duffer

So I wonder if things will be different in 2012 compared to 2011?

Lorna at Vicenza

Congratulations Duffer and Mrs. A little brother or sister for Brando.

duffer

Thanks Lorna, don't know yet. It's just been a few weeks.

37100

Bilmey! Another Duffer. Congratulations.

duffer

Duffer Jr.

LivingHere

I like posts like this. Congrats.

duffer

Yep. She's definitely preggers! I'll have to start up another thread for OH:

Having a baby in Italy at 40!

And before you ask, I prefer older women

Patty

Congratulations to both of you

duffer

Thanks everyone. Already got lots of visits booked.

gelato

I'll join your new thread duffer as I'll be 40 too when this kid is born.

Here's to us older parents!

duffer

That's great! Ours is due at the beginning of Feb 2012.

CKT

Hi!

I've just stumbled across this thread. My OH and I are thinking about having a baby soon and I was looking for information about giving birth in Italy. I just wondered how things went for Ballerina and Duffer's wife in particular.

duffer

Things didn't go to plan, in July when we went for the CVS test, we discovered the 'baby' didn't have a heart beat, in the 11th week, so 2 days later we returned to the hospital for a 'clean-up'. The CVS is not very pleasant at all but at least we didn't have to go through it this time. Oh and this is how the female doctor broke the news to us, 'Madam, there is no heartbeat' with an expression that seemed like we were wasting her time! The nurses were fantastic but the doctors need a good slap to remind them they are dealing with people.

pugliese

ooh what an awful experience. I am so sorry for you and your wife.

ballerina

Oh god, that is tragic! how dreadful, and that stinking attitude, that is why I went back to England to have my baby.
My experience in La Spezia was awful but I probably would have gone back to England for the baby even if it had been ok, because OH had to go away on the ship and i didn't want to be alone, very pregnant, not able to drive etc.

We went to private gnaecologists and tried the consultorio (the 'nhs' free service) and to be honest, the only difference in service I could see was that with private, you pay about €100 every month for a visit, and you have a little bit more choice about appointment times. They still never addressed me or OH or explained anything, didn't like questions, refused to answer questions and the hospital was disgusting - no privacy, no security, I walked past several wards with doors wide open, all very scruffy, NO CURTAINS AROUND THE BEDS!
However, I have heard that the service varies from region to region.

Even OH said I shouldn't ever have a baby in Italy after a girl from his school nearly died in the hospital due to staff crapness a week after me (ironically, she lives in England and had come back to Italy to have the baby...).

On the other hand, Italy has a much lower labour fatality rate than England, but this could be argued that the rate is so high in England because of obesity related complications/teenage pregnancy rate (it's been suggested that teenager mothers are less likely to attend antenatal classes etc) and mothers who don't speak English.

Good luck x