Getting Your Baby an Alien Card (ARC) While They're in the NICU in Korea

NICUs in Korea are stressful enough with the majority of them only allowing you access to your baby for 20-30 minutes twice a day. Since you're a foreigner in Korea, you'll also have to worry about getting your baby a visa. You might also have to worry about getting them Korean health insurance. Below you can find out more about these two topics.

You Have 30 Days to get Korean Health Insurance
If you have Korean National Health Insurance you need to get your child an ARC within 30 days so that they are covered. For the first 30 days, they're under the mom's insurance.

You Have 90 Days to Get the Visa
If you don't have to worry about Korean health insurance, you still have to worry about the visa. You need to apply for the visa before 90 days or face a fine. Most immigration offices require you to make an appointment and there is usually a two week wait after that. If you can't make an appointment online, thanks to how horrible Korean websites are, you can go to the immigration office with the baby's passport and they will help you make an appointment.

First Things First

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In order to get an ARC, you need to get your child's passport. Make sure you look at what documents you need way before the baby is born. Different countries have different requirements, however, I believe that all countries require the child to actually go to the embassy.

Of course, if your child is in the NICU, they can't leave in order to go to the embassy. They also might be there for a long time, so you can't risk waiting to get the passport.

A Simple Solution
There is a pretty simple solution and that is to bring the embassy to you. You will have to contact your embassy and ask about this. Most places are going to charge an extra fee for them to come to you and the further away you are, the more it is probably going to cost. However, it has to be done.

Once you get your child's passport, then you can get their ARC. Some countries take a long time to issue the passport. If that's the case, then you might be able to get the ARC with proof of having applied for the passport. Contact the immigration hotline on 1345 for more info.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

What to Do If a Korean Hospital Refuses to Let You Leave

In order to leave a hospital in Korea, you will have to pay your bill in full either with cash, a debit card, or a credit card. I'm not exactly sure if that's legal since it would seem to me that they're demanding a ransom to let you go home. But just be warned that people have started GoFundMe accounts precisely for this reason.

Let's assume that you can and will pay in full but they still don't want to let you or your child leave. Let's also assume that you or your child don't have any medical issues and they're simply keeping you because of hospital protocol. If you or your child is legitimately sick and need to be in the hospital, don't expect any of the choices below to work. However, you have a few choices if everything is fine.

1. The easiest thing to do is to just stay. Wait until they discharge you and then go home. Some places don't want to discharge people on weekends since the accounting department isn't fully staffed. (It doesn't make sense to me either, they should just be able to plug numbers in). What they might do is tell you they will overcharge you and let you go home on the weekend and then you're supposed to come back on Monday and they will fix your bill.

2. Don't ask for permission to leave, instead, inform them that you're leaving. This is what I would ideally do. I remember asking if I could leave and was told no. The next day, first thing in the morning, I informed them that I was leaving that day. It took four hours, but they finally discharged us.

3. Make threats. I wouldn't resort to this unless absolutely necessary, but if you're fine and can pay and they're still refusing to let you leave, then tell them that you will call your embassy and tell them that they're holding you hostage. Full disclosure, I've never done this nor do I know anyone who has, but hopefully the threat will be enough. I would tell them you're contacting the embassy over the police, because honestly, I highly doubt the police would do anything.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Unassisted Births in Korea

First of all, unassisted births are legal in Korea. Babies come when they are ready. You cannot always control when or where that happens. There are two categories of unassisted births: planned and unplanned. I've know about a dozen people who have had unassisted births here.

• Some were deliberately planned and others just happened. 
• No one had any issues getting the proper paperwork for their baby. 
• No one was investigated by Child Services. 
• No one had any legal problems. 

I am no advocating for or against unassisted births. I'm simply explaining the facts of what happened.

Options Available

If you have an unassisted birth, you usually have a couple of options available. If it is not planned, then chances are you will either call the midwife (if you were planning on a home birth), the call the ambulance (119, they will transfer you to an English speaker), or go to the hospital or clinic.

Remember to keep mom and baby warm and do not cut the cord. I know that some people wait to go to the hospital, a few hours, maybe overnight. If that's the case, you need to research about cutting the cord or preserving it properly (like for a Lotus Birth) so that infection doesn't set it. It is very easy for infection to set it. The cord and placenta become a decaying organ and that's going straight to your baby's gut. Please do your research about what you should do. Here's one article and another which uses herbs and salt, and another which uses witch hazel, herbs, and salt. 

Paperwork and Tests Required

You and your baby will most likely have some tests done to prove that you are indeed the mother. I haven't heard of anyone needing any witnesses. The hospital will then issue you with a birth certificate. If you need to get your child a foreign passport, you're going to have to ask the embassy what you need. Do not ask me. Ask the embassy. They accept the forms, not me. You may also need to have any Korean documents translated either officially or unofficially. Some common requirements are:

• Proof that you were pregnant (prenatal records such as ultrasounds, prescriptions, or receipts)
• Your baby's birth certificate
• Proof that you can pass on citizenship (ask the embassy)
• Your ID and passport
• A photo
• Application form
• Fee
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Divorce certificates (if applicable)
• Your partner's ID and passport (if applicable)
• DNA tests (if applicable)

Safety

If you are planning an unassisted birth, please do so safely. There is a lot of information online as well as home birth kits and checklists of things as well as articles with useful info. I know that there are Facebook groups as well. Most are closed, some are secret. Ask around and I'm sure you can get added to them.

