Shanghai Expat :: View topic - Childbirth in Shanghai

Shanghai Expat

Health Care Issues - Childbirth in Shanghai

MahamYe - Jan 20, 2004 - 04:46 PM
Post subject: Childbirth in Shanghai

My husband and I moved to Shanghai last month from the United States. We are also expecting our first child this summer. We are planning to have the baby in Shanghai, and have many questions. Hopefully, there are some parents out there that can help…? Can anyone share any experiences with childbirth/pregnancy in Shanghai? Any recommendations for an English-speaking OB/GYN? Any advice that anyone can offer is much appreciated since we are basically on our own! Thanks.

yu888 - Jan 21, 2004 - 09:31 AM
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I would advise sending a PM to ParkerFairfield as he and hsi wife had a child here in Changhai last year. They can likely shed some light on some of the issues etc as they went the "local" route of having their child, who is a real cute kid.

I have not had the misfortune (or in your case the good fortune) of requiring medical attention of any sort since arriving here (knock on wood) so all I can do is wish you luck. Smile

Oh, and congrats early on your child!

MaryR. - Jan 21, 2004 - 10:36 AM
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I´m also expecting my first baby at the end of March, and have decided also to stay in Shanghai. There are two main hospitals where foreigners go to have their babies: Haushan American-Sino hospital (6249-3246)and International Peace Maternity (I have to check the number). I´ve been to both, and they´re both quite good, with english speaking doctors/nurses and up to date technology. They do the standard prenatal care also, so you don´t have to worry about that. There´s also worldlink, but I don´t know if their maternity ward is up and running.

One thing I have to warn you about - the C-section rate in Shanghai is over 45%, which I think is awful. I started at the American-Sino hospital, but when I heard their C-section rate is 50-60%, I switched to Peace Maternity, where it is lower. I would highly recommend you check out both before deciding. Another thing to keep in mind, at the A-S hospitl there is no neo-natal unit, so if there´s a problem the baby has to be sent to a hospital 10 minutes away, which might be a concern if you´re not released yet. Peace Maternity has one in the same building.

You might want to contact Anke at Birthwise - she offers childbirth classes and pregnancy yoga classes. She´s on vacation til the beginning of March, but her email address is: birthwise2000@hotmail.com The classes are good, and it´s nice to meet other prego people in Shanghai.

Hope this helps!

MaryR. - Jan 21, 2004 - 05:09 PM
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The number for Peace Maternity is 6447-0399 - foreigners usually go to the 6th floor "VIP" floor, becaue they speak english there.

Both hospitals will do check ups on Saturdays too, in case you´re working.

I went to a La Leche League meeting in December. (Everyone was normal, it wasn´t over the top). Anyway, I got a lot of really good info on shopping for baby stuff, etc. there. Just so you know that´s an option too, the women were all very open and helpful.

I´m also new to Shanghai (3 months), but if I can help with anything else, let me know.

lioralourie - Jan 22, 2004 - 12:24 PM
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Hi, Mary and MahamYe

I'm in a similar boat to you, too...We are also expecting our first baby, due relatively soon- around late February/early March. We've been living in Shanghai just a few months, and also decided to birth in Shanghai.

I've been getting prenatal care at American Sino OBGYN, and have been pleased so far. That is, until I heard your figures, Mary---I had no idea.

This is a really distressing cesarean rate, both in the clinic, and Shanghai in general. With no malpractice culture here, I never dreamed that the cesarean rate would be double that in America! Just the opposite--I assumed that completely natural (no pain meds, no epidural, etc...) would be the norm here.

OK ladies, this means we'll just have to be a lit tle better educated, and fight a little harder for the type of birth we want, and be proactive. [That being said, I am working up the nerve to present American-Sino with my newly-crafted, Bradley Method -ish Birth Plan, which I admit is rather stringent with regard to avoiding medical interventions]. If this weren't my first baby, I would definitely want a home birth.

Mary, do you know how I can get in touch with the LLL here in Shanghai?

thanks abunch!
Liora

MaryR. - Jan 22, 2004 - 03:35 PM
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Hi Liora -

If it weren´t my first baby I´d be doing a home birth too!

I also thought that childbirth would be very natural here, and in the class I took was the first time I heard otherwise. They´ll answer your questions honestly at the hospital, but they won´t offer the info without being asked, so I would ask.

