jdr

Google is your friend, just put "midwives in Spain" 375,000 pages including this one HERE

I know where I would sooner be if I was having a baby. ;-))

fionamw

If you were having a baby, I'd be first in the queue to get worldwide syndication rights. Sign here, ........................

dmu

This might be a silly option, but wouldn't she be happier going to the UK, where her OH apparently is, and having her baby there? All the stress you're generating on this Forum isn't good for the future baby....

fionamw

She's thought about it Re: stress not good for baby, exactamundo

scampicat

Yes I know - I thought I was pregnant when I was 53!

However, at almost 59, I AM well past it now!

fionamw

I spoke from first hand knowledge, son & heir was probably OH's last chance

(...unless he decides to opt for a newer model!!)

Sam Greenfield

OMG - i find that quite barbaric

cajam31

Hi.
It must be different in different areas coz my hubby was in with me, there was no problem, theyw ere very accomodating and said the birth could be anyway I want it, it was totally lead by us rather than the midwife, but i've never sen a midwife outside of the hospital and have never heard of anyone having a home birth.
For what its worth my experience of giving birth in spain is fantastic, i've had one here and one in the uk and would much rather have one here than in england after experiencing both.

jdr

Same sentiments as our daughter, during the pregnancy she was looked after much better here, far more scans and checks etc.
Alot of the nurses spoke English and those that didn`t spoke Spanish slowly so she could understand them.

fionamw

System hung, so my reply got lost in the ether..... the gist was
Gladly jdr's daughter had a good experience for her. However more scans & checks do not necessarily equal better care. People have a tendency to believe things told them by health professionals, and this often leads to (unnecessary) stress....unfortunately also, when scans/checks give misdiagnoses, to horrific consequences.
I'm still hoping someone will demonstrate that choice is alive and well in childbirth in (hopefully CDS) Spain

jdr

I am getting to believe you are one of the people that post on subjects like this and scare the crap out of people for no reason at all.
Of course more check ups and scans are better than none at all, these people do it every day of their lives and have more knowledge than anyone sitting at home worrying and stressing out.

dmu

I agree. It might be an idea if your friend-living-up-the-steep-hill would come down and use your computer to communicate on the Forum directly. Or maybe her OH, whose ideas on the subject are conspicuous by their absence, could post from the UK.
I'll comment no more, just simply remind you of the saying "When in Rome....."

SaritaBarcelona

I have had experience of trying to give birth naturally in a birth centre in Catalonia with midwives, water, you name it. I paid a lot of money as I didn't want the birth to be as the Spanish doctors wanted it to be, and coming from England I truly believe women have the right for it not be medicalised, it is not an illness. Here they quite simply find it much easier and quicker for them if you are on your back with feet in stirrups (sorry if this is too much detail for some!). This is acknowledged as being the WORST way to give birth for the mother, entailing the use of an epidural as you just couldn't bear the pain otherwise (most people at least). So an epidural isn't obligatory but... I ended up in hospital as the baby wasn't moving and that's when a hospital really is needed. The ideal for me is that you have a midwife to attend the birth, but are within reach of a hospital so that they can intervene when really it is really necessary. But the midwife won't be free! Even if you use a midwife for the birth, you will need to go through social security or private care for the pregnancy checks (my private cover wanted to give me a scan every month, a bit excessive in my opinion! My friends and I actually think that the CAPs are better as the private clinics are just after the extra cash from extra procedure, I think that is what Fiona is probably referring to). I have also heard great things about the Costa del Sol hospital, I don't think they apply in many other places in Spain. Husbands can generally be around for the birth itself, unless it's a cesarean. Choice is definitely not encouraged but it needs to make a comeback, Spain's birth protocol has been severely criticised by the World Health Organisation. The following link should clear up doubts about who is paranoid or not, it is called Barcelona Birth but a lot of info is general to birth in Spain. http://www.barcelonabirth.net/ There is good news too in this article http://www.barcelonabirth.net/womenwillbeoffered.html especially for those of you in Andalucia!! Sorry, a bit of a ramble, one of my pet topics!

fionamw

I'm sorry you both think that of me - it was and is a sincere enquiry regarding a sincere fear. However I'll stop posting on this one, close/delete the post if a mod wants. However if you do the research with an open mind you may realise the very thing I and anyone involved in childbirth choice actually want is to reduce stress for a labouring mother. Re friend's OH - well I can't do much about that. Re 'when in Rome'.....seriously???

SaritaBarcelona

I agree with Fiona here, I think some people have been implying that we should just get on and accept it, and I sincerely doubt that most people do that with many aspects of living abroad. I bet DMU has his or her fair share of criticisms of Spain if he or she lives here, it is only natural however much you love a place, just like you would find fault in your own country's failings. I am a fully integrated member of Spanish society but severely disagree with many things about the "system" here. I feel I have the right to comment and maybe even try to help change the system for everybody's good. I can now see that even the Spanish health system is realising that it is behind the times in the subject of childbirth and is starting to relax its incredibly strict protocol that was in place for the convenience of the doctors rather than concerns for the mother and child's safety. I also feel that although I fully respect the father's opinion on this, the woman is the person who is ultimately experiencing the birth process and is the one who will have the trauma that may follow if she suffers more than is necessary. Many women like the relatively easy option of the epidural route, that is their right, as it is the right of a woman to choose how to give birth, it is something so basic and natural. So let's keep things in perspective please, and don't knock someone for trying to sound out the situation for a friend.