Pregnancy in Thailand

Here we are, down to the last 9 weeks of my pregnancy.   I always prayed God would give me children, but never dreamed I’d experience it in a foreign country.  In the beginning planning stages of our ministry, Jared and I discussed the possibilities of this exact thing happening, and agreed then it would probably be fine.  The best advice on this matter given to me was, “People have children and raise them in Thailand every day.  Why can’t you?”  So when people in America ask in shock, “You aren’t coming home to have the baby?”  I reply to them with this same advice.

Now don’t get me wrong, if God allowed, I’d be home, surrounded by family to bring this baby into the world in American fashion, but that just is not his plan.  So I have to settle with the peace he is giving me.  The hardest thing about this whole process is not having my family here with me, and I’m still praying for peace about that. 

I’m working on making this experience as close to ‘normal’ as I possibly can.  I’ve been very actively planning out the purchases of all the ‘necessary’ baby stuff along with my mom, just like I would if I was home, except instead of shopping together, we look at things online.  Trying to find all the things I think I need has been a challenge here in Thailand!  It turns out that American babies need different things compared to Thai babies.  There are a total of two stores in Udon Thani, Thailand, which is a bigger city, that carry wooden cribs.  Of all the Thai babies I’ve experienced, they sleep in a hammock tied in the corner of a room, or in the parent’s bed.  A crib is just not seen as a necessary item!  Things I can find, such as pacifiers, bottles, clothes, car seats, are more expensive and not anywhere close to the right quality.  So this is making decisions really difficult!  Some things will just need to be shipped in.

Our doctor here has been wonderful.  He speaks English and therefore is able to really help us with our questions.  So far, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how healthy this pregnancy has been.  Overall, I have had a great experience.  I praise God for this.  My biggest challenge honestly has been the weather.  With 100+ degree temperatures every day, my energy level and endurance are way down.  There has been a water bottle attached to my hand for the last 31 weeks trying to keep myself hydrated (which in this weather is difficult under normal health conditions, but pregnant is so difficult). 

I am extremely excited that my mom is planning to travel to Thailand around the time the baby is born.  Planning this has been a crazy ordeal.  Just how do you plan an international trip so that it falls where she can get here just in time to see the baby born, and then have as much time with the baby after as possible?  We have yet to figure this out! 

I’d like to ask that you pray with us about a long list of things.  As all new parents, our heads are spinning with all the things we need to get done and all of the “what ifs”.  Please pray with us that:

-We stay healthy throughout the end stages of the pregnancy and have a safe delivery.  After all, this is all that really matters in the end.

-We would not fill our minds with the things we wish were happening, but enjoy the things that are happening.  It is too easy to dwell on the things we feel we’re missing out on not being home.

-All the little details will work out for my mom’s trip.  Pray for the finances, and her bravery!  This will be her first flight ever, and we pray she won’t be doing it alone.  Pray that we can work out all the details so she has a very uneventful flight experience.

-Pray for our doctor, that God’s will be done in our care at the hospital.

-Pray that we are able to figure out all this paperwork that comes along with having a baby internationally.  We will spend months after the birth ensuring he has all the right paperwork to be a traveling missionary baby.

-Pray that we look to God in all the decisions that come along with this new adventure in our lives!  And that He will be here to guide us as new parents.

Thank you! Much Love, Kayla