When I asked my doctor at A-S why the c-section rate is so high here, she said that since the single child policy hospitals have encouraged c-sections, because they make more money. She said that to my face - I almost fell over! I would pay more money to avoid one! Apparently most women here think that you can keep your figure better with a c-section than natural, and believe your body stays the same over all. Same with breast feeding - apparently the % of women that do it here is very low (I´m talking SÄhanghai, not all of China).

LLL is run by Erica, her number is 138 1805 7044, or email ericaelhady@yahoo.com I think the next meeting is Feb. 17th, and they meet once a month, on Wednesdays.

I hope it works out well with your birth plan! In this regard I was warned to have my husband know every aspect of it too, because they´ll take him aside and "explain" to him why you need something without you being present, so he´ll help persuade you into something.

I´m not trying to be over dramatic about all of this, but I´ve been really worried since I started hearing more experiences of having a baby here.

I´m sure we´ll all be fine, but you´re right - the only way to make it better is to know as much as possible!

MahamYe - Jan 22, 2004 - 06:01 PM
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Thanks so much for the information! It's incredible helpful. I'm really disturbed about the high c-section rate, too. I have an appointment at A-S next week and I'm planning to make my position on the topic very clear. I'm also going to make an appointment at International Peace Maternity to expand our options. Since I read your post, I took an informal poll of a few local mothers I know and 2 out of 3 had c-sections. I had no idea it was so high. I think of it as worst-case scenario, not first-case scenario!!! Liora, please let me know how responsive A-S is to your birth plan...as their reaction to patient input will definitely affect my selection process.

My goal is to also deliver 100% natural, with my husband as coach (much like Bradley). Have either of you found any websites that you thought were invaluable in your education process? I picked up a few books when I was in US over holidays, but definitely need more information. Thanks for the contact info on LLL, I think the meeting sounds like a great idea.

Since you are both a bit further along than me, I'm curious to hear about overall cultural attitudes towards pregnant women in general...It seems I don't see many pregnant women on the street. Are we supposed to stay home the whole time??!! I know this will make me crazy. Also, were you able to find maternity clothes that fit properly? Thanks so much for your help~~

lioralourie - Jan 22, 2004 - 06:12 PM
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Thank you Mary for all the good info and smart advice.

My wonderful husband, and perhaps more importantly, my own vigilant mother will be here for the birth (unless I go into labor a little early, then my equally vigilant friend has agreed to be there with me!!)

Both my mom and my friend are totally pro-natural. I'm fortunate that they're both well-educated laypeople, except that my mom's an RN too, which I'm hoping will count for something to the hospital staff.

My mom in her younger days was pretty progressive. After her first birth experience (a bad one, and me, unfortunately) at the Air Force Base, for the next baby she traveled 2 hours for just the right hospital to have a natural birthing experience. No episiotomy, no forceps, no pudendal block, au-natural and what a wonderful experience, she says. By the time she had her third child, my youngest sibling, she did so at home for a very relaxed and natural birth. This was in 1976. She nursed all three of us, and was active in LLL from '70-76, at a time when mostly all the doctors recommended formulas and treated you like an ignoramous (if you were lucky) or a rebellious child abuser (if you were unlucky) if you breastfed.

Times have changed, well, sort of. In the States they have, somewhat. I get the feeling that Shanghai's birthing and motherhood practices are sort of like the U.S. around 1980. They just haven't caught up yet.

happy birth to you, too! Maybe some of us new moms can stay in touch over the next few months

lioralourie - Jan 23, 2004 - 12:18 AM
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hi, MahamYe

So sorry, I was out the door just after my last post, and I didn't see your post till just now.

Well, I haven't noticed any odd attitudes about pregnant women here. People at the supermarkets seem a little protective, sometimes emptying my cart for me, and trying to carry my groceries and what-not, even when it's just 2 small plastic bags...that's about the extent of it.

Traditional Chinese thought seems to concern itself mostly with what you do after the birth (well-intentioned people insisting that I "don't leave the house for a whole month" "don't get chilled in any way, even by taking a shower or bath, for a whole month", "no cold drinks, no fruits, lots of soups" etc...) I just smile and say "interesting".

