Choosing a Doctor & Hospital

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you plan to have your baby in Taiwan:

• If you're a first-time parent, read, read, read! There's no such thing as too much information when it comes to the birth of your baby. Throughout this site, as well as on our Bookshelf, you'll find recommended reading on childbirth and beyond.


• Talk to friends who have given birth here, or visit our Family Forum to meet women who are willing to share their experiences with you and answer your questions.


• Some options that are readily available in your home country may not be available at your chosen hospital, or may be difficult to locate, such as English-speaking midwives, prenatal classes, home birthing, or water birthing. Decide which preferences are the most important to you, and discuss them with your doctor.


• Procedures and policies vary from hospital to hospital. It’s important that you discuss your preferences with your doctor and decide on what options you are willing to compromise. Also, if you choose to write a birth plan, review it with your doctor months in advance so that he and hospital staff are not taken by surprise when you’re in the middle of labor.


• If you are new to Taiwan, it's also important to understand that what may be acceptable in the West is not always appreciated here. Therefore, we suggest that you not interview your prospective doctor with a list of questions in hand. Instead, talk to some of the other mothers who have birthed at that hospital and get some of your questions answered, then try to ask the remainder of your questions from memory, or over several visits.