It was early morning so I was surprised when someone knocked on my door. But not as surprised as I was about to be.

Eva (not her real name) said, “Amy, I’m in labor and I heard you were a birth coach before you came to the field.”

Let me back up a moment and explain that Eva was at our headquarters waiting the last month before her due date. Hey husband was due to fly to the capital city closer to the due date. She was correct, I had worked and lived with pregnant teens for three years in my twenties and had been blessed to be a part of many births. So, Eva and I headed off to the hospital across town in a rare snow storm. Fifteen minutes after we arrived, baby Joshua made his entrance into this wonderful world. I know, crazy! His dad arrived about three hours later and we all marveled at this healthy baby.

Pregnancy and birth are never just physical events—they are emotional, relational, and deeply formative experiences. For cross-cultural workers, these moments often unfold in unfamiliar medical systems, different languages, and without the steady presence of extended family or trusted support. What might already feel vulnerable can become layered with additional stressors: isolation, uncertainty, cultural differences, and the pressure to continue in ministry.

We’ve heard enough stories to know that stress during pregnancy and birth on the field is real, but we don’t yet have a clear picture of how widespread it is, what contributes to it most, or how it continues to shape workers and their families over time. Some carry these experiences quietly, unsure where to process them or whether their story “counts.” Others move on quickly, without space to reflect on what their body, relationships, and faith have held.

That’s where YOU come in. This survey is an invitation to help us understand more. By sharing your experience, you are contributing to a clearer, more compassionate picture of what it’s like to navigate pregnancy and birth in cross-cultural contexts. Your input will help inform better care, more informed sending practices, and resources that support both mothers and fathers in meaningful ways.

What happens in pregnancy and birth doesn’t stay in that moment, it shapes people, families, and ministries long after. Little baby Joshua is now a teen and not “little baby Joshua” :).

This survey will be open through the end of April (2026). 

It is for:

—Anyone who has been pregnant and/or given birth cross-culturally regardless of when you gave birth (maybe you’re pregnant right now or maybe you gave birth years ago)

—Anyone who navigated any length of pregnancy cross-culturally, no matter the outcome

—Either parent (Mom or Dad)

—Each pregnancy/birth. Please take the survey for each pregnancy/birth experience separately.

Thank you in advance!

Amy and Chandler (from The Global Birth Coach)