Related News
Bumps & Babes helps expats in pregnancy and childcare
By Fu Rao |
September 25, 2012, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IT can be difficult to give birth in a foreign country but after living in Suzhou for more than a year, American Maggie Lasco decided to have her baby in China, in Shanghai.
Now she is head of Bumps & Babes Suzhou, a branch of B&B, a Shanghai organization for parents-to-be and new parents.
Bumps & Babes, founded by expat women in 2006 in Shanghai, offers information and resources about pregnancy, delivery, baby care and family life.
Lasco and her husband arrived in Suzhou in 2010 after spending two years in Hong Kong.
"Shortly after we settled here, I was pregnant and it was my first time. You can imagine how nervous I was about everything," Lasco says while cradling her six-month-old daughter Megan. The baby wears a head-shaping helmet because she has a flat spot on her head, caused by a torn neck muscle that made her favor sleeping on one side. She will wear it for three or four months.
During her pregnancy, Lasco got a lot of information and support from other expat mothers in Suzhou. "The more I learned about how other moms were doing this, the less I worried," she says.
The delivery went smoothly.
While many Chinese women are helped with childcare by their retired parents and in-laws, most expat wives have to do everything themselves.
"That's why we need to help each other," Lasco says.
As the number of expat families grows, Lasco started to think that Suzhou-based moms should get together, meet regularly, launch some events and solve problems together.
"It's so wonderful that you can get out of the house and meet people who may have similar concerns but different experiences. We exchange information, help people out when they are in need and share exciting moments," Lasco says.
Any mother with issues can seek help. "Mothers are not gods, we don't know everything, we need help in many situations so let's help each other," she says.
Bumps & Babes Suzhou meets every morning at Starbucks RainboWalk from 10pm to noon. Five or 10 mothers come with their children, mostly pre-kindergarten age. A few Chinese mothers and expat dads occasionally show up.
The group is organizing various events and speeches by professionals about pregnancy, delivery, hospital stays, baby care, danger prevention, medical assistance and so on. Some experts come from Shanghai, others from Suzhou.
A doctor from First Aid Shanghai recently gave a talk on how to deal with choking, burns and various household accidents.
B&B Suzhou Talk is usually held in restaurants or cafes. The price of tickets covers a meal, drinks and free advice.
B&B also raises funds for charities helping needy Chinese babies. The next event is an open bazaar this month featuring many vendors. Table fees paid by vendors will go directly to Baobei Foundation, which helps orphans in need of surgery.
Lasco says Suzhou is ideal for expat families.
"Compared with Hong Kong where we had been living, Suzhou is much slower-paced but you can still find quite an international community like we have now," says Lasco who lives in a lakeside community. Neighbors come from around Europe, as well as other countries.
Lasco says a major issue for mothers is food safety.
"As adults, we can eat almost everything, but our kids cannot. We must be very choosy about what our babies eat."
B&B has found places in Suzhou where they can buy high-quality organic food and formula.
On holidays Lasco and her husband take Megan on short trips. When she no longer needs diapers they plan to travel further.
To learn more information about Bumps & Babes, check the websitewww.bumpsbabes.com.
Now she is head of Bumps & Babes Suzhou, a branch of B&B, a Shanghai organization for parents-to-be and new parents.
Bumps & Babes, founded by expat women in 2006 in Shanghai, offers information and resources about pregnancy, delivery, baby care and family life.
Lasco and her husband arrived in Suzhou in 2010 after spending two years in Hong Kong.
"Shortly after we settled here, I was pregnant and it was my first time. You can imagine how nervous I was about everything," Lasco says while cradling her six-month-old daughter Megan. The baby wears a head-shaping helmet because she has a flat spot on her head, caused by a torn neck muscle that made her favor sleeping on one side. She will wear it for three or four months.
During her pregnancy, Lasco got a lot of information and support from other expat mothers in Suzhou. "The more I learned about how other moms were doing this, the less I worried," she says.
The delivery went smoothly.
While many Chinese women are helped with childcare by their retired parents and in-laws, most expat wives have to do everything themselves.
"That's why we need to help each other," Lasco says.
As the number of expat families grows, Lasco started to think that Suzhou-based moms should get together, meet regularly, launch some events and solve problems together.
"It's so wonderful that you can get out of the house and meet people who may have similar concerns but different experiences. We exchange information, help people out when they are in need and share exciting moments," Lasco says.
Any mother with issues can seek help. "Mothers are not gods, we don't know everything, we need help in many situations so let's help each other," she says.
Bumps & Babes Suzhou meets every morning at Starbucks RainboWalk from 10pm to noon. Five or 10 mothers come with their children, mostly pre-kindergarten age. A few Chinese mothers and expat dads occasionally show up.
The group is organizing various events and speeches by professionals about pregnancy, delivery, hospital stays, baby care, danger prevention, medical assistance and so on. Some experts come from Shanghai, others from Suzhou.
A doctor from First Aid Shanghai recently gave a talk on how to deal with choking, burns and various household accidents.
B&B Suzhou Talk is usually held in restaurants or cafes. The price of tickets covers a meal, drinks and free advice.
B&B also raises funds for charities helping needy Chinese babies. The next event is an open bazaar this month featuring many vendors. Table fees paid by vendors will go directly to Baobei Foundation, which helps orphans in need of surgery.
Lasco says Suzhou is ideal for expat families.
"Compared with Hong Kong where we had been living, Suzhou is much slower-paced but you can still find quite an international community like we have now," says Lasco who lives in a lakeside community. Neighbors come from around Europe, as well as other countries.
Lasco says a major issue for mothers is food safety.
"As adults, we can eat almost everything, but our kids cannot. We must be very choosy about what our babies eat."
B&B has found places in Suzhou where they can buy high-quality organic food and formula.
On holidays Lasco and her husband take Megan on short trips. When she no longer needs diapers they plan to travel further.
To learn more information about Bumps & Babes, check the websitewww.bumpsbabes.com.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
