You had your baby where????

United States
July 14, 2008 12:22pm CST
So Angelina Jolie had 2 kids in France this time. I was thinking what does she have against having her kids in the United States?? But that isn't what this discussion is about. She had her first natural baby in Africa and it got me thinking. I would be really nervous having my babies in a third world country like Africa. I know she is rich and can afford to fly her doctors in but I would still be nervous. There are different kinds of germs there and who knows what a newborn could catch. So my question is: Would you ever have a baby in a country with non Western medicine or would you be too nervous?? Even though the USA doesn't have perfect health care, I feel safer here than I would anywhere else when delivering a baby or having surgery. How about you? If you live in a third world country what is the state of your health care and does it make you nervous or are you confident about it? If you live in a western society, how would you feel about having a major medical procedure in a third world country? Thanks for reading.
3 people like this
7 responses
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
15 Jul 08
Childbirth isn't a medical procedure. Western medicine has made it so which is why we have such a high rate of c-sections. I am not comfortable giving birth in a US hospital and would never do it again if more children were in my future (which they're not). It's probably safer (assuming the pregnancy was normal and the mother is healthy) to give birth in a tent in Africa than in a US hospital these days if you really include all the negative effects of a hospital birth here.
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@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
15 Jul 08
I know that there are some situations that require medical intervention. I don't have a problem with that. BUT there are many more births that would have/should have been completely complication free had it not been for medical intervention. Many "normal" procedures are just not necessary and can actually cause harm to the mother and baby making it more likely the birth will end with a c-section or other trauma to the mother and baby.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jul 08
I'm involved in the medical field so I see more good out of it than someone who may not be. I guess we all have different opinions but the lives of the innocent are at stake and I would rather be with decent medical care than without it. I would bet that if you were to ask someone who lives in a country without decent medical care about being able to have it they would definitely want it. The good thing is that we are all entitled to our opinions and I think on this one we can agree to disagree. I'm just grateful my babies are alive. :)
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Jul 08
Yeah, I found it interesting that Angelina had her twin babies in France. I think she had a scheduled c-section, so if so it was planned and she really could have had the babies anywhere. It kind of bothers me when American celebrities do stuff like that. Having her first baby in Africa was even more odd to me. I don't get it. Not worth the risks to me.
1 person likes this
• United States
21 Jul 08
I'm with you, definitely not worth it. Thanks for the response.
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@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
15 Jul 08
I had my boys in Ohio, my first daughter in Mississippi and my last one in New Jersey. I don't think I would be comfortable having a baby in any other country because I am used to the way things are here in the States.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jul 08
As most of us are I'd imagine. Thanks for the response.
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@snowy22315 (182197)
• United States
14 Jul 08
I think if I satsfied myself that the health care was up to par I would be ok having the baby in a country with non western medicine if something went wrong though, I would never forgive myself. Doing that African thing was a pretty strange choice in my book, but she is not a usual person. Fortunatley it worked out fine.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Jul 08
Yeah I still can't figure out that Africa call myself, weird. You have a point she is pretty unusual especially when it comes to having her kids. Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Jul 08
I was wondering the same thing...and no, I wouldn't want to have a baby in any other country not only because of our superior healthcare but also because I would want my children to be born American citizens.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jul 08
Don't quote me but I think that children born anywhere to American parents would be considered citizens. But that is a great point. I would like the same thing. Thanks for the response.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
14 Jul 08
Millions of babies are born in third world countries every year, that's one of the reasons that they are Third World still!! I have to say that if I could avoid it, I would not want a child born anywhere that there was risk to either mother or baby. But provided that there was no reason why a natural birth could take place then, and with my wife's agreement, I'd be content for her to give birth there. But for preference, western medicine please. Although it didn't happen, after our daughter was born my wife said that she wanted any others to be born in the Cromwell Hospital (very smart) and to be anaethetised with champagne!!
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Jul 08
LOL...Your wife has a great sense of humor. Nice way to word your response too. If it was clean and safe then it wouldn't be an issue. But is it safe is the question I have for someone who lives in one of these places?? Thanks for the response hun!!
1 person likes this
@piasabird (1737)
• United States
14 Jul 08
LOL I'm just going to wait for someone to come along and accuse you of being racist and bigot. It seems to be a trend lately. Um, no I would not be comfortable in having any kind of medical procedure in another country.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Jul 08
I don't think most of us would feel comfortable. We could possibly be too used to things here. :) I'm sure someone will come along and say that but this discussion wasn't intended for that. I actually hope someone will come along who lives in a non western country to explain how their medical care really is. Thanks for the response.
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