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Home Births and Tricare Overseas (Examples from South Korea)

Updated 11 September 2018

Tricare Overseas is not like Tricare stateside. A few women recently had home births in Korea and filed claims with Tricare Standard (now Select). After a year of going back and forth, with Tricare asking for more and more documentation and these women being reassured that Tricare would reimburse them, Tricare finally issued their response: they wouldn't cover it. None of it was covered. These women were about $8,000 out of pocket. The home births took place with staff from MediFlower.

Switching to Tricare Select for Pregnancy
Starting January 1, 2019 you will no longer be allowed to switch to Select due to pregnancy. What this means is that if you have Prime, you would need to do one of the following

• Get a referral to get the birth you want.
• Pay completely out of pocket (OOP).*
• Switch during a QLE (qualifying life event, not pregnancy, but for example, a move).
• Switch during the the annual late fall 90 day open enrollment period.

However, while being pregnant isn't a reason to switch, having a baby is a QLE. So you can switch back after the baby is born.

* Costs vary greatly if you decide to pay out of pocket. A midwife for a homebirth can be 3.5-8mil. A birthing center can be 3-15mil.

What Kind of Labor and Delivery is Covered?

On Tricare's website it states that labor and delivery are covered. On that page, they also say . . .

Facility/Provider
Usually, your TRICARE plan determines the type of birthing facility you will use (military or civilian, office-based or freestanding, etc.). You also have different options for the type of provider who delivers your baby (obstetrician, Family practice provider and or Certified nurse midwife, etc.). These types of decisions will be made by you and your provider during your prenatal visits. 

However, there is no mention of home births, just certified nurse midwives. All midwives in Korea are CNMs.

What about Home Births?

Tricare Standard (now Select) actually does mention home births. The December 2015 Tricare Maternity Care Fact Sheet talks about choosing to deliver at home and what the cost shares are. 

Source

Contacting Tricare on Facebook and the Tricare Overseas Hotline

That sounds promising, doesn't it? Don't get your hopes up. I contacted them on Facebook since the Tricare Overseas hotline kept saying home births should be fine when I talked to a representation after pressing 3 (for claims).

Source

Calling Tricare Overseas, Again

About a week later, I called the Tricare Overseas hotline, again. This time instead of calling about claims, I pressed 2 (for referrals and authorizations). I said it looks like home births are covered but women in Korea are repeatedly getting denied. They put me on hold and came back and said home births are considered home health care and home health care is not covered overseas. I couldn't believe it, but sure enough, you can find the information on Tricare's site as well. How in the world they consider home birth to be the same as an illness or injury is beyond me, but that's Tricare for you!

Source

The funny part is that they're wrong. (I know, you're shocked that Tricare is wrong). Home births are not home care. So why aren't home births being covered? It's because of the midwives.

Are Korean Midwives Covered?

The midwives they went through also work at a birthing center in Seoul. Tricare Overseas will cover births at that birthing center (MediFlower), but won't cover home births. Tricare says they cover midwife services if they're state licensed and certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.

Korean midwife do not fulfill those requirements, so why is Tricare reimbursing patients who give birth at the birthing center but not those who give birth at home? When women give birth at the birthing center, a doctor is put down on the invoice since there is always a doctor on call. The midwife is then put down as a nurse. The same is not true for home births: the midwife is simply put down.

Source

Bottom Line: Tricare is Not Covering Home Births in Korea

It's not fair to women to be told that home births are covered and then to find out they're stuck paying the full bill. Had these women known, they may have gone to birthing centers or chosen a less expensive midwife.

Tricare's Convoluted Stance on Home Birth Overseas

On Tricare's website it states that labor and delivery are covered. However, there is no mention of home births, just certified nurse midwives (CNM). All midwives in Korea are CNMs. Tricare claims that home births overseas fall under home health care and therefore don't cover them. Home birth really isn't home care. If Tricare doesn't want to cover home births overseas, that's up to them, however, they should update their maternity section and specifically list home births.

If You Still Want to Have a Home Birth, Read This:

If you're going to have a home birth in Korea, here's a list of providers. You might also want to consider reading The Essential Homebirth Guide as well as getting some birthing supplies together.

I personally believe that women should allow to choose where they give birth as long as they are able to do so safely. Hopefully Tricare will change. I just wouldn't hold my breath. Since Tricare isn't covering home births overseas, you have three options.

1. Choose a cheaper midwife. MediFlower is great, don't get me wrong, but they're also more than double what other birthing centers charge for people with Tricare.
2. Choose to give birth wherever you want and pay out of pocket. Don't bother filing a claim.
3. Go to the USA and find a CNM who will do home births.  

Tips for Dealing with Tricare or any Medical Insurance Company

This medical hack below has lots of tips to help you out. Many times the people dealing with claims are paid minimum wage and have no medical background. They're simply checking boxes. If a claim is denied, it's usually because certain boxes aren't check. The last thing you want to do is have someone with no medical background making decisions about your health coverage! So follow these tips below if your claims are denied. (This will not work for home births in Korea since they don't fulfill Tricare Overseas requirements).

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Understanding Korean Birth Certificates

Korea Citizenship
Just because your child was born in Korea doesn't mean they automatically get Korean citizenship. Most countries, like Korea, follow jus sanguinis (right of blood) not jus solis (right of soil, i.e. anchor babies). However, they will get a Korean birth certificate.

