How to have a baby in Korea

When I learned I was pregnant AND we were going to Korea, I had more questions than anyone could even think about answering. I began asking people who hadn’t even had babies but that had been to Osan. I got such a hodge podge of information it took me until after I delivered the baby to get all of the answers.

So for anyone wondering, here’s how to have a baby in Korea:

When you come to Osan and receive a positive blood test, your name’s given to Ms. Chon, the RN who works for our OB Nurse Practitioner. Ms. Chon calls with a date for your OB orientation. It’s a 3 hour class of some paperwork and information on how your care will be handled here. You’ll have your first set of blood work done then and receive an appointment with Maj. Koehler our Nurse Practitioner. If you’re considered high risk you’ll be sent to USAG Yongsan (an army post) to the 121 Combat Support Hospital and receive the rest of your OB appointments there. If not, you will see the Nurse Practitioner here in Osan until somewhere between 32-36 weeks and then transfer your care to the 121 as well.

If you do need to travel to Yongsan for prenatal care, there is a shuttle bus that runs several times a day between Osan and Yongsan that is only 5,500 won per way. It goes straight from base to base. There, you can take a taxi to the actual hospital (which is located on south post). I suggest taking the bus considering all of the traffic here. It only takes 70 minutes by bus (because of special bus lanes) and can take several hours by car.

There are several doctors who work in the OB clinic as well as one midwife. You can try and schedule your appointments with the one of your choosing but there’s no guarantee they’ll be available. I found it nice that I had seen every doctor at least once before I delivered so that I would know the doctor delivering my baby.

Everything about the actual labor and delivery is just like in the States. There are even options for c-sections, natural delivery, and VBACs.

At 38 weeks you are expected to stay up at the “Stork’s Nest” and wait to go into labor. This is basically to cut down on the cost of the Osan ambulance trip up there (and also for safety). Because of the horrible traffic here, it could take hours (and it frequently does) to finally make it to Yongsan. The storks nest is a small house with several bedrooms (mine had 8) with a common kitchen and bathroom. It’s just across some baseball fields from the hospital. Your spouse and children can stay with you. (Ask for a family room if you can get one) The current buildings are pretty small and old, but they were in the process of finishing new ones when I was there. Let’s just say I said a few prayers for my water to break the first night so I wouldn’t have to stay there any longer. (Lucky me, they were answered!) If there is no room at the storks nest you can stay at the Dragon Hill Lodge, the Embassy Quarters or two different hotels off base.

Here are a few other bits of information.

- Yongsan will only deliver a baby at 36 weeks gestation or later. Otherwise you are sent away to a Korean Hospital to have your baby because there is not a military NICU on the peninsula.

- Double check the time and date of your appointments at Yongsan with the personnel there. Several women have had a problem with the scheduling.

- Okinawa, Japan (which is also located in PACAF) has a NICU, I don’t know the rules and procedures for possibly delivering there but know that it is a possible option and it’s not too far away.

- Children are technically not allowed in the OB clinic, they suggest you really try and leave your older kiddos at home, CDC, what have you.

- They will not give you an epidural just because you ask for one. You have to be “so far along” and in active labor.

- They do not give you dermaplast or those nice little “woman part ice packs”. A good friend gave me a great tip. Tear open the back inside of a newborn diaper, fill with ice and have a seat.

I learned a lot and asked a lot of questions, if you have more I (or someone I know) knows the answer so e-mail me at laurennaddy@sbcglobal.net . I wish I could have had someone lay it out for me. It would have calmed a lot of fears for me in the beginning. Although not quite as convenient as having a baby in the States, it was a great experience and I’d do it all over again.

Lauren, guest poster