Each country has certain standards and methods of treatment. Each nationality has its own method of conducting childbirth and, accordingly, the procedures and conditions in maternity hospitals also differ.
America
It's no secret that in the US, all areas of medicine are regulated by insurance. So giving birth here will depend on what kind of insurance you have. Everything is fair: if you have good insurance, I will give birth in the most comfortable conditions under the guidance of the best specialists. But in general, almost all hospitals here are the same. Thanks to the introduction of insurance medicine, almost all medical institutions in the United States are clean, tidy and quite comfortable. By the way, America is one of the few countries where a child is given the title of citizen at birth.
Germany
Referring to some stereotypes, Germany is a very conservative country, but not in the matter of childbirth. Here they adhere to the principle “childbirth is not a disease” and offer a variety of delivery options. If you want, give birth standing, in water or accompanied by relatives. By the way, in Germany you can choose any clinic you like for childbirth, the main thing is to inform about it in advance.
Japan
Many of our compatriots who gave birth in Japan were, to put it mildly, in a stupor when they saw that Japanese women practically did not make a sound during childbirth. A well-known difference between maternity hospitals in Japan is also the food that is fed to expectant mothers. Every meal here is a whole ceremony of several beautifully presented dishes. Fun fact: Japanese midwives wear cheerful pink uniforms, not white coats. In general, they work here according to generally accepted European standards. One of the very important points is to recreate comfortable conditions and a positive attitude. Doctors are sure that this is very motivating young people to have children.
Great Britain
In the UK, childbirth is paid for by the state. Doctors here approach the woman in labor and the process itself very carefully and carefully, because if something happens, they simply will not be paid. The British are big fans of naturalness, so they do not really welcome childbirth with anesthesia. To relieve pain, it is customary to use any available methods: home births, variability of postures, childbirth in water, etc. It is customary to call a doctor here only when necessary.
Africa
This is a different story. Of course, from such countries as Tanzania, Nicaragua and Malavia, no one expects super-new equipment and a royal reception. Yes, childbirth here is problematic and difficult, just like life in other matters. In African maternity hospitals, as a rule, there is not even running water to wash the baby. Women have to give birth on the floor. There is also an acute shortage of medical personnel, so many hospitals have only a midwife, but no doctor.
For those who are planning a pregnancy and thinking about which country is best to give birth in, we have collected mothers' stories about their experience of pregnancy and childbirth in different countries. They learned how doctors treat expectant mothers, what tests and studies they conduct, in what conditions children are born and how much it all costs.
Italy Rome
Natalia Shmakova, journalist
My pregnancy took place completely in Rome, where I was on a long business trip for work. It was my dream - to give birth to a child in the city I adore. Not because of the advantages in medical matters or with the expectation of obtaining citizenship, which, however, is not given here upon birth, but simply for beauty. And also for the new person to have “Rome, Italy” written in the “place of birth” column in the certificate and passport.
When I got pregnant, I was 28 years old. This is a very young age for Italian women to become a parent, so almost always and everywhere I was the youngest pregnant woman.
Analyzes handed over standard. I think there are no differences from Russia or any other country. In the first months, it was necessary to take a blood test for infections and an ECG. I did not have insurance, so I paid about 500 euros for these procedures. This amount upset me very much, and I immediately ran to arrange local insurance for myself. It is done free of charge and allows you to take tests in state laboratories as prescribed by a doctor. So it turns out on average three times cheaper. Why I didn’t get insurance right away is still a question for me.
I was very surprised when the doctor began to dissuade me from screening for Down syndrome. Literally, he said the following: “If you want, then we will do it. But why? You are young, healthy, I see no reason to spend extra money. However, you still had to spend extra money: a visit to the doctor costs an average of 100 euros, plus an ultrasound is paid separately.
When I came to see a doctor, I was amazed that all Italian women always come into the office with their husbands. Sometimes you can wait in line for quite a long time, but men do not leave their wives and sit dutifully. I don’t know if their work allows them or if they take time off every month, but they walk regularly. It's very touching. I don’t know how it is in Moscow, but for some reason it seems to me that it’s rare to see a married couple in a antenatal clinic, unless it’s an ultrasound, on which they find out the sex of the child.
No special diet as they love
here in Russia, those giving birth are not prescribed: for lunch calmly gave pasta with tomato sauce
I can’t say that, being pregnant, I experienced some kind of increased attention of Italians. Sometimes they asked who I was waiting for, but no one really grabbed my stomach and didn’t ask unnecessary questions. Italians, when they go pregnant, very often wear the traditional Chiama Angeli pendant - a ball hangs on a long chain that rings and thus calls the angels who protect the baby.
