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I had the lovely opportunity to experience the best (and not so best) of both worlds: the US and Mexico. For the more significant part of my life, I was in the US, giving birth to my first child here. Soon after my child’s third birthday, I got transferred to Mexico City. Needless to say, I fell in love with Mexico as much as I did the US. Soon after my transfer, I got pregnant with my second child, which meant that delivery had to be here. There were options to go back to the US, but I decided to have my baby right here in Mexico after talking to close friends and family.
I was stunned to witness the stark contrast between my first and second delivery! I know now that if I have another child, they will be born right here on Mexican soil, and this is why:
Better Access To My Doctors: Mexico Wins This Round
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When I was in the US for my first delivery, I remember calling up the hospital and waiting in the nurse’s line to get a callback or schedule a session with my doctor. On many occasions, they put me on to other doctors who had a look at my medical history and took things from there. We all know that the patient-doctor rapport is of utmost importance for pregnancy: this instills a sense of comfort and reassurance. The US medical system can’t say much about rapport-building — not when it was so hard to gain access to my designated doctor.
Mexico was a refreshing change in this aspect. I was pleasantly surprised to know that all I had to do was drop a text directly to my doctor, and I would get an immediate response. This doctor was available at all times, and when asked if she would be the one to deliver my child, she readily agreed.
The Doctors Worked Around My Preferences
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When in the US, most of my appointments were scheduled as per the doctor’s availability. My second pregnancy was a planned C-section. However, the date of delivery depended on the doctor’s availability. Such wasn’t the case in Mexico! I wanted my second child’s date of birth to coincide with one of the national holidays: the doctor readily agreed to show up and do her job irrespective of it being a holiday. Further, the doctor offered several different options and helped me choose a hospital of my choice. I didn’t exactly have the same luxury when it came to the US.
The Pain Was Controlled Better In Mexico
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Childbirth is painful; there is no denying this. My first child was a normal delivery — but there was nothing normal about the way I felt. During labor, the doctors opted for a vacuum-assisted natural birth. By the end of the delivery, I had perineal tears and what is known as the “explosion of vulvar hematoma”. In case you’re wondering if it sounds as bad as it is, you thought right. Perineal tears happen in the area between your lady parts and your rear end. And the latter essentially refers to excessive blood loss and bruises in the soft tissues of the external parts of my nether regions (1), (2).
But I can’t blame the US medical system for this: as I said, childbirth is a painful event. However, on day two of my stay at the hospital, I was asked to leave as my “medical insurance offers only forty-eight hours of stay post-delivery”.
I didn’t have to worry about this during my delivery in Mexico. This delivery, too, was complicated, as it was a C-section, but my experience was a lot more positive. My stay in the hospital revolved around my recovery and comfort: not how long my insurance covered.
Baby Care: Points For The US
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I’m not going to trash the US medical system completely. I did have a better experience when in Mexico, but there was one area in which the US fared much better: neonatal care. In the US, the nurses in the hospital I was in were firm believers of kangaroo care. The nurses were patient when it came to breastfeeding, and a lactation specialist took care of all my baby’s feeding needs. The security protocols were flawless, with printed IDs and alarms attached to bracelets that were put on my baby’s wrists or feet.
In Mexico, however, let’s just say that I was slightly worried about my baby. Soon after birth, babies are encouraged to spend a few hours in the nursery. I needed a legal waiver if I wished to have my baby in my room. The security system wasn’t that great either; in fact, all they had was a paper chain that had my initials on it — secured around my baby’s neck.
While I can say that the US paled compared to Mexico when it came to delivery and hospital care, I speak only for myself. I have more confidence in the US medical system when it comes to security and neonatal care. In all other areas, I found myself a lot more comfortable in Mexico. Childbirth, although precious and profound, can be a terrifying experience. When doctors take small steps to make a difference during this journey, it can mean a lot! Both countries offered wholesome experiences, and I am glad the outcome of it was my healthy, cute babies!
