Considering having a (first!) baby in HK

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pinemarten

Registered User
I have just moved to HK and my partner and I are going to take a few months here deciding whether/when we want to have a baby. We're not actually sure how many years we'll be staying in Hong Kong, which like the baby decision, depends a lot on how much we like living here.

I'ver browsed a few threads here and it seems that most people find having a baby in Hong Kong to be a positive experience. However I did meet a mum the other night who said it was a horrible environment to raise young children (!). I wondered if anyone would like to offer advice, share any pros and cons or warn me off the idea ;)

Also wondered if someone could recommend a good doctor to go to for a pre-trying checkup/consultation. I have no GP/family doctor here yet.
 
i'm 26 weeks pregnant and wish i had thought about the pros & cons more carefully, everything here seems to so much more of a headache then at home (UK). Yes you can have home help and not ever have to pick up an iron ever again but do you want to leave a baby with a helper everytime you want to pop out, because central is so child unfriendly. Travel here without a car is a nightmare in itself, as I am sure you have read in other threads. Also I live in cyberport, there is no where nice to walk with a pushchair, would be better to live out in Repulse Bay or Stanley at least you can stop and have coffee. These are just a few of my thoughts, I could go on forever. Hopefully I havent put you off, i cant wait for baby to arrive i just know I will have to be very organised. I will defo be having baby # 2 in UK though, where I will have a car, have family support and not have to worry about silly things like what water to use/not use, how to push a baby and a trolly in olivers or great and worry about the pollution in HK. Also I think to myself alot of people have to cope in far worse sitations.

Good Luck!

p.s i use Dr Lucy Lord, I find her really good, 2 friends use her too.
 
I have two children and have had them both in HK and the only thing that I regularly worry about is the pollution. I take them both out in Central which can be a bit of a pain but isn't impossible and you very quickly become an expert at pram bumping! Public transport is cheap and frequent in HK but I must admit that as soon as we had our first child we bought a car and I certainly wouldn't be without it with two (it was an indulgence with one!).

There are plenty of places in the mid-levels area to take a child out for walks, Bowen Road, the Peak, Happy Valley, Botanical Gardens and with a car you can easily get to Big Wave Bay, Stanley, Shek-o and the new territories (although these places are all accesible by public transport).

I am leaving HK now and one of the big reasons for this is the cost of education and the lack of grass for my toddler to play on BUT if we wanted to we could go to Discovery Bay and have plenty of grass over there.

In terms of doctors I would recommend Helen Bryden as a GP and Philip Ho as as an OBGYN.
 
hi,

it's a tough decision when you are unfamiliar with HK but coming from a stay at home (expat) mother of a 12 month old baby, Asia/HK is one of the best places to have very young children because you can hire live in domestic help to do all the yucky housework (believe me it triples when you have a small one) and if you are a stay at home mum, you can concentrate on enjoying your baby fully and completely (something that all my girlfriends in countries with no hired help don't seem to be achieving cos they are just too tired all the time). Despite what people say about not trusting an outsider to look after your baby, unless you have parents or in-laws camping out with you full time for months on end (believe me, while I love my parents and adore my in-laws I don't want them THAT actively involved) you can't really leave your baby to them as they won't know them well enough unlike a domestic helper who sees them everyday (yet doesn't take it personally when you tell them how exactly you want things done). Although HK may not be as baby/child friendly as some Western countries like Australia and NZ, it's certainly not difficult. I take my son out twice/thrice a day for walks in his stroller (Bowen Road/Peak/Repulse Bay/HK Park/Ocean Park etc), strolls through the shopping malls (IFC/Pacific Place/Times Square/Lee Garden),play dates, playgroups (St John's Catheral in central) and soon classes like gymboree and kindermusik etc. The only downside is healthcare - while being very good can be expensive if you prefer to go private (OBGYs/dentist/paeditricians) which is what we did as I don't speak Cantonese. This can be mitigated if you or your hubby's health insurance covers it or a majority of it. As mentioned, pricate school fees can be expensive but that onyl really becomes a consideration when they hit school at about 3 years old. Do not let negative feedback deter you from enjoying motherhood, while HUGELY exhausting, it's very rewarding!

Good luck!

ps. I used Dr Robert Dawkins who is a excellent OBGY.
 
