I'm an American who has lived in Korea these past 4 years. I've had 2 children here. My first was an unplanned c-section after every possible intervention. My second, just this past February, was a scheduled c-section. I knew what doulas were, and wanted one for each birth. For my first birth there were none in Korea. I didn't even think to look for my second birth, but later found out that there were a handful. I decided to become a doula so that women could have better support options here. My DONA workshop was in Bowling Green, at the ALIVE Center.
A couple of doulas in Korea are familiar with this kind of community. We are working to create a larger, lasting network here. At our doula tea, this past Saturday, I specifically was talking about BabyNet KY and what they have done. I suggested the doulas look at the facebook page for the group to see the kinds of conversations happening. Korea has a c-section rate of 40%. Until just the last couple of months, I never met a foreigner who had a baby here who was not pressured to have a c-section. Planned c-sections for first-time moms are routine in some hospitals, on the grounds of preventing shoulder dystocia. Largely because of having a few doulas helping, changes are coming quickly. The first natural birth clinic in Korea opened last October. The US Army hospital here 'allows' much greater input from moms in their own care. It is now possible to have your baby immediately after birth (absolutely not possible 4 years ago), have a water birth (ditto), and generally follow the wishes of a woman's birth plan. Birth plans themselves have only gotten much use in the last 12 months. A challenge of the ex-pat community is the high turnover rate. We are struggling to get the message out, so that women are aware that there are options. Generally, a woman just asks a friend or two where to go to have a baby. There is not a good information system here, yet.
Melissa Jolly and a couple of other SKY Doulas came out and met with us. I was inspired by how cohesive they seemed. I also picked up an issue of Bowling Green Parent, that had information on parenting issues that are important to me, like nursing. I saw how the Health Dept was involved with doulas, how doulas connected with moms, how there was a whole community making more choices available by suppporting each other. I think it is so fantastic. I get excited talking about it. :) I think events like the 4th trimester meet-up are great opportunities!
Thanks for your hard work. It is inspiring.
Jessica Medford
A couple of doulas in Korea are familiar with this kind of community. We are working to create a larger, lasting network here. At our doula tea, this past Saturday, I specifically was talking about BabyNet KY and what they have done. I suggested the doulas look at the facebook page for the group to see the kinds of conversations happening. Korea has a c-section rate of 40%. Until just the last couple of months, I never met a foreigner who had a baby here who was not pressured to have a c-section. Planned c-sections for first-time moms are routine in some hospitals, on the grounds of preventing shoulder dystocia. Largely because of having a few doulas helping, changes are coming quickly. The first natural birth clinic in Korea opened last October. The US Army hospital here 'allows' much greater input from moms in their own care. It is now possible to have your baby immediately after birth (absolutely not possible 4 years ago), have a water birth (ditto), and generally follow the wishes of a woman's birth plan. Birth plans themselves have only gotten much use in the last 12 months. A challenge of the ex-pat community is the high turnover rate. We are struggling to get the message out, so that women are aware that there are options. Generally, a woman just asks a friend or two where to go to have a baby. There is not a good information system here, yet.
Melissa Jolly and a couple of other SKY Doulas came out and met with us. I was inspired by how cohesive they seemed. I also picked up an issue of Bowling Green Parent, that had information on parenting issues that are important to me, like nursing. I saw how the Health Dept was involved with doulas, how doulas connected with moms, how there was a whole community making more choices available by suppporting each other. I think it is so fantastic. I get excited talking about it. :) I think events like the 4th trimester meet-up are great opportunities!
Thanks for your hard work. It is inspiring.
Jessica Medford
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