BootsnAll Travel Community

DH and I are seriously considering going to Europe for a year, staying in various countries. It's the perfect time in our lives to sell the house and pay rent in Europe versus here.

The only kicker is, we've been trying to expand our family the past few months (before ideas of Europe came into our head). My thinking is that we should put our family planning on hold, at least until we get there (September potentially) and then we could always come home early. DH, on the other hand, says we should keep seeing what happens. He thinks it would be fine and fun if I got pregnant to have our baby in Switzerland if things worked out that way. At first I was deadset "No," but DH has a way of convincing me to do some crazy things.

I am 32 years old and we want 2 kids, so I don't have a whole lot of time left, either.

What do you think? Put our family planning on hold? Or go for it and possibly have a baby in Europe? Or scrap the whole Europe idea and just family plan?

The Swiss medical establishment is excellent. Not cheap, but some of the best health care in the world.

Not that you mentioned it, but I'd pass on the UK--just ask Madonna about her thoughts on that idea

Note that it would not automatically entitle your child to a Swiss passport.

Could DH jr (dear husband?) or houseblend jr get citizenship if he/she/it were born abroad? If so, do it!

A friend of mine was born in europe (sorry, cant member the country). Both his parents where australian and lived in australia but were traveling when they had him. Australia said he couldnt be an australian citezen because he wasnt born there. the country he was born in said he couldnt stay because both his parents were on tourist visas. so eventually england said that if no one else would take him he could be english.

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he could be english.

Rough break.

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Australia said he couldnt be an australian citezen because he wasnt born there.

That does not sound accurate to me, so I checked it out: Oz Immigration FAQ: I was born overseas to an Australian parent. Am I an Australian citizen?

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You are eligible for registration as an Australian citizen by descent if you were born overseas and:

* one of your parents was an Australian citizen at the time of your birth;
* you are under 25 years of age;
* you are of good character (applicants aged 18 and over). Form 47P tells you how to get a police certificate in your country of residence.

You are also eligible for registration if you were born overseas between 26 January 1949 and 15 January 1974 and:

* one of your parents was an Australian citizen at the time of your birth;
* you are of good character;
* you have an acceptable reason for not being registered before.

A dog AND a baby in Europe? Well, you're brave anyway.

I think the idea's got its merits. After all, this is western Europe you're talking, and not the third world, so medically things would be fine. Might be expensive, though.

Maybe once you guys are there, you'll have a better feel for things. But don't be stressing just because your clock is ticking -- you've still got time after your year in Europe, if you did want to wait. My mother had me when she was 37 and has absolutely no regrets. I turned out healthy and whole and only a little obnoxious.

I will say, if your child turns out to be a travel fiend like you guys, he or she will forever thank you for being born in an EU nation and being entitled to the perks of holding such a passport (if applicable).

--Jessicah

lol, yes, Jessicah (to the dog and baby). We are admittedly crazy. And you're just seeing the traveling part of that!

I don't know. I keep going back and forth on the idea. Switzerland definitely has a great medical system from what I've read. I'm not sure if our kid could get citizenship or not, as they are extra-strict there, but at least he/she wouldn't be english. (j/k, of course!)

Right now I'm leaning towards holding off a bit on family planning and then maybe shortening our trip to 8 or 9 months if things happen. DH is much more adventurous (and crazy) then me.

Well, you're the one who'd have to be in the hospital, not him - so the bottom line is that you have to be comfortable with the idea.

Having said that, people all over the world have babies every day, in all kinds of conditions. I'm guessing you'd be fine wherever you ended up.

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people all over the world have babies every day, in all kinds of conditions. I'm guessing you'd be fine wherever you ended up.

Exactly. You might even have more choices because by choosing where to have a baby you also get to choose between styles and medical techniques. For example some countries, cities or hospitals are more into midwifery and breast feeding than others. I'd recommend www.mothering.com if you're looking for more info. It's an american site but there are some expats on it as well and they discuss the details of it. In the forum, go to "finding your tribe" and then "tribal areas". they're an interesing bunch.
On the other hand, don't forget that you could always get pregnant abroad, but late enough in the trip that the child wil be born in the US.

Without wanting to completely throw cold water on a romantic idea, travel insurance policies all seem to explicitly exclude anything to do with pregnancy, so you would be up for all expenses.

If you choose somewhere other than Switzerland, you would need to look into the implications for the child; I'm thinking particularly of the requirements in some countries for military service on coming of age.

Why not just go for it and then decide? As you've found, pregnancies don't always happen when we want them to ...

Good luck whatever you decide!

Nymie, although you're absolutely right on the insurance issue, I think you're overestimating the military service thing. Most countries in Europe don't give you citizenship just for being born there. Instead the child automatically receives it's parents' citizenship. Hence no military service (which Switzerland has too by the way).

