“Pregnant in Putin’s Russia” – my Foreign Policy article on this whole having a baby in Moscow business. I finished this one on the beach, but it doesn’t really have a beach-y feel to it – since it’s about healthcare and attitudes surrounding pregnancy and birth. The latter in particular coulduse some adjustment. Still, my experience of giving birth to Lyovka was very, very positive – and I have to thank the doctors involved. Dr. Glotova and Dr. Akhsyamova, plus Dr. Bovina, who referred me to them – may they live long and prosper.
“My feminist life – after childbirth.” I blogged this for Feministe, and some truly marvelous people trolled the comments. Enjoy!
Also, I think the best column I wrote for TMN this month was “Born in the land of Mordor.” It’s about Lyovka & Russian bureaucracy. I do NOT think that Russia is Mordor – it’s a bit like Gondor, all things considered – but the bureaucrats try their damnedest to convince you otherwise.
Natalia A. 
But I got the last word! Actually, I’ve just checked and you did. They need to start bringing the banhammer down hard over there because that isn’t even the worst of that person’s trolling.
I did enjoy your FP piece too. I was sorely tempted to relate my very positive NHS experience after reading the cracks about Obamacare in the comments though.
A great, insightful article! It’s fresh and brilliant that your article approaches the chronic birth-rate problem from the perspective of a commoner, who had actually experienced the horror of the healthcare system. I guess what makes this article stand out among a mountain of articles covering the same issue is that it addresses details in a delicate manner, which most reports and articles with macroeconomic and statistical perspectives had often missed. This article totally deserves to be on the headline of Foreign Policy.
All three pieces are really good. Very crisp, clear, informative and interesting. Not at all clouded with mommy hormones, so having a baby has not done any noticeable damage to your writing style. I even read the one at Feministe, which I rarely look at because their posts are so long and serious. (Could not bring myself to read all the comments, though.)
I never had any children, so I don’t really get the cosmic existential dimensions of parenthood, and definitely not the earthy bodily fluids part. But you seem to be enjoying it, so I think that’s great.
“experienced the horror…”
Well, except that I didn’t experience any horror on this occasion. My experience giving birth in Moscow was very positive.
You are amazing, to be handling your work-life thoughtfully and gracefully alongside little Lev. It’s inspiring.
Thank you! I am also exhausted! But that’s the life. 🙂
I wanted to say something similar to ‘ladywrennawrenna’s comment above. Writing is difficult, and being a mother is difficult. By proving that it’s possible to combine the two (plus an additional difficulty of living in Moscow) you’re doing something truly incredible, you’re an inspiration!
Wow, thanks for sharing all of these pieces you wrote, and go you for doing so much writing with a newborn!
I cannot imagine giving birth in a relatively foreign country. I’m glad things worked out, though. It was interesting reading about Russia’s birth practices, especially the different classic things like the skin-to-skin contact you mentioned. Sometimes, the “old” ways aren’t necessarily a bad thing. However, I definitely think Russia’s healthcare could be a lot better.
I can’t really comment on “My feminist life — after childbirth” because at this point, I’m not even sure what feminism is anymore. On my mom’s side of the family, feminism is a hatred of men. Everyone else has their own opinion of what feminism is, too, so I just stay the hell away from it.
Those spravkas sound really tricky, and very pointless. It makes you wonder who put it in place, and why! I’m glad Lev got his stamp, though.
Are you and Alexey ever planning on moving to the U.S.? Will it be relatively easy to do so, or are there more hoops to jump through?
I’d like to spend more time in the U.S. when Lyovka’s bigger, for sure.