Hi,I moved here 3 months ago with a five and three year old and have just had my third baby at Xmas. Although I had visited HK several times before I still completely under estimated the logistical difficulties of having kids in HK.
As far as pregnancy care/ delivery goes you will have absolutely no problems if you have private medical cover and the standard of care is far better than UK. I have heard mixed reviews regarding public hospital care....mainly related to an underlying Chinese negativity to breastfeeding (despite all the pro b/feeding posters on the walls in hospitals) rather than actual medical care problems but if you dont speak Cantonese then Labour could be a bit of a lonely experience.
However....the logistics of trying to push pram and trolley round supermarket (there are no baby trolleys);Trying to carry the shopping, a pram and carseat up to the taxi rank if you dont have a car/ getting it up to your flat the other end/ yes, some shops will deliver the groceries but dont specify more than am/pm time slots and you have to take all fresh stuff with you/ public transport is good but I havent been to an MTR station yet which didnt have at least one large flight of steps.Even if you dont take pram and carry your baby or make your toddler walk you are often walking a good 1/3 of a mile at some stations up and down escalators from the station entrance to the platform. I went to three parks in the last few weeks and every single one would have been impossible without my partner to help get the buggy up all the steps.
Utility bills, good quality food, outings, housing and education are all significantly more expensive than UK . I am paying more for my three year old nursery education than I would have paid to send both my 3 and 5 yr olds combined to private schools in the UK.
It is also quite difficult to meet other mothers which is why websites like this are so handy .If you go to the parks you will usually only see helpers/maids looking after the children.Many playgroups are the same. Also many wives here are able to work .
Dont even think of trying to have a baby here without a car! I also think you will get to explore HK more if you have one. Second hand cars here are quite cheap.
I know I sound negative. I am still trying to create a life here for my family and the day to day trivial stuff does sometimes get to you.I am glad to have the experience of living abroad but I wish I had been better informed before I came. I have experienced far more simple kindesses like always being given a seat on the tube when I was pregnant that I never got in the UK. Last week a whole queue in Wellcome let me go to the front cos the baby was hungry and crying. I didnt ask they just did it.
Good luck
 
Hi,

I agree with the other moms that the most difficult bit is moving aroung in HK with a small child...it all depends on how much you want to have a baby....

I had my first child in HK 2 years ago & my second one is due anytime....I think once you have toddlers you may think of moving out of HK...we are planning to do that soon as space is VERY limited here & I was really concerned when I took my 9 month old son to NZ for the first time & he was actually scared to sit on the grass!!!!!!

The positive aspect is that the younger years you will get to spend lots of quality time with your babies as you can hire a live in help who can do everything else at home for you....

I think the bottom line is how much do you & your partner want kids ) it changes your life compltely....
 
Online shopping tips - for grocery

This may help with your shopping needs. I do online-shopping these days coz it is just so much easier. Order over $400 then delivery is free, otherwise you only need to pay $20 for delivery.

ParknShop - http://www1.parknshop.com/WebShop/home.jsp
Wellcome - http://www.wellcomehk.com/delivers/default.asp?ctk=

You can order fresh stuff like milk, yoghurts, fruit, meat (under Frozen section of their websites coz it was probably pre-frozen then defrosted). However, I still buy fresh meat from supermarkets so I can choose one with the longest expiry date and there is simply more choice in the shop. (PS. 1 lb of banana is about 3 pieces, you can order by pieces but they kept giving me by lb so when I order 4 pieces, they gave me a lot of bananas which i have to return. Wellcome doesn't do weighing so fruit selection is limited.)

Tips - ParknShop delivers a lot faster than Wellcome. If you order before 11am, you get your food in the afternoon between 2-6; if order before 2pm, you get it 7-10pm. Wellcome delivers the next day. If you are not at home, both shops can leave your shopping outside (okay in winter i guess). NOTE: PnS tends to give you milk that expires in 2 days so i normally order 1 then buy the rest in shops. Wellcome's food is normally a lot fresher but I don't like them come in cartons coz it's hard to open (PnS comes with bags).

Wellcome on Robinson road is good for fresh produce. If you like fish, Wellcome in Causeway bay (walk from Sogo towards IKEA direction and you will see it on the way) is great with lots of meat too!

Hope this helps!
 
Thanks so much everyone for the advice and stories. I really appreciate your taking the time. I'm going to think seriously about all of these things before I make a decision.