As for maternity clothes, like all the other clothes here, well, I guess that'll depend on whether you're a size 2 to begin with. I'm a pre preg. size 8, but I'm also 5'9" which rules out most tops and coats here anyway when my gangly arms stick unattractively out the wrist holes.

I didn't try very hard, but I haven't run into a lot of good maternity clothes here. I did luck into some unusually large wool cardigans last fall at Carrefour and, thinking way ahead, bought 3 colors in the biggest size available which fit about like a U.S. size Large. (I should've bought more!). I did notice the other day a very few Thyme maternity jumpers in the baby goods section of a department store. [Oriental Dept. store, but listed in the English phone book as "Orient" Department Store. It is next to the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Hong Qiao road at Caoxi Road. They also carried some nursing bras (kind of high, like, 300 RMB & the largest size I saw was a 36C), baby clothes, electronic thermometers, a good selection of cribs, strollers and so forth.] Maybe the other department stores have a better selection of maternity and larger size clothes, I don't know.

Don't forget your current items, too. I've found that 3 of my favorite, loosest elastic or drawstring long skirts are still wardrobe staples in the beginning of month 9, as well as several long, loose dresses which still work ok when paired with a cardigan or big sweater. Stretchy, knit skirts with elastic can also be worn below the belly, too. But if you're wearing separates, having a good selection of long-enough (larger-size or maternity) sweaters/tops that keep our poochey belly buttons covered really are necessities.

If you don't have a trip home planned, maybe you have someone in the States who can ship stuff here. Then you could order online at the Gap, Old Navy, Ebay, etc. Oh, yeah, the most frugal option might be having stuff tailor-made for you here. They know how to make stuff with growing room. Going this route may require the assistance of a fluent Chinese speaker in order to get the job done right.

I haven't any invaluable websites, almost all of my birthing info has been from two books: Susan McCutcheon's "Natural Childbirth the Bradley[TM] Way", and William and Martha Sears' "The Birth Book".

A quick google yielded these gems, though:
http://www.bygpub.com/natural/natural-childbirth.htm
http://birthstories.com/First_Baby/Natural_Births/

best of luck--I'll let everyone know how AM-SINO responds to my list of terrorist demands...uh, I mean, right, my Birth Plan.

PKMAN - Jan 23, 2004 - 06:52 AM
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I haven't read through all the articles but have anyone thought about the citizenship issue.

Based on my understanding, child born overseas to parents of US citizen may not be able to obtain US citizenship automatically and may have to go through the naturalization process, like all immigrants. And it is possible for a naturalized US citizen to be "de-naturalized" and expelled from the US, where as a US-born citizen can never lose his/her citizenship. Furthermore, non-US-born citizen cannot be US President or run for some gov't posts.

My wife and I may be moving to Shanghai and we're trying to start a family. We agreed that if she gets pregnant while in Shanghai, she'll return to the US to give birth, to assure the child's US-born status.

lioralourie - Jan 23, 2004 - 02:36 PM
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hi, PK man

Well, I think you might've heard wrong, but your helpful spirit is certainly appreciated. According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Webpage, simply being born to U.S. citizens anywhere is fully equivalent to being born on U.S. soil, and it mentions no restrictions at all. If anyone can cite important restrictions, please post the link--thanks!!!

See:

http://uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/faq.htm#q2

so this is the text:

2. Who is born a United States citizen?
Generally, people are born U.S. citizens if they are born in the United States or if they are born to U.S. citizens:

(1) By being born in the United States
If you were born in the United States (including, in most cases, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), you are an American citizen at birth (unless you were born to a foreign diplomat). Your birth certificate is proof of your citizenship.

(2) Through birth abroad to TWO United States citizens
In most cases, you are a U.S. citizen if ALL of the following are true:
Both your parents were U.S. citizens when you were born; and
At least one of your parents lived in the United States at some point in their life.

Your record of birth abroad, if registered with a U.S. consulate or embassy, is proof of your citizenship. You may also apply for a passport to have your citizenship recognized. If you need additional proof of your citizenship, you may file a Form N-600, "Application for Certificate of Citizenship" to get a Certificate of Citizenship. You may download the form by clicking here, or you may call the USCIS Forms Line at 1(800) 870-3676 to request a Form N-600.