Birth Certificates
There are no local or national birth certificate records per se. There are family certificates, but it's different than what we use. Each hospital has their own format for the birth certificates. Your doctor or midwife should be able to give you a birth certificate in English as well as Korean. Once you have that, then you should be able to take it to your embassy or consulate and get that country to issue the baby a birth certificate.

You may need to get the birth certificate translated if the embassy won't accept it in English or Korean. If you get it translated, then you will also probably need to get it apostillised. Even if you don't get it translated, you might need to get it apostillised. Ask your embassy what they require. Some translators will do this for you for an extra fee. The apostillisation center is in Gwanghwamun in Seoul, is in the same building as the Korean passport office.

After that you shouldn't need the Korean birth certificate anymore. However, since birth certificates are only issued by the hospital, I would get a few copies just in case. You never know if you may need it in the future.

Information on the Birth Certificate
Each hospital has their own format. The birth certificates that I've gotten are just printed on plain paper and don't look like anything special at all. Most will include:

• Mother's name, date of birth, job
• Father's name, date of birth, job
• Baby's name*
• Birth date and time
• Weight and Height
• Name, address, phone number, email, and fax (if applicable) of the hospital or clinic
• Doctor's or Midwife's Signature
• Hospital's, Doctor's, or Midwife's Stamp

*Some hospitals will put down the mother's name followed by the word "baby" on birth certificates. For example, if the mom is called Mary Smith and the baby will be called Jane Smith, they would put down Mary Smith baby. Most embassies will not accept that, so make sure that they put your child's name down.

It's your responsibility to ask your embassy if they need any other information on the birth certificate. Some places put down more information, such as:

• Nationality of the mother, father, and baby
• Address of the mother and father
• Number of prior pregnancies, miscarriages, live births, and still births
• How many babies were born from this pregnancy
• Certificate number

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Car Seat Laws for Kids in Korea

Last Updated 25 September 2017

Legally speaking, in Korea a child must be in an car seat or a booster seat until they're six years old (Western age). The fine is 60,000 if you're caught and you're child doesn't have one. It's very unlikely that you will be pulled over and fined. I've seen infants on the driver's lap, kids bouncing around, and even kids popping up through sunroofs.

However, this is literally a matter of life or death! I cannot stress this enough. I know some people get complacent after living in Korea for a while. But, don't even think about not using car seats! You must put your child in a car seat and you must buy a new one. Do not skimp on this product. Scrimp and save, find a way to use a car seat.

I know that car seat laws are lax, but that's no excuse for not putting your child in one.

Buy it here

Please don't buy a used one

If it's been in any crash or slightly damaged in any way, it could be compromised. It's not worth saving money when your child's life is on the line. Since it's a big ticket item, consider putting it on your baby registry. Or cross something else off your list and get a car seat.

Installing a car seat

Remember to keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It doesn't matter if they're a year old, you don't have to turn them around: keep them facing backwards.

It's not easy to install a car seat. You can check online for more info. Unlike some countries, fire departments and police stations cannot check your car seat to make sure it's properly installed. In addition, hospitals and birthing centers aren't going to check if you have a car seat installed before you take your baby home. You could go home in a taxi with them in the front seat and they're not going to stop you. Here are some good sites.

• The Car Seat Lady
• DMV 
• Ontario Ministry of Transportation
• Safer Car
• Which

How to buckle your child in correctly

I know that it gets freezing cold in Korea. And that car seats are cold. And that you don't want your child to be cold. Never, ever put your child in a car seat while they're wearing coats. This video shows what happens when you put your baby in their car seat while wearing a coat. The car seat lady and this crash test will explain more and why it can be deadly.

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Parental Leave aka Childcare Leave in Korea

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I've written about maternity leave and paternity leave before. There is also optional leave that either parent can take. Here's what the laws say about employment insurance. Here's some information in English.

Additional Time Off: Parental Leave
If you go back to work and decide that you would like additional time off, the good news is that you might be able to take up to a year off as unpaid leave. Though here it says they get 40% of their base salary with a max of 1 mil won. This is known in Korea as childcare leave     "육 아휴직". You can legally take up to a year of unpaid leave while your child is under 6 western (72 months) providing you've been with the same employer for more than a year.

There is a grey area surrounding teachers who are on a one year contract that have been renewed. Your best bet would be to ask in LOFT or PALS about what people have done recently.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

How to Get Your Child into Modeling in Korea

Updated 5 October 2016

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There are many modeling opportunities for children here in Korea. Please know what you are getting into. Just because you may want your child to be a model, doesn't mean they do. You might have to travel for hours and then spend even more hours doing a shoot. It's hard work. Don't believe me? Here's what professional models have to say about modelling. Below you can find information about the legalities as well as suggested agencies that people have worked with in the past.

Legalities
First off, for a foreigner to work in Korea you need a proper visa or "an activity outside of sojourn" added to your visa. Income must be declared and taxes may have to be paid on the income. If you don't have the proper visa or work without prior permission from immigration (which means you go to immigration and get an "activity outside of sojourn" added to your visa), then you will be working illegally. I know that some agencies will tell you that it's fine and that since it's cash-in-hand or just once in a while or not that much money that it's fine. They're lying.

