Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

Thank you so much for this information. I will get straight on to gaining the facts regarding healthcare ASAP to see where we would stand as it would be a huge priority with me being pregnant and especially as I will be likely to get gestational diabetes as I did with my previous pregnancy.

I always said when we were younger and planning our future that our second child would be born in Canada but I thought we would already be living there by now! Life took over with marriage then babies. The original dream was BC but fell in love with Ontario during our time there too and as that is where the job would be so maybe BC in the future.

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

You will most certainly regret not going.

You will probably not regret going, not liking it and going back to the UK.

Loads of great resources in Downtown Toronto for new Mums in the week where you will meet lots of other young Mums for support.

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

interesting thread and some very valid and helpful responses methinks

however, what i find really really weird is there is no mention, at least that i can see, of what the hubbie has to say

might be good to check and let us know

if you both decide to nix the idea will he, or could he, harbour resentment at a missed opportunity?

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

MM... I think pregnant woman tops everything else in decision making. Having a baby is a major event in itself. Doing it somewhere completely new with none of the support network around you is a very stressful thing to do. If ktmummer decided not to do it at this precise time, no one could blame her.

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

OH definitely wants to do it, he has always been keen but is concerned about putting me under stress in pregnancy with such a huge move, we are basically on the same page thankfully! We both feel that Canada can offer a great upbringing for our children and I do now feel we will have some regrets if we don't at least try for this opportunity. Still I will of course need to consider the health of my unborn child and won't do anything to put my children at risk so we have to be 100% or near as committed to this and be organised enough to reduce the stress load somewhat.

I have done some reading and now just need to wait for the company to get back to us as to whether they provide any health coverage for the first 90 days. It seems Manulife Financial and Travel Underwriters provide coverage up to week 31 of pregnancy so if we had been resident for the 90 days by then we would be covered for the birth. Now need to look at a calendar and quickly figure out which date we would need to be residents by for this to happen. Also need to get quotes from both of these companies as I have a feeling it will be quite pricey for the interim cover.

I am so glad I joined this forum and posted as the insights and advice are just so spot on from people who have the experience- so valuable to us at this time as we need all the advice we can get.

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

I'm popping in from the Aus forum, so while it's not Canada-specific advice, it is a tale of giving birth shortly (10-months!) after emigrating.

Our first was born in the UK; Miss Moo was 21 months old when we found out I was expecting the Gorilla. My second pregnancy was very difficult, compared to the first, due to a range of health issues. Some things that spring to mind, in no particular order:

I found it very difficult to juggle a toddler with the pregnancy and no support. Health appointments meant my husband taking time off work. Every appointment! Not just important ones like scans. A combination of Moo's age and my health meant I couldn't juggle her and the medical profession at the same time. We are lucky that my husband works for a family-friendly company, as he took a lot of time off. A supportive employer also made the world of difference after the birth. There were times when I was overwhelmed and Mr GG left work early to rescue me. They were the days that Moo was taking it hard that the Gorilla seemed to be around for good and wasn't leaving!

When the Gorilla was born, he ended up in ICU. We're lucky(?!) that I have a 100% success rate with my children ending up there, so I knew what to expect. But I dealt with that on my own, basically, as my husband was caring for Moo. I don't mean to scare-monger, but the possibility that a birth will not be straightforward and easy is always there. How would you handle it without family support?

Going from 1 to 2 is worse than going from 0 to 1. You think you'd be OK, you've done it before, right? Wrong. It's tougher. At least initially, until you get a routine going. But those first couple of months I was sleep deprived, emotional and stressed. Not a happy combination when I was alone for the most of the time and had no-one to call on to come over so I could at least moan about it!

Moo watched a lot (and I mean, a lot!) of TV towards the end of my pregnancy. I was too tired and too enormous to do much with her. I should have been out there, taking her to playgroup and getting myself a support network established, but I just physically couldn't.

Obvious disclaimer: This is my random experience, someone else's will be the exact opposite. Take it all with a tablespoon of salt. ;) And, FWIW, I'd still do it all again and say to you to go for it - just go in with eyes wide open. :)

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

my advice is go for it as you might not have that second opportunity

plus, moving here is a good move and unlikely you will regret

I came over in 1962 and never looked back

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

Thanks GeordieGeorge for sharing your experience, I have heard this from others about going from one to two being much harder than from none to one! I am very familiar with the all encompassing sleep deprivation and can't imagine what double the trouble must feel like í ½í¸¯. I am liking the fact that despite your difficult time you are still overall happy with your decision and your lives.

What has kept you going through your hardest times when you have not had a support network? You are clearly a strong person to go through so much and still come out the other side with positivity. í ½í¸ƒ

Thanks Montreal Mike as well. What do you love most about life in Canada?

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

I kind of figure that anything is temporary and, as the Gorilla got older, things were only ever going to get easier. That mindset helped. And once he was born and my SPD improved, I was able to get out to playgroup, start meeting people and feel calmer about it all. For me, the first four months were the worst. Once I'd sorted out a routine, it all fell into place. :)

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

We had two, just over two years apart. A saying I agree with is that the first takes 90% of your time while the second takes 90% of what was left.

But on the original worry, moving during pregnancy apart, we first came to Canada when the firstborn was 10 weeks old, actually 7 weeks when we left our then location of Southern California, but it took us three weeks to drive from near LA to Toronto with the baby in the back seat. It wasn't BTW an easy birth for the mother. Far from it.

Arriving in Toronto it took us no time at all to hook up with Mother-baby support groups and some of the couples we met in those times are still among our best friends.

I wouldn't worry too much about family support. If you and your OH have any fibre you won't need it.

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

I like the opportunity this country affords me even though i have just turned 70

I like the climate in eastern canada and do not mind the winters which i actually prefer to the hot humid summers

Even in summer when it rains it usually ends up in a brief downpour and then plenty of sunshine

The country is multi cultural and immigrants tend do well here even though the present quebec regime is showing some disgraceful bigotry

There is no inbred built in gun culture, unlike the USA, and so this country is generally safe. No problem doing for walks at all hours

Also we have very few race problems

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

Nicely finessed. In truth they are both hell. Just hell done in two different ways. :)

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

fair comment

that is why i no longer mind winters

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

And that is why I won't be in Canada when I'm your age. :)

Re: Potential move to Ontario...a good idea or recipe for problems?
 

Age-wise, I do not think that you are that far behind me, are you?

I take it you are headed for warmer and sunnier climes ?