Maternity Abroad: Becoming A Mother in a Foreign Land
A Real Guide for Expecting Mothers Living Far from Home
By Jessica Gabrielzyk
Being pregnant is already an intense journey. Experiencing it in another country without your support network, within a different healthcare system, surrounded by unfamiliar cultural norms and a new language can feel overwhelming, isolating, and confusing.
Motherhood Abroad: Becoming a Mom in a Foreign Country is both a practical and emotional guide, written by and for expat moms. It weaves together real stories, shared experiences, and expert insights to help you feel less lost, more informed, and genuinely supported.
What You’ll Find in the Book:
How to navigate unfamiliar healthcare systems, including prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum
Understanding what’s cultural versus what’s clinical
How to ask for help, even when there’s a language barrier
Identity, loneliness, and the emotions almost no one talks about
Your rights and your baby’s rights in different countries
Practical tips, real stories, and trusted guidance
Who Is This Book For?This book is for you if:
You’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant outside of Brazil
You feel like you’re figuring everything out on your own
You’ve ever wondered, “Is this normal? Is it safe? Am I the only one feeling this way?”
You want to feel less alone and more prepared for this moment
Read by Mothers in Over 15 Countries
Motherhood Abroad has supported families living in Germany, Portugal, the U.S., Australia, India, and beyond — with mothers saying the book was:
“[…] what kept me sane during my second trimester.” — Carla, mom in Norway
“It was everything I couldn’t explain to my family back in Brazil.” — Juliana, pregnant in France
“It felt like talking to a friend who truly gets me.” — Renata, living in Japan
About the Author
Jessica Gabrielzyk is a writer, mother, and Brazilian who has been living abroad for over a decade.
She experienced pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood far from family — and decided to write the book she wished she had at the time.
She is a member of the Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR) and writes about parenting and belonging in multicultural contexts, drawing from personal experience, research, and deep listening to other expat mothers.
A guide for the journey no one prepared you for — but you don’t have to go through it alone.
Read it. Gift it. Share it.
Wherever you are, this book is for you.
Official website: www.jessicagabrielzyk.com
Other Books We Recommend
-
Raising kids in another country changes parenting in ways no one prepares you for. Safety, connection, even what it means to be a “good parent” — all start to shift. Parenting Unpacked draws from real stories of families navigating identity, loss, and daily life across cultures. It’s not a guide. It’s a mirror.
-
My First American Coloring Book helps young children observe, name, and explore their surroundings with gentle, age-appropriate illustrations. Designed especially for toddlers discovering life in the United States, it turns simple moments into meaningful learning.