Don't take my word for it. Call immigration on 1345 during normal business hours (they have a lunch break from 12-1pm) or if you're military you can call Legal. I called both and asked about E2, F3, and A3 visas. See below for other visas. I just asked about these three since they are common. Working on these visas without prior permission (which you get an "activity outside of sojourn" added to your visa) from immigration is illegal. Period.

If you are on your own visa (ex. an E2) and caught working illegally you can be fined and/or deported. If you are a dependent (such as those on A3 or F3 visas,) then both you (or the child, if they are working illegally) and your sponsor can get into trouble. If your sponsor is with the U.S. military and you can caught, this could reflect negatively on your sponsor's career.

What are the actual chances that you will be caught? They're slim. I'll be honest. However, people do get caught. If the agency fudges their numbers and gets caught, or someone turns you in, then you're going to have problems. Many people just get a fine and a slap on the wrist, but I have known people who were faced with deportation. As bad as it sounds, gender and race also play a part. I've known white women and black men who were caught working illegally. The former get off with a small fine and the latter often get larger fines and threatened with deportation.

Children are not the exception to the rule. Just because they are underage does not mean they can work illegally. They can also be fined. Since you are the adult, you also may face consequences.

Visas that Require Permission from Immigration to do Modeling
Here are some visas that need permission from immigration to do something, i.e., modeling, that is outside their visa status. Immigration calls it "an activity outside of your sojourn". This is not a complete list. As mentioned before, contact immigration on 1345 and ask. Do not trust the modeling agency. They are not experts in immigration issues, nor due they issue visas. Immigration is the only place in the entire country that is entirely responsible for visas. The military Legal office isn't a visa expert either. If you are caught working illegally, Legal is not going to be able to get you out of being punished.

In order to get permission for "activities outside your sojourn", you will need to go to immigration and fill out the appropriate paperwork. At the very minimum you will need your passport, alien card (if you have one, and everyone who lives here is legally entitled to an alien card (even SOFA visa holders)), fee, application form, business license from the modeling agency, and contract.

• A3 SOFA: You are allowed to be a dependent here. That's it. Just because other people do it doesn't make it legal.
• B2 tourist: for people who have to apply ahead of time, such as Chinese citizens.
• C3 tourist: given as a VOA (visa on arrival).
• D2 student: if you fulfill certain requirements you may not need permission from immigration. Contact immigration for more info. 
• D10 looking for work: you're allowed to look for work, not actually work. Once you get a job you need to get the appropriate visa. This visa is given for a max of 6 months.
• E1 professor: for those working at a uni that will actually go through the paperwork of getting an E1. Most unis give E2s.
• E2 language teacher: for those at hagwons, public and private schools, and many unis.
• F3 spouse of a foreigner: if your spouse is working in Korea you will get this visa. It's like the A3. You're allowed to live here, not work or study.

Visas that Don't Require Permission from Immigration
Here are some visas that don't require you to get permission from immigration to work or study. Keep in mind that you still legally need to declare your income and may have to pay taxes on it.

• F2 resident: this was for foreigners married to Koreans, but now they get the F6. This is now for people who get enough points or fulfill the requirements to become residents on their own.
• F4 gyopo: for those of Korean heritage, such as Korean adoptees or children of Korean citizens.
• F5 permanent resident: for those who have held an F2 or F6 for the specific amount of time.
• F6 marriage: for those married to Korean citizens.

What's Required to Become a Model
You will need to give certain information to the agency in order for them to keep you in mind for modeling jobs. They will usually ask for the following. . .

• Name
• Measurements (for a child this is just their height)
• Weight
• Age (remember Korean age is different than Western age. It's often easier to give them the date of birth rather than the age)
• Hair color
• Eye color
• Visa type
• Nationality
• Clothing size
• Shoe size (Korea uses millimeters. It's very easy. Just measure your child's shoe and round up to the nearest 5 mm.  
• 3-5 good photos of the child. You might consider getting them taken professionally. Here's a list of photographers who specialise in photos of children. 
• Contact info, such as email and cell phone

Modeling Agencies
Below are some modeling agencies that foreigners have worked with. You can send your child's information to all of them. There is no exclusively, unless you sign a contract and it states that you can only be with that agency. The more places that have your child's profile, the better the chance they have of getting booked. You can usually apply online through their websites. If that doesn't work, try contacting them on Facebook. Even if their Facebook page hasn't been updated in a while, don't worry. Koreans still haven't really jumped on the Facebook train. All of these places are listed because people have recently worked with them.

4B Film

• 4Bfilm@gmail.com

About International Modeling Agency

• Facebook and Michelle Miles (casting director) and Stephanie Williams (casting manager)

Baby and Kids Model

• A group on Facebook where models and agencies can post. 

Baby Asia

• Facebook

Diva Models

• Tatiane Choi (casting manager), cell is 010-5146-2606 and kakao is choiane

DOBE Entertainment

• Facebook and Angela Jeong (manager)

JJang Entertainment

• Facebook and Per Pettersson (CEO)

MOMA International Modeling Agency

• Facebook

Platinum Management

• Facebook and Yulia Kim (director)

Sites in Seoul

• This is not a modeling agency, but many times agents will post here about jobs. 

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Divorce and Child Support in Korea

It's never easy to get a divorce. Getting divorced is hard. It's even harder when you're in a foreign country. There is some information online about how to get divorced in Korea. It seems that most of it is written by lawyers who want you as their clients.

