Giving Birth in Korea: What To Expect as a Foreign Woman

Last Updated on April 27, 2026

A few contractions later, we were in a taxi to our doctor’s office to get this show on the road. Having a baby abroad can be stressful. With emotions that are already running rampant because of pregnancy hormones, adding a new stressor isn’t ideal. There had been no Lamaze classes or lessons on what to expect prior to labor and there we were giving birth in Korea in a birthing center.

Five hours of contractions in a room with just my husband and me and some nurses that would come and go every thirty minutes or so was the set up. Here’s a general guideline of what to expect that might be different when going into labor in Korea. Don’t worry, there won’t be any gory details.

Giving birth in Korea and want to know what it will be like while you’re in labor? Get ready:

• Get Ready for the Enema
• Where’s My English Speaking Doctor?
• Silence!
• Where Is My Baby Going?
• A Note On Birthing Plans in Korea
• FAQ

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Get Ready for the Enema

When I asked my doctor if there was anything I should be aware of heading into delivery day, the one thing she noted was that I should be aware there would be an enema. She had studied and worked in Chicago, USA for a time and said that though it is uncommon in the States to get an enema before labor now, in Korea it is still common practice.

Though studies have found that they do nothing to reduce infection, which was once thought, or to reduce discomfort, they are still used here. Having no idea what to expect, I was wary, but it’s not as bad as you think.

As soon as we arrived at the birthing center, the nurses told me to change into my gown and told my husband to wait outside. I was confused at first and wanted to make sure they understood that he would be in the room, but they said ‘no’. I realized later, it was because after I got on my gown, they immediately administered the enema and apparently thought it was unbecoming to have him in the room for that.

I couldn’t quite make out what they said as far as directions and had never had an enema before so sort of jumped from one foot to another as I waited the five minutes that I thought they’d told me to wait. Honestly, I couldn’t make it five minutes and ran to the bathroom. The enema indeed worked. Apparently they had said it could take UP TO five minutes to work… not wait five minutes. Anyway, the deed was done, and they let my husband in after that.

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Where’s My English Speaking Doctor?

The day will come and you will rush to the hospital or the birthing center you’ve chosen here in Korea. The English speaking doctor you managed to find that you’ve been meeting over the past few months who has been answering your questions in English and explaining the ultrasounds to you won’t be there. Where will the doc be? Won’t arrive until the labor is in full swing.

Having a doctor that speaks English is completely necessary but for the hours of contractions before pushing begins, the only people to check on you will most likely be Korean speaking nurses.

I had asked my doctor if any of her staff spoke English and she said not to worry, we’d be able to communicate so I was somewhat prepared but when it came down to it, I could not speak Korean to save my life. I was in the midst of all kinds of feelings and trying to translate what I wanted was not happening. The staff generally knew what I was saying but thank goodness my husband was there to translate because I was not in the mood.

For a couple in which both members are foreign, be sure to request some helpful vocabulary to get you through from the doctor beforehand and really I suggest that the husband is the one learning it because ladies, you’ll have other things on your mind.

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Silence!

Movies and TV shows would have you believe that when you’re ready to push out that child, the work is difficult and grunt worthy. Screams, yells, squeals and and groans will come forth from your mouth while the baby is coming forth from, well you know where babies come from. Whether or not that is true in the States, I can’t say, but what I can say is that in Korea, that’s not the case. How can you control whether or not you’re screaming, yelling, squealing or groaning? Some would say, you can’t. My doctor however said otherwise.

The moment was upon us, the doctor was ready and the signal to push was given. I immediately started concentrating, pushing and making whatever noises escaped from my mouth. It was at that point that the doctor scolded me saying, “No noises! Don’t make any noise!”

I was a bit shocked by her statement and wasn’t quite sure I understood her. I continued on and once again a noise escaped from my mouth though I was trying to hold it in and again she told me not to make a sound. With little time to think about it and no time to ask why she kept telling me to be quiet, I pushed on, pun intended.

Later, I asked my husband why she’d kept telling me to be quiet and what had she been saying in Korean? Apparently in Korean she had been telling him that I needed to be concentrating all of my energy on the birth and pushing and if I was making noise from my mouth that would mean that there was energy in my mouth and not down south where it needed to be.

This was one thing that would have been beneficial to learn beforehand because in the moment, it certainly wasn’t comforting being scolded in a room full of nurses and my husband.

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Are you pregnant in Korea? Here are some more posts you might be interested in:

• A Helpful Guide for Foreigner Couples Starting A Family In Korea
• Pregnant In Korea: The Superstitions, The Benefits, & So Much More!
• What to Expect After Giving Birth in Korea

And if you plan on staying in a post-natal hotel, check out:

• Secrets of the Korean Post-Natal Hotel: Postpartum Recovery In Korea

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Where Is My Baby Going?

After giving birth here, it is common to have the baby taken to the nursery for up to 4 hours. Our nurses said this was so that she could be monitored for any health issues in her as well as giving me time to recuperate.

As a first-time mother, I went with it, in retrospect, I would have preferred to have her in the room with me during that period. My husband went back and forth between my room and the nursery every hour to check on her and find out when we could bring her back to our room.

If this is something that matters to you, discuss it with your doctor before labor. Have a preference ready. Korean hospitals aren’t generally set up for detailed birthing plans, but most doctors are open to hearing concerns if you raise them.

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A Note On Birthing Plans in Korea

Birthing plans aren’t common practice in Korean hospitals or clinics, and detailed planning isn’t generally encouraged. That said, my doctor was open to suggestion — I just wasn’t entirely sure what to suggest beforehand. If you have an ob-gyn you’re comfortable with, bring your questions, raise your concerns, and ask about anything in this article that worries you. A good doctor will work with you.

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FAQ

What is giving birth in Korea like for foreigners?

Manageable with some preparation. The main differences from Western births: an enema is typically administered before labor; your English-speaking doctor may not be present during the early contraction hours; there is a cultural expectation of silence during pushing; and the baby is often taken to the nursery for several hours after birth for monitoring. None of these is insurmountable, but all are easier to navigate if you know about them in advance.

Do Korean hospitals have English-speaking doctors?

Yes, but your English-speaking doctor typically arrives once active labor begins, not during the hours of early contractions. Pre-labor nurses at smaller clinics and birthing centers may not speak English. If possible, ask your doctor to clarify what support will be available during all stages of labor.

Why are you told to be silent during pushing in Korea?

The cultural reasoning: making noise from the mouth during pushing means energy is in the mouth rather than directed toward delivery. Concentrating effort in silence is considered more effective. Knowing this ahead of time means you can prepare to work with it rather than being caught off guard mid-push.

How long after birth does the baby stay in the nursery?

Up to four hours is standard at many Korean birthing centers and hospitals, primarily for health monitoring. If you would prefer the baby in your room sooner, discuss this preference with your doctor before delivery day.

Is giving birth in Korea expensive?

Korea’s national health insurance (NHIS) covers the majority of standard delivery costs for residents. Out-of-pocket costs vary significantly depending on the facility, a small ob-gyn clinic will be considerably less expensive than a large hospital’s maternity ward. Discuss costs with your doctor and verify what your specific insurance coverage includes.

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If anything in this article raises a concern, bring it to your doctor before labor starts. That’s genuinely the best advice I have.

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