Hi Smallcat,
Just to give another perspective, I didn't find having a newborn in HK tough at all.
I carried my son in a sling for about 3 or 4 months with no trouble (and he was a big baby, so not particularly light). After that I used a push chair - an iCandy which is big and heavy, but both my son and I loved it. I've read many posts about how you can't use a push chair in HK (or one of any weight), but I didn't have any problems. Admittedly I have a car so it was is easier for me in terms of car transport, as collapsing a heavy push chair when using taxis isn't so easy, but I still found getting around okay. I just found the MTR stations / walking routes that were push chair friendly and used those. Learning which MTRs to avoid because they are too hard etc., but really most transport problems can be overcome. To be honest, I think it's a matter of attitude as well.
Nearly all of my friends with babies (and most of us are onto our second ones now) took them out from just weeks old, so I don't really agree that most people with infants don't go out much. I was a bit shell shocked with my first baby, and going out a lot ended up being essential to my sanity. I took him everywhere for months. Just breastfed him when I needed to, with a maternity cover (in Starbucks or breastfeeding rooms in baby shops, or even just sitting on public seating in a mall) and worked out the best places to change him (public toilets in malls that have baby changing facilities). Being in a sling was very soothing for him so it was all very easy. After that he would just take naps in his push chair, which I'd cover with some material when he seemed tired, and again it was all easy. Most malls are easy to get around with a push chair.
With regards to healthcare, as people have said, that's nothing to worry about here, and the Queen Mary is one of the best public hospitals.
With regards to pollution...well, I think that's probably a worry for everyone.
Good luck with everything anyway. Don't be daunted about getting around Hong Kong. Just be determined to do it and have your freedom, and you'll be absolutely fine. As others have said, you'll find a way whatever your circumstances.
Would love to know how you didn't know you were pregnant until 20 weeks! I'm always amazed how that can happen.
Just to give another perspective, I didn't find having a newborn in HK tough at all.
I carried my son in a sling for about 3 or 4 months with no trouble (and he was a big baby, so not particularly light). After that I used a push chair - an iCandy which is big and heavy, but both my son and I loved it. I've read many posts about how you can't use a push chair in HK (or one of any weight), but I didn't have any problems. Admittedly I have a car so it was is easier for me in terms of car transport, as collapsing a heavy push chair when using taxis isn't so easy, but I still found getting around okay. I just found the MTR stations / walking routes that were push chair friendly and used those. Learning which MTRs to avoid because they are too hard etc., but really most transport problems can be overcome. To be honest, I think it's a matter of attitude as well.
Nearly all of my friends with babies (and most of us are onto our second ones now) took them out from just weeks old, so I don't really agree that most people with infants don't go out much. I was a bit shell shocked with my first baby, and going out a lot ended up being essential to my sanity. I took him everywhere for months. Just breastfed him when I needed to, with a maternity cover (in Starbucks or breastfeeding rooms in baby shops, or even just sitting on public seating in a mall) and worked out the best places to change him (public toilets in malls that have baby changing facilities). Being in a sling was very soothing for him so it was all very easy. After that he would just take naps in his push chair, which I'd cover with some material when he seemed tired, and again it was all easy. Most malls are easy to get around with a push chair.
With regards to healthcare, as people have said, that's nothing to worry about here, and the Queen Mary is one of the best public hospitals.
With regards to pollution...well, I think that's probably a worry for everyone.
Good luck with everything anyway. Don't be daunted about getting around Hong Kong. Just be determined to do it and have your freedom, and you'll be absolutely fine. As others have said, you'll find a way whatever your circumstances.
Would love to know how you didn't know you were pregnant until 20 weeks! I'm always amazed how that can happen.