Getting Divorced in Korea
In May 2016, a secret Facebook group was created called, Getting Divorced in Korea. Three admin run the group: Daemon, Lara, and Sharon. All three have gotten divorced in Korea. None of them are lawyers, so they don't have any hidden agendas for creating the group. There are some lawyers as well as people in the group who work at law firms in the group. Don't expect tons of free advice from them though. Their time is month.

If you want to join the group, please message one of the admin. The easiest way for them to add you is for them to add you as a Facebook friend, add you to the group, and then delete you as a Facebook friend. The group is composed of foreigners who have gotten divorced, are going through a divorce, or are looking for information about getting divorced.

• Some people have divorced Koreans; other people have divorced foreigners. 
• Some had kids; some didn't.
• Some had good outcomes; others had bad outcomes.

Child Support
The amount paid takes both parents' income into account. You can find information about how much should be paid as well as what people have paid in the files of the group. 

Two Other Groups
There are also two other secret groups that focus on emotional support. One for foreign men who have divorced / are divorcing Korean women. The other is for foreign women who have divorced / are divorcing Korean men. If you join the regular Getting Divorced in Korea group, someone should be able to point you in the right direction so you can join one of the other groups as well.

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

2016: Upcoming Events and Resources

Updated 28 September 2016

I am currently only offering breastfeeding support in the Osan area. Please see this post to find people who work in the birthing field, such as birth doulas, breastfeeding counselors, childbirth educators, Dunstan Baby Language educators, HypnoBirthing® practitioners, IBCLCs, infant massage instructors, nutritionists, postpartum doulas, placenta encapsulation specialists, pre and post-natal massage therapists, and pre and post-natal yoga instructors. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Upcoming Events

Baby Fairs

• This post has all the baby fairs of 2016.
  

La Leche League: a breastfeeding support group.

• LLL's International page and LLL International group info
• Osan: 4th Wednesday of every month at the Chapel Annex on base from 10am-12noon. Details about their meetings can be found at La Leche League Osan. They also have a lending library. Contact Sharon for more info.
• Seoul: Contact Joy for dates and times or check their Facebook page.

Milky Mamas Meetings: a breastfeeding support group.

• Seoul: 4th Thursday of every month at the Yongsan Family Health Centre on the 3rd floor in a brand new building right next to the Hannam Dong Jumin Centre (한남동 주민 센터) from 11am-1pm. More info can be found at MMKorea Nursing Support. You can also contact Melanie, Leila, or Sheila.

Support

Breastfeeding Support

• I offer breastfeeding support that can be done in person, on the phone, or via Skype. I can help with latch, positioning, knowing whether your baby is hungry or getting enough milk, and common breastfeeding problems.

Resources

Tender Embrace Birthing contains a number of resources such as . . .

• a list of doulas, postpartum, and breastfeeding support 
• a list of foreign friendly hospitals and birthing centers
• much more information about general pregnancy, birthing, breastfeeding, postpartum, and parenting issues as well as Korea specific information can be found on the resources page

About Me

I've been involved in the birthing field since early 2013. I am certified as a childbirth educator, postpartum doula, breastfeeding counselor, and Dunstan Baby Language Educator. Check out my about me to learn more about my training and experience.You can also see what people have said about my blog and services.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

How to Become a Doula, Breastfeeding Counselor, or Childbirth Educator in Korea

Natural birthing has really taken off in the past few years in Korea. Doulas have become more and more popular among both foreigners and Koreans. Doctors are seeing the benefits of doing less interventions if possible and are even opening up new natural birthing clinics. In addition, they are realizing the importance of childbirth education for both moms and dads. Breastfeeding is lagging a bit behind due to beliefs and culture, but there are still staunch proponents of breastfeeding infants and toddlers. Here's some information to help you enter the birthing profession.

Enroll in a Course
Many people go through CBI (Childbirth International) since the requirements can be met while living overseas. CBI doesn't require doulas to renew their certification either. There are other options as well, such as DONA. You can find a more comprehensive list here.

Join the Korea Doula Facebook Group
Once you enroll in a course you can join the Korea Doula group. It's for childbirth educators, breastfeeding counselors, birth doulas, and postpartum doulas. People come from a variety of backgrounds and live all over Korea, though most are in Seoul. Be sure to message one of the admin and explain why you want to join.

Joining the group will allow you to connect with other doulas and shadow their births so that you can fulfill all the requirements for your certification. You will also learn how much to charge, legal issues about working as a doula, contracts, how to choose a back-up doula, and more. There are fewer breastfeeding counselors and childbirth educators than doulas, but you should still be able to get observe classes if necessary. The group is very close-knit and helpful.

Get Clients
There are a number of Facebook groups where you can find clients. Some forbid advertising, so be careful. You might be able to PM people. Word of mouth is definitely the best. Once your name is out there, people will start to recommend you.

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Sept-Dec 2015: Upcoming Events and Resources

Updated 15 October 2015

I work with Morning Calm Birthing Services to provide a variety of pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, postpartum, and parenting support in Seoul. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Upcoming Classes and Events

Childbirth, Breastfeeding, and Newborn Care Classes: a 12-hour class covering a variety of topics from pregnancy to postpartum. Classes are Sundays from 2-6pm near Gongdeok subway station. 

• November: Sundays, the 1st, 8th, and 15th (One space left)

Milky Mamas Meetings: a breastfeeding support group that meets from 10:30am-12:30pm.

