About
About Sojourn & Cradle
Researched, calm country guides and printables for American families giving birth abroad.
Why we exist
Having a baby in another country means meeting two sets of rules at once: the country where your baby is born, and the United States. The information is spread across government websites, embassy pages, laws and parents’ forums, often in another language. We gather it, check it against official sources, and lay it out in the order you will meet it.
A note from our founder
I’m a mom who gave birth abroad, in Peru. The information online was limited, and most of my practical advice came from local parents’ groups that I joined ahead of time.
A few things I learned there have stayed with me. Tour the maternity ward early: on my tour I met another foreign mom who spoke English and Spanish, and she translated for me and stayed in touch through both our pregnancies. Expect your doctor to use WhatsApp. And give yourself time to find an English-speaking doctor, because it can take a while.
That’s why I started Sojourn & Cradle: to share the clear, honest guidance I wish I’d had.
— The founder, Sojourn & Cradle
How we make the guides
- Official sources first. Constitutions and laws, government offices, the U.S. Embassy and consulates, and U.S. federal agencies. Every guide lists its sources so you can check them yourself.
- Uncertainty marked. Where the official picture is unclear, or the only numbers come from private websites, we say so.
- Dated research. Each guide states when its research is current to. Rules change, so confirm anything important before you act.
- Plain words, no hype. We are honest about the hard parts and do not promise outcomes. Offices decide.
- Made for American families, from your baby’s two citizenships to the flight home.
What we are not
We are not lawyers, doctors, an agency or a birth-planning service. We do not arrange hospitals, visas or travel. Our guides are general educational information, not legal, immigration, tax, or medical advice. For decisions about your health, your baby’s citizenship or your stay, please talk with a licensed physician and a qualified immigration attorney.
Quietly faith-informed
Our work is shaped by faith in simple ways: peace in place of fear, trust that there is provision for the road ahead, and the belief that no family has to walk this alone. You do not need to share our faith to use our guides.
Far from home, never alone.