Nymie - So true about pregnancies not happening when planned. We probably won't get to leave for our trip for 6 months (whenever the house sells), so that is a lot of time for something to happen, but one never knows. I just don't want to get all the plans in place for our trip and all excited and then not be able to go. Silly, huh? Having a baby vs. going to Europe - I really can't lose either way, but I guess I want the best of both worlds!

I did find this company that appears to offer maternity coverage:
http://www.hthtravelinsurance.com/prdCobrand/gl_citizen...713&CFTOKEN=86602470

I'm going to call tomorrow and double-check.

Elis - You are right about more options available. I've been researching Switzerland more and I'm almost wondering now if it would medically be better to have the baby there. They seem more advanced in their choices. The main thing that would be lacking would be our support system (which is not terribly great here, anyway), unless of course we become friendly enough with our temporary neighbors there. Thanks for the link - I will check it out!

During an Ashes cricket tour of England the Australian captain sent his pregnant wife home to Australia as he didn't want a child born on English soil.



Beyond that sort of thing you are just going to have to make a judgement about baby welfare which you seem to be doing.

Here is a link that maybe of use if you are really on the move. All the best.

Although you and your baby's health is the most important consideration I'd say go for it.

I was travelling in Spain with my best friend when she went into labour in this tiny little village miles away from a hospital. We were in the middle of the square and out of nowhere a woman who must have been in her 80s came rushing out with hot water and linen. The baby was delivered healthy two hours later. They even provided us with a small flat and food while Suz recuperated. I've never been so amazed at the generosity of strangers. We return every year to the same place, becoming extended members of Carmen's family and the community.

I say: go for it! How much more romantic could it be than trying to guess which romantic tryst resulted in this perfect little being? Hmm, was it that time in the mountain hut in the Swiss Alps, or was it that time on the full moonlit beach in Portugal? And you'll be having so much fun that you'll forget to stress about whether things are going as planned or not. I was 32 when I got pregnant the first time, and it was the first time we'd ever forgotten the BC, so things can happen pretty quick, but I just wouldn't worry. You can always cut it short if you need to, or if you're the type to get extra sick, or if you crave Subway sandwiches as I did, and there is no Subway.

I think one of the conditions of my working holiday visa for NZ is that I am not pregnant. I have no idea if I dreamt this or not though...

My understanding is that if any of my circumstances change I can be booted out of the country. I am guessing that would include becoming pregnant.

Obviously I am no expert on this at all, but I would check out the conditions of the visas you'll be using.

KG

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I think one of the conditions of my working holiday visa for NZ is that I am not pregnant.

Interesting! I never would have thought of the restriction. Visa issues already have my head spinning enough! Definitely a good thing to look into, though.

hi there,
i copied this off the nz visa site
To be eligible
You must:

have a passport from the United States of America that‘s valid for at least three months after your planned departure from New Zealand
be at least 18 and not more than 30 years old
not bring children with you
hold a return ticket, or sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket
have a minimum of NZ$4,200 available funds to meet your living costs while you’re here
meet our health and character requirements
hold medical and comprehensive hospitalisation insurance for the length of your stay
not have been approved a visa permit under a Working Holiday Scheme before.

if you got pregnant in NZ during your stay they would not kick you out, unless perhaps you were overstaying, so long as you had a valid visa.(we're not that heartless!!) and the NZ ante-natal system is very highly regarded around the world, the Plunkett Society is a very thorough and supportive network.

Im an expat kiwi expecting to deliver in Italy and I am slowly discovering the ins and outs of the Italian system. i currently get a free health visa for my pregnancy for the next 6 months, im waiting on my work visa to be confirmed and then i am eliglible for the state one. I would prefer to have private insurance but that is not an option at the moment. if the visa thing doesnt work out it will be astronomical medical costs or going home.

in most countries the authorities hold the health of the baby above everything else, regardless of where the mother comes from. The UK are complaining of tourist mothers arriving on shopping trips and giving birth, over stretching the already tourniquet tight resources. Personally i would opt for anywhere else in Europe other than the UK.

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if you got pregnant in NZ during your stay they would not kick you out, unless perhaps you were overstaying, so long as you had a valid visa.(we're not that heartless!!) and the NZ ante-natal system is very highly regarded around the world, the Plunkett Society is a very thorough and supportive network.

I seem to remember the small print somewhere amidst everything in the visa application process said you couldn't be pregnant. Was definitely there when I filled out the application as I remember commenting to my husband that it's a man's world...

We're now in NZ and was watching the documentary series following customs and immigration in NZ the other night. One woman got turned away at the airport (didn't even officially make it into NZ) because she was pregnant, planning a long tourist stay in NZ (3 months?), and couldn't prove she wasn't planning on staying in the country to have the child (no return ticket, had cut ties back home, etc).

It's not a case of any individual from any country being heartless. Whether you think the system is right or wrong, anyone considering having a baby abroad should look carefully at visa conditions. You could get turned away at the airport or refused entry again in the future if you break any of the conditions.

KG