• Thursdays at Yongsan Healthy Family Center: Oct 22, Nov TBA, Dec TBA
• Saturdays at Homestead Coffee: Nov 14, Dec 12

Breastfeeding and Newborn Care with Dunstan Baby Language Classes: this class teaches you breastfeeding basics, newborn care, and how to interpret your baby's cries. Classes are on Sunday from 10am-3pm near Gongdeok subway station.

• December: Sunday the 20th (Two spaces left)

Baby Fairs

• Korea Baby and Education Fair at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi-do. October 1-4th, 2015
• Seoul Baby Fair at SETEC in Gangnam. October 22-25th, 2015 
• Seoul International Mom and Baby Fair at Seoul International Baptist Church in Yongsan. November 7th, 2015

Support

Breastfeeding Support

• I offer breastfeeding support that can be done in person, on the phone, or via Skype. I can help with latch, positioning, knowing whether your baby is hungry or getting enough milk, and common breastfeeding problems.

Postpartum Support

• I can help you adjust to life with your new baby. I will visit you at home and help you with breastfeeding and newborn care, such as bathing, breastfeeding, diapering, and sleeping. 

Resources

Tender Embrace Birthing contains a number of resources such as . . .

• a list of doulas, postpartum, and breastfeeding support 
• a list of foreign friendly hospitals and birthing centers
• much more information about general pregnancy, birthing, breastfeeding, postpartum, and parenting issues as well as Korea specific information can be found on the resources page

Upcoming Blog Posts

• Sept 3: Recommended Books for Parenting
• Sept 17: ICAN of Seoul: International Cesarean Awareness Network
• Sept 25: Recommended Books about Fatherhood
• Oct 3: Spinning Babies
• Oct. 6: What to Bring to the Hospital When Having a Baby 
• Oct 12: Recommended Books about Disabilities and Abnormalities
• Oct 15: When Will My Baby Sleep Through the Night?
• Oct 20: A List of All the Recommended Books
• Nov 8: The Many Benefits of Infant Massage
• Nov 14: Getting a Breast Exam in Korea  
• Nov 28: How to Become a Doula in Korea

About Me

I've been involved in the birthing field since early 2013. I am certified as a childbirth educator, postpartum doula, breastfeeding counselor, and Dunstan Baby Language Educator. The about me page contains more information about my training and experience.You can also see what people have said about my blog and services.

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Adopting or Fostering a Korean Child in Korea

Updated 6 April 2016

Adoption can be very challenging, especially if you don't speak the local language. For those who are in Korea and interested in adoption, the group Adopting in Korea and KDAEKS: Korean Domestic Adoption for Expats with Korean Spouses are wonderful resources.

It's very easy to become a foster parent in Korea. There's a 1-2 day class that you'll need to take. Check the above adopting groups for more info.

If you are dealing with infertility issues, look at the post about IUI and IVF in Korea. Trying to get pregnant can be a very emotional problem for couples suffering from infertility. KISS (Korea Infertility Support System) is a good support group. Here are some recommended books about fertility and infertility as well.


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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Paternity Leave in Korea

Updated 5 September 2016

Yesterday I wrote about maternity leave in Korea. You have similar problems with maternity leave as with paternity leave. Although some employers will balk at offering you paternity leave, legally you are entitled to get it. Some employers will simply tell you no out of ignorance while others will tell you no despite the fact that they know the opposite to be true. Sometimes they will try to tell you that Saturday and Sunday count towards paternity leave. Whether or not you fight it is up to you. Here's what the laws say as far as employment insurance go. Here's some information in English.

Legally you are entitled to 5 days paid paternity leave. You get 5 days. Some places only give 3 days since they don't know the law recently changed "Act on Equal Employment and Support for Work-Family Reconciliation Article 18.2" (Paternity Leave) and became effective August 2012.

Keep in mind that while legally you are entitled to paternity leave, they may decide that you can't get it at all, or that you have to pay for a replacement, or that fighting for paternity leave may cost you your job.

Additional Time Off: Parental leave
You can take up to a year off as unpaid leave (though here it says they get 40% of their base salary with a max of 1 mil won) known in Korea as childcare leave "육 아휴직". You can legally take up to a year of unpaid leave while your child is under 6 (72 months) providing you've been with the same employer more than a year. There is a grey area surrounding teachers who are on a one year contract that have been renewed.

Paternity leave advice on EPK!

• Labor Standards 2011
• Equal Employment Act 2011
  

Paternity leave advice on AFIK

• Equal Employment Act 2011
• Labor Standards 2011

Paternity leave advice online

• 2014 Employment Policy on the Ministry of Labor's Website
• "Act on Equal Employment and Support for Work-Family Reconciliation Article 18.2" (Paternity Leave) became effective August 2012 
• Pregnancy, Maternity, Childcare Leave Info in English

