Originally Posted by 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.

Originally Posted by cajam31

I just wanted to add something here. I personally believe that for me, the best place for me to have a baby is in hospital. Unfortunatley things can go wrong, and sometimes do, and the safest place for mum and baby is in a hospital. Personally I wouldnt even consider a home birth whether here or in spain, because you never can anticipate things that can become a problem, and if i were to have a problem I know full well that the safest place for me and baby to be would be in a hospital. I do understand that people may want minimal intervention, but nothing will ever change my mind that its safest to be in a hospital.