(3) Through birth abroad to ONE United States citizen

In most cases, you are a U.S. citizen if ALL of the following are true:

One of your parents was a U.S. citizen when you were born;

Your citizen parent lived at least 5 years in the United States before
you were born; and
At least 2 of these 5 years in the United States were after your
citizen parent's 14th birthday*.

Your record of birth abroad, if registered with a U.S. consulate or embassy, is proof of your citizenship. You may also apply for a passport to have your citizenship recognized. If you need additional proof of your citizenship, you may file an "Application for Certificate of Citizenship" (Form N-600) with USCIS to get a Certificate of Citizenship.

*If you were born before November 14, 1986, you are a citizen if your U.S. citizen parent lived in the United States for at least 10 years and 5 of those years in the United States were after your citizen parent's 14th birthday.

hi again--So, when you hear about restrictions on 'foreign-born citizens', looks like they're talking about people like Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is a NATURALIZED citizen, that is, not simply foreign-born [to U.S. parents]. By the way, I never heard whether the bill passed, but Sen. Orrin Hatch last summer did propose a bill lifting the whole "antiquated notion" of citizenship-by-birth in regards to running for president. Such a bill would even allow a naturalized citizen to run for president. Interesting, huh?

You know, I'm not sure it would be feasible or even necessary for anyone to disrupt their lives so much. The way I see it, she would need to take at least 2 months off for a U.S. birth. Pregnant women are not able to fly internationally within like 4-6 weeks before the due date, sometimes longer (you'd better have a signed letter from a Doc attesting that she's 35 weeks of gestation or less--airlines also differ slightly on their pregnancy policies). And you wouldn't want to expose a newborn to all the germy recycled airplane air, so she'd probably want to spend another month+ in the U.S. Plus, there's always possibility that she'll go long, and have the baby 2+ weeks after the due date, which further complicates things....

What some people decide to do is travel to Hong Kong to give birth. This means she could travel up to 2 weeks prior to her due date, it's only a $500, 3 hour flight, and the range of facilities there is impressive, I hear. But I want to be at home as soon as possible, and I don't want to be separated at all from my husband.

You should know that the costs of health care are minimal here--to the degree that my husband and I decided not to carry the nearly $10,000 annual international health insurance...anyone with a few thousand bucks in the bank is basically self-insured in China! Just a few weeks ago, I had a bad kidney stone. I couldn't keep anything down for a day or so, and began to get dehydrated, so had to go to the hospital. All the medicines, ultrasound, lab work, doctors fees, and 2 nights in a private room with my husband...all cost only $460 U.S. And this was in a foreigner ward where the cost is probably 10x that of the typical Chinese. And it was high-quality, modern, friendly care, with English speaking staff, etc.

So for us, neither the insurance, nor the citizenship are issues. What might be an issue is the abominably high cesarean rate mentioned above...but even that can be combatted, I believe, with knowledge, preparation, and a little chutzpah.

Be well and best of luck on your move!

MaryR. - Jan 23, 2004 - 04:51 PM
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PKman - I second Liora´s info on the citizenship - if you need more back up check up the Shanghai US Consulate info - they really make it easy. And as far as returning to the US, I decided if I was having major complications I would do that, but with a low risk pregnancy I´d rather stay with my husband. Also to consider - when applying for a US passport overseas they´re issued a lot quicker than in the U.S. So even if your wife and baby could fly after 4-6 weeks, she´d have to wait for the passport, which might take longer (after getting a SSN first, etc.). So unless she´d really like the comfort of being at home or with family/friends, having the baby here isn´t a bad option, in my opinion.

Liora - you´re lucky to be having your mom and friend here for the birth (as well as your husband, of course!). We´re considering getting our childbirth teacher to act as a doula, but we´re not completely sure at this point.

MahamYe - I´ve gotten teh impression that pregnant women in Shanghai (though you don´t see SO many of them here) are very proud of the pregnancy status, which I think is great! Considering most of them will only do it once, it makes sense to enjoy it as much as possible. And a pleasant surprise: they are not afraid of gaining the weight and showing off their pregnant figures, which is nice in such a 'petite' culture. I haven´t used any websites, but the usual "what to expect..." book, and my book from my childbirth class which emphasizes natural childbirth.

xixi - Jan 23, 2004 - 10:21 PM
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I don't know much about this topic. But probably I can add one more reason that I know to why the c-rate is so high here. No pain birth is new here. In most Chinese hosptical, the mother is not given anesthetic if she chooses natural birth. That's why many mothers here choose C as they are afraid of pain.(Chinese doctors are always suspecicious of anesthetic and they have a very high restriction in using that) In some hospitals for foreigners they do have no pain natural birth. So I think you can choose what you prefer actually.