General Legal Advice

• American Embassy Lawyer List
• Ask Korea Law
• ATEK had a huge list of lawyers on their Legal Resource page but no longer exists and I don't know how to find the cache of this.
• Korea Business Central
• Korean Laws in English
• Labour Board: 1350 and 031-259-0203
• Legal Office for Foreign Teachers (LOFT) Facebook group. Be sure to check out the files.
• List of Lawyers (LOFT) (Legal Office for Foreign Teachers)
• Immigration: 1345. They're open from 9 to 5pm, but closed for lunch between 12-1pm. Press 1 for Korean, 2 for Chinese, and 3 for English. Have your ARC ready because you get faster service if you enter your ARC number. 
• Kangnam Labor Law Firm
• KLAC (Korea Legal Aid Corporation) 
• Practical Advice for Legal Situations (PALS) on Facebook. Be sure to check out the files.
• Seoul Bar Association on Mondays from 2:00 to 5:00 PM has free legal advice. To get there take the subway to Seocho Station on Line #2 to Seocho Station (224) and go out exit 7. The office is behind the Hyundae Gas Station. Tel: 3476-8080.  
• Seoul Global Center: 02-2075-4138. They have lots of useful info about living in Korea. They can also exchange driver's license for Korean ones for Canadians. 
• Union TNC, Seoul, Jongro-gu, kyong eun dong, SK Building, 1st floor, Office 113. (Its by Anguk Station).Tel: 02-318-5274; Email:uniontnc@gmail.com 

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Maternity Leave in Korea

Updated 5 October 2016

Laws here seem to change all the time. I would personally error on the side of caution. Here's what the laws say as far as employment insurance go. Here's some information in English and here's a five point summary of maternity leave.

You are also entitled to shorter work hours if you're in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy or if you are 36 weeks and beyond.

The Law
Any woman (including foreigners) who has been at her job for at least a year prior to giving birth is entitled 90 days paid maternity leave (60 days are at full pay and 30 days are at partial pay, which is around 1.8 mil.). She gets 120 days if she has has multiple (75 days are at full pay and 45 days are at partial pay, which is around 1.8mil). She must fulfill both of the following requirements:

1. She's worked a year before she takes leave.
2. She's paid into the unemployment scheme for at least 180 days (I'm not sure if you can make back-payments). The employer pays her and the ministry reimburses her employer.

The Reality
Unfortunately, few women actually take the entire time. Just like with paternity leave in Korea, some employers will simply tell you no out of ignorance while others will tell you no despite the fact that they know the opposite to be true. Many women have been forced to leave their jobs or have gotten fired for being pregnant in Korea. Whether or not you fight is up to you. Many Korean women don't take maternity leave, but rather quit and become stay at home moms. Or if they do take maternity leave, they don't take the full 90 days. Legally your boss has to allow it, however, I have known people who have . . .

• not been renewed
• not been paid during maternity leave
• been made to pay their replacements
• lost their jobs (legally they can't fire you for up to 30 days after birth, after that it's fair game)

Bottom line: Have a back-up plan or two.

Additional Time Off: Parental leave
You can take up to a year off as unpaid leave (though here it says they get 40% of their base salary with a max of 1 mil won) known in Korea as childcare leave "육 아휴직". You can legally take up to a year of unpaid leave while your child is under 6 (72 months) providing you've been with the same employer more than a year. There is a grey area surrounding teachers who are on a one year contract that have been renewed.

Maternity leave laws on EPK!

• Labor Standards 2011
• Equal Employment Act 2011
  

Maternity leave laws on AFIK

• Free Medical Care for Pregnant Women
• Equal Employment Act 2011
• Labor Standards 2011

Maternity leave laws online

• 2014 Employment Policy on the Ministry of Labor's Website
• "Act on Equal Employment and Support for Work-Family Reconciliation Article 18.2" (Paternity Leave) became effective August 2012 
• Am I entitled to maternity leave? 
• Pregnancy, Maternity, Childcare Leave Info in English
• Live in Korea

General legal advice

• American Embassy Lawyer List
• Ask Korea Law
• ATEK had a huge list of lawyers on their Legal Resource page but no longer exists and I don't know how to find the cache of this.
• Korea Business Central
• Korean Laws in English
• Labour Board: 1350 and 031-259-0203
• Legal Office for Foreign Teachers (LOFT) Facebook group. Be sure to check out the files.
• List of Lawyers (LOFT) (Legal Office for Foreign Teachers)
• Immigration: 1345. They're open from 9 to 5pm, but closed for lunch between 12-1pm. Press 1 for Korean, 2 for Chinese, and 3 for English. Have your ARC ready because you get faster service if you enter your ARC number. 
• Kangnam Labor Law Firm
• KLAC (Korea Legal Aid Corporation) 
• Practical Advice for Legal Situations (PALS) on Facebook. Be sure to check out the files.
• Seoul Bar Association on Mondays from 2:00 to 5:00 PM has free legal advice. To get there take the subway to Seocho Station on Line #2 to Seocho Station (224) and go out exit 7. The office is behind the Hyundae Gas Station. Tel: 3476-8080.  
• Seoul Global Center: 02-2075-4138. They have lots of useful info about living in Korea. They can also exchange driver's license for Korean ones for Canadians. 
• Union TNC, Seoul, Jongro-gu, kyong eun dong, SK Building, 1st floor, Office 113. (It's by Anguk Station).Tel: 02-318-5274; Email:uniontnc@gmail.com 

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

Cord Blood Banking in Korea

On Mama Seoul's blog she talks a bit about cord blood banking in Korea. Keep in mind that the info is from 2008 and prices have gone up a bit. Now you're probably looking at about 1.5 mil to 2 mil to do cord blood banking.

Pros and Cons of Cord Blood Banking
There's lots and lots of info out there and I'm not going to re-hash it all. Do your research. It's a very hot topic and people are very opinionated about it. It's a relatively new process. Here's some info about the Top 3 places in the USA.

