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Pregnant expat women well cared for in Spanish state hospitals
| Published: | 2 Jul at 6 PM |
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Tagged: Spain
Expat women living in Spain are well covered as regards prenatal and maternity care.
Being pregnant and giving birth as an expat in a country where English isn’t at least a second language can be stressful, but Spain is well-equipped to deal with pregnancies and giving birth.The first good news is that legal residents working and paying social security and Spanish taxes are not charged for medical services undertaken in state hospitals. Spain’s healthcare is high standard and includes social welfare as well as maternity services. Expats wishing to give birth in a private medical facility will need healthcare insurance covering the full costs of prenatal care and giving birth, but those living in Spain’s large cities benefit from public hospitals’ fully comprehensive facilities.
Access is via a visit to a local doctor for confirmation of the pregnancy, after which all tests will be arranged. Monthly hospital check-ups continue until the eighth month, with two monthly appointments arranged for the final two months of the pregnancy. Pregnant mums are also tested for diabetes, HIV and toxoplasmosis, with a mandatory test for the streptococcus B infection also carried out. From the 25th week, prenatal classes are offered in Spanish, although in major cities it’s possible to find classes in the English language.
Once labour begins, moms-to-be should head to the emergency room with their passport, paperwork and foreign ID number, and having a bilingual friend attend is the best idea as hospital staff can’t always advise in the English language. New mothers and their babies usually stay in hospital for five days or so, allowing staff to check everything’s as it should be with the baby.
Being pregnant and giving birth as an expat in a country where English isn’t at least a second language can be stressful, but Spain is well-equipped to deal with pregnancies and giving birth.The first good news is that legal residents working and paying social security and Spanish taxes are not charged for medical services undertaken in state hospitals. Spain’s healthcare is high standard and includes social welfare as well as maternity services. Expats wishing to give birth in a private medical facility will need healthcare insurance covering the full costs of prenatal care and giving birth, but those living in Spain’s large cities benefit from public hospitals’ fully comprehensive facilities.
Access is via a visit to a local doctor for confirmation of the pregnancy, after which all tests will be arranged. Monthly hospital check-ups continue until the eighth month, with two monthly appointments arranged for the final two months of the pregnancy. Pregnant mums are also tested for diabetes, HIV and toxoplasmosis, with a mandatory test for the streptococcus B infection also carried out. From the 25th week, prenatal classes are offered in Spanish, although in major cities it’s possible to find classes in the English language.
Once labour begins, moms-to-be should head to the emergency room with their passport, paperwork and foreign ID number, and having a bilingual friend attend is the best idea as hospital staff can’t always advise in the English language. New mothers and their babies usually stay in hospital for five days or so, allowing staff to check everything’s as it should be with the baby.
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