PKMAN - Jan 24, 2004 - 03:12 AM
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Liora & Mary - thanks for your valuable information.

Actually I am a naturalized citizen (like Arnold) and my wife is a Canadien citizen with US green card.

My company will sponsor a "facts-finding" trip for us soon and we'll be sure to visit the American Consulate in Shanghai to clarify this point. Yes, I agree to sending her back to US to give birth would really be a pain the the rearend so if we can avoid it, we will. Just still a bit weary about China's medical facility and quality of service. Maybe I'll send her to Taiwan (where we both originated many years ago and where she still has families there) if my worry is a non-issue regardless where the baby is born.

Thanks again....

xixi - Jan 24, 2004 - 10:56 AM
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Just another thought,
2 more reasons why c-rate is so high here...

1.baby is too big for natural birth. 2 of my friends had this problem so they chose C.. (these days big babies are very common here due to too much nutrition during women's pregnancy)

2. It is said that a baby born at a certain time will have good luck. So many mothers choose C at a specified time when their pregnancy is not due yet. It happened a lot at the end of Dragon year when many parents want a dragon baby.

lioralourie - Feb 02, 2004 - 08:49 PM
Post subject: American-Sino obgyn update

Hi, Mary and MahamYe

I finally did it. I did not present my birth plan last week. Instead I cancelled my appt. and rescheduled for this week. I cancelled, well, partially due to a mild indigestion-stomachache (hey what else is new?) and partially from 'weenie-ness', I have to admit.

But I did it today...my husband came with me, and we got some good information I'd like to share.

First, regarding the Cesarean rate at American-Sino OB/GYN (foreigner ward of HuaShan hospital): our doc gave us the numbers. She said they have had approximately 60 births at Am-Sino, and around 10 of those were C-sections. If accurate, this would mean about a 17% Section rate there, which is not awful. I have since found out that she basically lied; that their C-section rate, elective and emergency, is over 60%!

Okay, on to the next topic: the Birth plan. I presented it, and we discussed all the items point by point. Overall, our doc was quite flexible and willing to accommodate many of our requests. update: They gave my birth plan lip service and followed their convenient, standard procedures!! There were some things they absolutely can not accommodate, though [if a c-section, husband cannot be in O.R. with me, and they must strap down the upper arms during the operation].

My request to have my choice of pushing positions throughout second stage of labor was met with less-than-excitement. Doctor was not able to think 'beyond the stirrups' while I am one of those radicals who thinks that whatever positions are most comfortable and seem most instinctive are the ones a birthing mother should be in. She seemed to think that lying flat on my back for 2+ hours would be the best possible birthing position (yeah, best for the doctor, alright. And best to require a painful episiotomy in a most sensitive area, and a forceps delivery!).

She also said something strange that I have not run across in any of my reading: she said that only if the membranes are still intact there is no problem with mobility, and that after membrane rupture one should assume the back position, or at least restrict mobility to prevent cord prolapse(???!) (I don't have an M.D. but this sounds like hogwash.)

But I finally got her to agree that a 'sitting squat' [sitting upright at a 45 degree angle or more, with legs held right up against the torso during a pushing contraction] might be an acceptable middle ground. From my vantage point right now this seems like it'll be a good position for the actual birth, but I won't know anything for sure till I'm there in the situation.

The doctor nixed my request for Fetal Heart Rate to be monitored by a human rather than that contraption, the External Fetal Monitor. I do plan on minimizing, or possibly rejecting outright, the EFM because of its high "false fetal distress" rate (75%!) that can send ya straight to the operating room for no good reason.

In the clinic's new setup on the 14th floor, there is a nursery for a quick post-birth bath, immunizations, and measurement, but this is right across the hall and my husband and I can accompany the baby there.

