Transformation: Expat Parents Club Forum is Up

What started as a few people getting together to talk about pregnancy in Korea turned into a small e-mail list and then a private blog for us to share and stay connected. Over the past few months, we out grew the format (over 80 members). We recently moved to a forum and it is up and running. It is still a work in progress and we will adapt it as necessary.

Expat Parents Forum

48

The Expat Moms Club Korea has 48 members with several more set to join.

You just need one friend to make living in another country fun. One friend to go for coffee with or to lunch. One person who calls you besides your husband. This group has given that by being a source of online support and connecting people to others near them. I am so proud that we've helped women find natural childbirth friendly providers and hospitals, including the options to have a doula and homebirth. I am proud that we have introduced women to the ideas of Hypnobirthing/Hypnobabies which show that labor can be beautiful and peaceful. We've given pregnancy, parenting, and breastfeeding support to each other. We given "living-in-Korea" support to each other.

My next goal for this group is to gather the information that we have pieced together and put it in a document and distribute it to groups like the American Women's Club, The Seoul International Womens Association and The Armed Forces Spouses Club so that pregnant expats don't have to struggle to find options and support.

Thanks, moms!

Welcome Grace!

Sarah's Quest for Cuteness has been accomplished!

Welcome Reo!

Another expat mom had her baby boy! Congratulations to R!

Great Deals on Baby/Maternity and Another Baby Boy

The first of the Expat Moms has delivered her baby, a boy named Ryan. Congratulations, S!

Also, I got a tip from Z Recommends about a great Hanna Andersson sale. Really wish I knew the sex of the baby so I could buy more cute things. As it is, I scored some pjs for Ian and a few things for the baby. I bought a pair of Hanna Andersson overalls last year at a consignment shop here in Erie called Milestones. They were in great condition and Ian was able to wear them a long time. The clothes are pricey, but if you can get them on sale or consignment, they are great to have.

Also, Baby Center is a having an incredible sale on everything. There are Hot Slings for $9 and up and Mama Black jeans for $25 and up.

Expat Pregnancy Club Meets Again!

This time we meet at the Seven Springs restaurant in Myeongdong (near Myeongdong Station, Exit 6) on a side street. It is mainly a buffet place, which offered a lot of choice for our large group: 11 moms, 1 grandma and 2 babies.

I definitely need to come back to Myeongdong after pregnancy. There was a lot of cheap goods on the street.

Connecting with these other women has been great for all of us. It makes such a difference to have people to share information and experiences with. Even though we come from different places, the English language and our foreignness have allowed us to bond quickly. As Sarah said, I hope this becomes a baby group after everyone has their babies.

*******This small group has transformed into a Expat Parents Club Forum.

Go here to join:
http://expatparents.50.forumer.com/index.php

Korean Translations for Some Baby Items

Important translation for new expat Mums

속싸개 (swaddling cloth)

애기 이불(blanket for the baby)

젖병(bottle)

분유(formula)

손싸개(mittens)

유모차(stroller)

유모차 커버(stroller cover against the wind & yellow dusts)

황사(yellow dusts)

유기농 물티슈 or 아토피 물티슈 (Organic baby wiper)

기저귀(diapers)

큐티 기저귀 (cuttie diaper)-it’s a Korean name for “pampers “ diapers.)

유아용 세탁세제(detergent for baby’s clothes)

젖병세제(detergent for washing the bottle or toys)

워터 스프레이(water mist)

제일평화시장 2F-3F (jae-il pyoung hwa market in Dongdaemun) –where you can buy baby body suits for reasonable price (Don’t go to department stores to buy baby clothes unless you have a lot of money!)

아기 욕조(Baby bath tub)

아기 비누(baby soap)

온습도계(thermometer for the temperature & humidity)

수유쿠션(breast feeding cushion)

기저귀 교환대 (changing table)

회음부 방석(cushion for the woman who had episiotomies)

귀체온계(ear thermometer)

수유패드(breastfeeding pads)

산모용 패드(Postpartum sanitary pads)

배넷 저고리(kimono style baby clothes for newborn)

아기 손톱가위(baby scissors for nail cutting)

유축기(breast pump)

모유저장팩(disposable breast milk storage bag)

기저귀 발진 크림(nappy rash cream)

유기농, 친환경(organic, bio items)

모기장(mosquito net)

복합식 가습기 ( Humidifier with cold steam and hot steam)

공기정화기 (air ventilator)

Expat Pregnancy Club Meets!

6 of us foreign pregnant/recent moms from 5 different countries met up for lunch on Sunday. We all met through the blog or through someone else that found the blog, though, subsequently, other common connections have been found.

The information exchange was awesome, hence the rash of posts yesterday and there is more to come. If you have good info on maternity/baby related things, please leave a comment or send me an e-mail. We are particularly interested in affordable products and classes, support, playgroups, doctors, etc. Your hospital/doctor experience including the cost and type of insurance you have would be helpful for people to have an idea about cost. If you have foreign insurance, how was the reimbursement process? Is there anything you need to be sure to request from the hospital for documentation to make that easier? More importantly, how were you treated? Would you recommend your doctor/hospital to others?

********This small group has transformed into a Expat Parents Club Forum.

Go here to join:
http://expatparents.50.forumer.com/index.php