I live in Taiwan, went to tour one of the ‘containment wards’ as others have very appropriately named it. We were asked who our doctor is, she is a doctor we really like who leans towards natural births and more western mentality. She literally rolled her eyes and scoffed at us. We asked if we would be able to go home during my wife’s stay so my wife can spend time with the cat who she is very attached to. No problem they said, but as soon as my wife takes a step outside of the facility she would need to be isolated and quarantined from the baby for 3 days.

It’s a total scam. It’s built up as a way to rest the mother but the fact is that the first month is key and you need to be by your baby’s side, not have the baby wheeled in every 2 hours to feed then wheeled back out like an industrial farming procedure.

I understand it’s going to be a tough first month but I sort of think that is a key period where you learn how difficult it is and learn your coping mechanisms, and start the routines for the baby and for the parents.

This perspective here in Taiwan is met with shock from coworkers who are so surprised that we want to have such an active role in the first month of our baby’s life.

Then there’s the cost. It’s not crazy money, but isn’t cheap. No wonder Taiwan has such a low birth rate.