Items stated as standard procedure: Baby will be given immediately to me, before the cord is cut, to bond and for baby to breastfeed. They did not do this!! Natural delivery of the placenta They tugged on my cord until it came out, not at all recommended!!!, and even delaying cutting the cord a few minutes until it stops pulsating were also okay with them. They lied, they cut the cord within seconds, depriving the baby of much-needed iron-rich blood. In the event of a Section, epidural is the anesthesia of choice so mom can be alert throughout. Doc also easily agreed to no bottles or artificial nipples which could confuse a learning breastfeeder. They did honor this point.

I hope this is helpful to everyone. If there's a specific question not addressed here, feel free to PM me.

China is not California, for sure, but I'm a little more confident now that in Shanghai I'll be able to have something resembling a good birth experience. Please keep in touch, all you birthers out there, and let us and everyone learn from your experiences. I'll certainly try to update this thread with the specifics of our birth in a few weeks.

37 weeks and counting...
liora

MaryR. - Feb 03, 2004 - 09:54 PM
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Liora,

It sounds like your appt went well, and I can appreciate the wennie-ness, I might have rescheduled twice!

Anyway, my doc there told me it was a 60% c-section rate, but that might have been her personal rate, and the administrator I spoke with told me 50%, so something is a little weird. Considering your mom will be with you though, I don´t think you have a thing to worry about! That will probably be one of the biggest factors in having a good birth experience, and you´re up on the process, so I´m sure it will go well for you! I wish my mom would be here!

We´ll definitely have to keep in touch, but enjoy this time - you don´t have much time to go! I´m jealous, but I guess I still have lots of shopping to do...

MaryR. - Mar 12, 2004 - 05:28 PM
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I´m bumping this up for Golddd2 and Donna - hope this helps!

jenming - Mar 12, 2004 - 05:52 PM
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Also, just for general information, here's some info TXMOM posted a while ago, that i'll regurgitate for them.

TXMOM wrote:

I just came across and excellent article on the Amcham Shanghai website about heatlhcare concerns of expats and those considering an expat assignment to China, particularly those from the U.S.:

http://www.amcham-shanghai.org/contents/amchat-article.aspx?doc_id=227

golddd2 - Mar 15, 2004 - 01:44 PM
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Hi MaryR. and the other posters on this thread.

Thanks, so much for all the info. It makes a hard (no matter how joyous) task much easier.

This is my third year here, and I speak some Chinese while my wife speaks a lot. But, first-hand expat experience is something I'm much more comfortable with as a guide on medical care here.

Thanks again.

Happy arrivals to you all.

PS: babies born this year will be 'golden monkeys'. This is an exceptionally propitious time for birthing according to tradition, so you may need to be mindful of that when preplanning baby stuff. You'll actually be seeing a lot more pregnant mums around than last year - Year of the sheep is one of the 'worst' years.

russa - June 08, 2004 - 12:18 AM
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I am considering having my second baby here next year. Anyone to join? (the Planner) Smile

lioralourie - June 21, 2005 - 10:04 PM
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I'm with you, Russa, if you work fast...I'm already 2 months pregnant (with baby #2). Considering a home birth, or Changning Maternity Hospital for their water birth.

blursotong - June 28, 2005 - 03:05 PM
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Hi Liora,

I'm currently 4mths pregnant with baby #1 and am going with Am-Sino, so will need some advice....

Did u finally manage to give birth in the position u wanted? Also, did u have an episotomy? Cos I'm keliod(?)-prone, so the less cuts on me the better Very Happy

Would really appreciate it if u could give me a blow-by-blow account (pm me?) of the delivery.....thanks......

russa - July 06, 2005 - 09:30 AM
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lioralourie, congratulations!!!! I've wrote a short post in Family Life and Kids thread about waterbirth we had. See you at LLL meeting!!!! Smile

inastas - July 07, 2005 - 06:42 AM
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Just arrived in Shanghai, having a son of 10months and 3 months pregnant of our second.
I am looking for a babycarseat for my son of 10months...any idea where they have the most choice?
I went to peace and maternity hospital yesterday, it was very nice staff and an english speaking doctor so I m pleased with them..
Although I m planning to go back to Belgium end of november for delivery..
I m going to a meeting of International Mothers in Shanghai tomorrow, hope to meet some of you there?!
Greetings from a Belgian family.
Ina, Arno and Erik Very Happy

