even rode my scooter to and from work! Probably a little silly but necessary none the less. It was good working. It kept me active and gave me something to focus on, apart from how exhausted I was feeling! It also helped to keep reality at bay!
The clinic, whilst being a normal birthing hospital aswell, puts emphasis on all things natural. All of the doctors are trained in America, are comfortable with VBAC or breech births, and believe that medical intervention is a last resort, not something to be planned by your child's horoscope. Water births are encouraged, as is the use of a doula.
Sounds too good to be true? We thought so too, and tentatively enquired about the cost, only to be told that it was probably going to work out cheaper than a normal hospital!! So, where do we sign?
The only downside was that it meant we had to travel to Taipei for each check-up, but really, it was a small price to pay for a visit with a doctor who speaks fluent English and who genuinely cares for you.
Pregnancy for me was no party.. I had morning sickness until about 17 weeks, and even after that the nausea didn't really leave.. Horrendous cramps that saw me hospitalised.. Exhaustion, aches and pains.. I threw my entire spinal cord out just from being pregnant and had to visit a Chiro.. It just wasn't fun..
But, I didn't gain excessive weight, I ended up with no stretch marks, and at each appointment we got to hear that baby was growing perfectly and was healthy.
Being in Taiwan to save money, I worked until 38 weeks. I even rode my scooter to and from work! Probably a little silly but necessary none the less. It was good working. It kept me active and gave me something to focus on, apart from how exhausted I was feeling! It also helped to keep reality at bay!
You have formally been given 2 weeks to vacate the premises. Please do as little damage as possible on your departure.
We decided to keep the sex a secret, although every single old-wives tale, or prediction test there is pointed to our bubble being a boy. We were both also convinced bubble was going to be a he.
We had a boy's name picked out, and conveniently, most of our friends here had had boys and so we had a heap of boy hand-me-downs..
There was not a question in our minds that we were having a boy baby!
We had a boy's name picked out, and conveniently, most of our friends here had had boys and so we had a heap of boy hand-me-downs..
There was not a question in our minds that we were having a boy baby!
The bottom picture shows our little baby's face with hand up covering it's right eye. The arrow is pointing to the left eye.
At our 39 week scan, we saw a different doctor. The head OB by the way. And even though we reminded him that we DIDN'T want to know the sex, 1 minute later we hear the words:
"And here is the vulva"...
Shocked was our first reaction...
Then angry..
Then disappointed..
Then sad..
Not because we were having a girl. Roh and I had said all along that we thought it was a boy, but both hoped it was a girl.
We were just so dissapointed that our surprise had been ruined, and at 39 weeks! Sooo close to the end!
But in hindsight it was a blessing as we then had time to try to think of a girl's name!!
"And here is the vulva"...
Shocked was our first reaction...
Then angry..
Then disappointed..
Then sad..
Not because we were having a girl. Roh and I had said all along that we thought it was a boy, but both hoped it was a girl.
We were just so dissapointed that our surprise had been ruined, and at 39 weeks! Sooo close to the end!
But in hindsight it was a blessing as we then had time to try to think of a girl's name!!
The final belly photo - mid contraction.
At about 2pm on Thursday the 14th February, I decided to go and have a nap. It was then that I realised I was having regular pains that were different to the normal Braxton Hicks I had been feeling for weeks. I started timing them and realised they were about 8 minutes apart and lasting for over a minute each. It was all very surreal as I felt completely calm and normal between each contraction and went about my day as normal.
About 10pm the contractions were about 5 minutes apart so we decided to call the taxi and head to the hospital. Little did we know that we were still almost a day away from meeting our baby!
My labour went about as smoothly as my pregnancy did - with lots of speed bumps! lol.
Our hopes for an all natural, drug free water birth didn't eventuate. And instead it was a good lesson in listening to my body and doing what it needed, and not what I wanted. We were also so thankful that we had chosen to use a doula, and that we were at a hospital where we felt 1000% confident in their abilities and decisions.
I ended up with a partial epidural (a decision my all natural clinic doesn't take lightly), as well as being augmented with Pintocin, and still needed the vacuum to get her out!
From first contraction to first newborn scream it was just on 32 hours! A mammoth marathon that I am proud of my body for surviving.
About 10pm the contractions were about 5 minutes apart so we decided to call the taxi and head to the hospital. Little did we know that we were still almost a day away from meeting our baby!
My labour went about as smoothly as my pregnancy did - with lots of speed bumps! lol.
Our hopes for an all natural, drug free water birth didn't eventuate. And instead it was a good lesson in listening to my body and doing what it needed, and not what I wanted. We were also so thankful that we had chosen to use a doula, and that we were at a hospital where we felt 1000% confident in their abilities and decisions.
I ended up with a partial epidural (a decision my all natural clinic doesn't take lightly), as well as being augmented with Pintocin, and still needed the vacuum to get her out!
From first contraction to first newborn scream it was just on 32 hours! A mammoth marathon that I am proud of my body for surviving.
Hello little one!
Meeting our little girl for the first time.
And so we became the proud parents and partners in crime to little miss Gypsy Lotus. In naming her Gypsy we hope she will be a traveller, and someone tolerant of others and their situations. In Lotus we hope she finds her life force from the ocean and the water, and that she blossoms wherever she is to bring joy to others. It also reflects the Oriental aspect of her birth.
Welcome little girl. We can't wait to start showing you this beautiful planet we live on!
Welcome little girl. We can't wait to start showing you this beautiful planet we live on!
With big sister Poppy.
FINAL COSTS
And in true budget traveller style - how much did we pay for this whole baby business?
Well, each pre-natal appointment was between 100 and 150 nt ($3-$5) which included an ultrasound at each appointment, meeting with the OB aswell as health check with the midwife. We had 13 appointments.
Our doula was 20000 nt (about $700) which included pre-natal classes, ante-natal house visit and assistance throughout the entire labour.
The hospital bill was 24000 nt (about $800) which was for 24hour use of the water birth delivery suite, an epidural, 3 nights accomodation in private room with 3 meals a day, 24 hour access to the nursery, baby classes (how to bath baby, change baby, take baby's temperature etc), photos of baby, newborn vaccinations, and the newborn screening test and hearing test.
Which makes a total of 45000nt or $1500.
Money, very well spent!
And in true budget traveller style - how much did we pay for this whole baby business?
Well, each pre-natal appointment was between 100 and 150 nt ($3-$5) which included an ultrasound at each appointment, meeting with the OB aswell as health check with the midwife. We had 13 appointments.
Our doula was 20000 nt (about $700) which included pre-natal classes, ante-natal house visit and assistance throughout the entire labour.
The hospital bill was 24000 nt (about $800) which was for 24hour use of the water birth delivery suite, an epidural, 3 nights accomodation in private room with 3 meals a day, 24 hour access to the nursery, baby classes (how to bath baby, change baby, take baby's temperature etc), photos of baby, newborn vaccinations, and the newborn screening test and hearing test.
Which makes a total of 45000nt or $1500.
Money, very well spent!