Sunnysideup I think your shopping tips will be useful whether we decide to have a baby or not!
 
i DON"T have a car.... but it's ok to get around HK without one...you learn very quickly the best way to get places... i usually taxi instead of MTR if i'm by myself... if i have hubby or helper, we go by MTR... not too bad....
 
I had my baby here a year ago and since it was my first and only child, I have nothing to compare it to!

I gave birth at Queen Mary and I can hardly complain (well ok the food was pretty bad but I think you'll find that in any public hospital in the world) - and it's practically free.

Yes it's difficult without a car and HK isn't exactly stroller friendly but you'll learn to cope really quickly and it's honestly no big deal! I take my boy into Central a lot and haven't had any problems - just make sure you don't get a huge heavy stroller and you'll be fine!

Plus you'll meet lots of other Mums and they'll provide a great support network for you - at least that's my experience.

Good luck!

x
 
Hi there
My husband and I are moving to HK in March and I am also planning to have my first baby there !!! for me an additional factor is that I will not feel like I am missing life when I am there as I am already giving up all my old friends, job and fave hangouts to be in HK. If I have a baby here in London I would worry that I would miss work and going out as much as i do now... I decided that if I am going to build a new life I could just as easy build it around a little person whom I would be able to concentrate my energy, thoughts and time on.....I am a little worried about what the situation will be regarding healthcare as I am not sure about what level of healthcare will be in my husbands package but we will cross that bridge when we come to it !!

Good luck.
 
I had my first baby in HK just over a year ago and we are actually moving home to Canada in June. The first year has been great as I just carry my daughter in a sling everywhere (or let her walk), order groceries online and go for lots of walks in the park and along the water. HK is not stroller friendly though and even finding a place to change or nurse a baby can be difficult sometimes. The pollution is horrible, but the health care is great. In the public hospital it's almost free and at Queen Elizabeth they followed my birth plan exactly and everyone spoke English. It was loud and crowded in the antenatal ward, but you're only there for a couple days anyway (they prefer you stay 3 nights for a first baby, vaginal birth). In Canada they kick you out after 24 hours!
Now that we are thinking of having another baby, we have to and want to move home. It'd be almost impossible for me to get around with two kids on my own and I don't want a helper. The living spaces are so small for a family and not what I grew up with so I want more for my daughter too (ie. grass, backyard, big room, house that has central heating etc.)
Good luck with your decision!
 
I have a very odd first pregnancy as I started in HK, then at 5 months in, my husband was transferred to South Africa for a 4 month secondment, after which we were supposed to be in London. So, rather than go to Africa to have my baby, I went back to London with all our boxes. So that I could be near my mum.

HK was AMAZING compared to the UK, which was cold and heartless - in fact one Midwife told me to "stop fussing - you are not sick, you are just having a baby"

As it happened, within two months of my husband being in Africa, they told him that they needed him back in HK - So I had to re-pack again, and move back to HK when my son was 3 weeks old.

Compared to the two options I would NEVER opt to have a baby in the UK.

Dr Dawkins is wonderful.

Tanya
 
Also considering having a fist baby in HK

I just saw this thread, and I am on a similar situation. It is good to read all these replies.

I know we'll be in HK for only 2 years, and I keep asking myself the question whether to have a baby here or back in Switzerland.

I worry about the pollution, the lack of family here to support (it will be hard to bring my family or in-laws or moral support).

We just found an apartment in Stanley, which seems to be a great place for children, but the apartment is small and has no elevator (3rd floor), which might makes things more complicated - and impossible for a live-in helper.

I've also heard some bad stories of doctors pushing C-sections, and being unfriendly and remote.

At the same time, if we're back home, I'll be back at work and not be able to spend the same amount of time with the baby. And I keep wondering if this is worth more than all of the problems above.
 
undecided said:
And I keep wondering if this is worth more than all of the problems above.
Click to expand...

Hello,

having a baby is a lifestlye chage no matter where you are...I think the most imortant factor is that you have the support of your spouse...coz that's what you need the most( just my thoughts)
 
I think it is important to decide if you like living in HK before you decide to have and raise a child here.
My husband and I were considering moving back to the UK before I found out I was pregnant, but once we discovered I was we have decided to stay in HK until the baby is at least a year old.
My husband and I are very settled in HK, and my husbands work insurance covers private oby and delivery, so we are very lucky; and the medical care we have recieved so far has been wonderful; plus our friends are here and it just made sense to stay.
We live in Discovery Bay which seems to have almost as many babies and children as adults, and plenty of grass!
 
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