Some people say that it's worth it, others say it's not. Some say it can help with a variety of diseases. Some say that the cord cells are only viable for 10 years. Some say that it's more likely that you can use them for your other children rather than the child whose blood you banked.


Basic Info
Contacts are usually 10-20 years. **Make sure you pick a company who can do all the paperwork necessary to transport the cells back to your home country if necessary!** Also ask about fees. The company here as well as the company back home may charge you. Transporting cord blood back home is not an easy process to do alone since there are legal issues with transporting live cells. Make sure the company can help you out.

For those of you interested in delayed clamping, it is possible to do both cord blood banking and delayed cord clamping. Birth Anarchy has more info about it.

Cord Blood Banking Companies (if you know of any more, please let me know)

• Medipos Cell Tree: 080-264-9380

Hospitals that do Cord Blood Banking (they only do it if you give birth at their hospital)

• Cha General Hospital, I Cord, Cord Bank. 650-9 Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Telephone: : 02-3468-3000. International Clinic: 02-3468-2632 or 02-3468-3127

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.

VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean) in Korea

VBACs are relatively new since at one time there was the belief that "once a C-section, always a C-section". Thankfully this has changed in recent years. However, not everyone is a good candidate for a VBAC. Here are some things you can do to increase your chances of trying for a VBAC. If you already know you need to have a C-section, make sure that your doctor allows you to do these things so that you can try for a VBAC for your next birth.

• Double stitching, not single stitching
• A low, transverse incision (bikini line cut) 
• Being allowed to labor prior to getting your previous C-section can greatly help
• Time between births should be at least 18-24 months
• Many doctors will not allow you to try for a VBAC if you've already had two C-sections.
• A healthy pregnancy, not being over or underweight, eating properly, and exercising. No diabetes,  pre-eclampsia, or high blood pressure
• Being under 35
• No issues with the placenta or danger of uterine rupture
• Do your research and find out about natural childbirth vs. the cascade of interventions

C-sections in Korea
I recently blogged about signs that your doctor might perform an unnecessary C section. Unfortunately, C-sections are very common here in Korea. The rate is around 30%. Korean culture has something to do with it. Husbands rarely get days off (even though legally they're allowed 5 days paternity leave), auspicious days are chosen for the baby's birth, and the lack of education makes women believe that C-sections are easier: they're not. Most Korean hospitals will keep you for 3 days after a vaginal birth and 5 days after a C-section. Some women believe that you'll be wheeled in, cut open, sewn shut and ta-da it'll be over. It's not. Recovery takes weeks, sometimes months, sometimes women are left with permanent nerve damage and are numb.

A C-section is major abdominal surgery. Many C-sections can be avoided, especially the "emergency" C-sections. The number one, top, best ever way to avoid an unnecessary C-section (or unnecesarean) is to choose a hospital or clinic that supports VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean). It's hard enough to recover from major surgery let alone have to care for a newborn on top of it.

Where to get a VBAC in Korea
Here's a list of hospitals and clinics in Korea. Not all of them may support VBACs. Birthing centers and hospitals focused on natural birth should. Always ask a place what their view on VBACs are and what their success rate is. I can't stress it enough for you to get information. Even at the same hospital you may find some doctors who support them and some who don't. Get your doctor to sign your birth plan so that if your doctor isn't on call your wishes will still be respected. These are some VBAC friendly places in Gyeonggi-do and Seoul.

• Agitanseun Natural Birth Center (김옥진조산원) Kim Ok Jin (Rosa)
• GM Cheil Women's Clinic
• Lee Myung Hwa (행복한이명화조산원) they used to be Happy Birth  
• Mamas' Birth Center
• Medi Flower
• Soonchunhyang Hospital (SCH)
• Yeon and Nature

Getting the Birth You Want
There are many things you can do to get the birth you want. The number one thing you can do is to choose a caregiver wisely. You should also ask questions and see how likely it is that you will be able to try for a VBAC. Here are some things to consider asking:

• How far past your due date will they allow you to go? (Remember that there are different ways to calculate due dates. Add to that gestation age can vary up to 5 weeks and due dates can be up to 5 weeks off means that your due date isn't that accurate at all so doctors can get your due date wrong. Don't forget that first time moms are 8 days late on average.) The ACOG (American College of Obstetricians recommends not inteferring with a health pregnancy before 42 weeks.
• What's their C-section rate?
• What's their VBAC rate?
• Do they try to convince you to have a C section?
• Will they try to induce you if you go past your due date or automatically schedule a C-section? (Even if you need a C-section, being allowed to go into labor is beneficial for both the mom and the baby. Among other things, it allows the natural flow of hormones as well as squeezes the liquid out of the baby's lung so that it's easier to breath.)

Resources
If you're interested about learning more about VBAcs and C-sections, check out the links below. 

• American Pregnancy's info on VBACs
• C-Section: How to Avoid, Prepare for, and Recover From Your Cesarean 
• The Essential C-Section Guide
• How to Plan your VBAC
• ICAN (The International Cesarean Awareness Network). They have a section on VBACs.
• The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henri Goer
• The Unnecesarean
• The VBAC Companion
• The VBAC Forum on Mothering.com 
• VBAC Facts. Check out their 13 Myths about VBACs.
• VBAC.com

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Tender Embrace Birthing offers childbirth, breastfeeding, and newborn care classes and support.