Yink - July 27, 2005 - 09:28 AM
Post subject: yoga class for pregnant woman

Hi, we are in Shanghai for 4 months now, and 3 months pregnant, went to the Peace and Maternity hospital last week, quite happy about it.
Do you know anything about yoga class for pregnant woman in shanghai? Don't have much information here really.Can you help?
Cheers

russa - July 28, 2005 - 03:03 PM
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"You might want to contact Anke at Birthwise - she offers childbirth classes and pregnancy yoga classes. her email address is: birthwise2000@hotmail.com The classes are good, and it´s nice to meet other prego people in Shanghai. " also see the Childbirth thread in Family and Kids

DrMoreton - July 30, 2005 - 05:53 PM
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The C-S rate is a topic that would take thousands of words to cover all the issues. Enough to say that in many Chinese hospitals the rate is so high that a C-S is the 'normal' birth anda vaginal delivery the labelled one.

I researched our C-S rate at Beijing United Family Hospital in 2003. I divided the parents into 3 groups 1. Expat/ex-pats (both parents with foreign passports) 2 Joint venture couple (usually Ex-pat husband/Chinese wife and 3. Local Chinese/Chinese.

There were 63% in group 1 21% in group 2 and 16% in group 3

The C-S rates were 23% 42% and 49%

An over all rate of just over 30%.

The figure of interest is the 23% for Exp/exp and you have to remember that there are some ethnic Chinese mothers in this group-- Chinese Americans,Canadians,Aussies and Singaporeans who tend to be alittle more C-S preferring than othe Ex-pats.

I even broke it down and looked at the figure for mothers from those countries that traditionally have low C-S rates, Scandinavian countries, Germany and the Netherlands and in this group of mothers found that the rate was in the low teens.

Our experience in Shanghai is similar. We have had 60 babies so far and I will wait until 100 are born before I publish any results.

But at the end of the day what is not important is not the statistic, it is whether each and every mother had a fulfilling birth experiece and if she hada C-S she felt it was the best for both her and her baby.

russa - July 31, 2005 - 11:06 PM
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And how many births and couples were in this statistics for 2003?

DrMoreton - Aug 01, 2005 - 08:29 AM
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nearly 300

rongchi - Aug 02, 2005 - 10:11 PM
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Hi all, am trying to conceive in Shanghai, so will probably need some advice. Anyone in my same situation? Thanks.

yu888 - Feb 09, 2006 - 05:24 PM
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Even though this thread was started over a year ago and the initial Baby is probbaly up and walking by now, this question remains one of the most asked questions in the Family and Healy catagory, so I went and dug this upfor prospective parents to have it more readily available. Smile

MahamYe - Feb 09, 2006 - 09:27 PM
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Haha- you are right, Yu! The initial baby is now a chatty little toddler. There was also another good thread with 3-4 pages debating the merits of various hospitals...I think it called something like "Having a Baby" and was circa Spring 2004, though it was debated for over a year on the same string. I tried to find it but didn't have too much luck with the search function....?

Verochka - Sep 27, 2006 - 05:33 AM
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Does anyone have recent prenatal care/birth experience to share? Shanghai changes so often that I'm afraid some of the older info here are no longer relevent.

A2340 - Sep 27, 2006 - 06:47 AM
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I'm due in two weeks and have been using Worldlink for my prenatal care. I'll also be having the baby at their birthing center. I've had nothing but good experiences. I've also spoken to several other mothers who were pregnant and have since given birth there and they all have good stories.

jesska - Sep 27, 2006 - 08:56 AM
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Me too - having prenatal care at Worldlink with Dr Kong and I'm happy with it so far (not due for a while yet). People have also said good things about Shanghai United Family Hospital. A number of ladies in my prenatal yoga class are having their babies there. International Peace Maternity seems to get good reviews also. Check out these more recent threads:

http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/index.php?name=MDForum&file=viewtopic&t=47991&highlight=birth
http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/index.php?name=MDForum&file=viewtopic&t=37991&highlight=birth.

MinniMe - Sep 27, 2006 - 11:21 AM
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A2340 wrote:

Hi!
I am also due in two weeks and having my baby in Worldlink. Maybe I'll see you there Smile

A2340 - Sep 30, 2006 - 06:28 AM
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MinniMe,

It appears that I'm having my little one next week via C. Good luck with your delivery!

lioralourie - Feb 05, 2007 - 02:12 PM
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the La Leche League contact info has changed. See

http://www.llli.org/Shanghai.html for contact details

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