Since my husband is Russian and I did not have Italian relatives and acquaintances who would help me choose a hospital, I had to do research myself and look for a place where I would like to give birth. There are several large and well-known hospitals in Rome that are in good standing. You can give birth in them completely free of charge, having local insurance on hand. To be honest, I didn’t even consider private clinics, because spending at least 5 thousand euros on childbirth was not part of my plans.
I opted for a small, let's say, semi-private clinic, where you can give birth for free under insurance, and for an additional fee, get the opportunity to choose an obstetrician, do anesthesia and lie in a single room. My service package was as follows: prenatal courses with a selected midwife, who then took care of my birth (800 euros), and anesthesia (about 400 euros). In total, I paid less than 1,200 euros for the birth.
When my water broke and childbirth began, my husband and I got together, took the dog to a friend and went to the hospital, where I was admitted, examined and put to bed. The whole next day I was tormented: I had rather irregular contractions, I went and asked to inject anesthesia into me, but they assured me that it was too early. Everything began to spin only in the evening: they put me in the prenatal unit, put up a monitor and watched how the contractions went. Then they put a drip - I think it was stimulation, because the pain immediately became unbearable. That's when they gave me anesthesia. In general, I entered the delivery room with an epidural, and the entire final stage of childbirth passed under it. My husband was with me until the very end, although I thought that he would just stand outside the door. For his presence at the birth, no special contracts had to be concluded. It turned out to be sufficient to bring tests for staphylococcus aureus.
The child was brought to me the next morning and they immediately asked what we would call him - Italians usually resolve this issue long before the birth. I couldn't choose between the two names. As a result, they named the baby Roman - in honor of the city in which he was born. But I rarely say this to Italians, because in Italian the city is feminine.
There were only five or six wards in the maternity hospital, each designed for two mothers with children. The chambers themselves did not represent anything supernatural. They don’t prescribe any special diet, as we like in Russia, to those who give birth: for lunch they calmly gave pasta with tomato sauce. The access control is very liberal: while I was giving birth (and I was giving birth for more than a day), my husband came to me several times, a friend ran in, and the first guests came the very next day after giving birth. No one monitors the strict observance of visiting hours.
Doctors in Italy are always very kind and not inclined to escalate. Discharged from the hospital on the third day after natural childbirth. There are no patronage nurses here, the parents themselves must come with the child to the pediatrician some time after discharge, and before that, go on a control visit to the hospital where the birth took place.
I am 30 years old, I am the mother of Alice (4.5 years old) and Anton (2 years old). My husband and kids have been living on the island of Bali for five and a half years, the children were born here.
We moved to Bali when I was already pregnant and knew about it. I didn’t really know anything about whether it’s good to give birth here and, frankly, I wasn’t very worried about this. There are international clinics, so we can handle it. My husband and I have been thinking about moving closer to the daily sun, surfing and the ocean for some time, and when we found out about the pregnancy, we realized: either now or who knows when. In six months, they completed all the cases in Moscow and moved to Bali. With two small suitcases and one big belly.
Being pregnant in Bali is fun. “What month?”, “Where are you going to give birth?”, “Is this the first child?” - this is a normal set of questions from a gas station worker, or a fruit seller, or just an aunt who is walking along the street. And they ask really with interest and with pleasure tell right there about their family and children.
Children are loved here. The birth of a child is a matter not only for the woman personally, but for the whole family. I felt this during my first visit to the doctor at the Kasih Ibu clinic, where my first birth took place. The smiling Dr. Kesumadana asked me about my well-being and immediately asked where my husband was. And when I found out that he was sitting in the corridor, he ordered to call my husband into the office and gave us a short lecture about the fact that not only a woman should be aware of what and how, but also her husband, and other close relatives. After that, I was no longer surprised to see a pregnant Indonesian girl and five escorts leaving the gynecologist's office.
The concept of pregnancy management in Balinese clinics differs from the usual one in Russia. Here, if you have no complaints and you feel well, they will not collect tests or endlessly check something. I donated blood once, almost before the very birth. Doctors are sincerely perplexed why they should be tested if everything is fine and there are no indications. Ultrasound is done at will, maybe at least every visit, or maybe a couple of times during the entire pregnancy. Another nice feature - you just agree with your doctor that you will give birth with him. You have a doctor's personal phone number, and you can call him at any time, ask a question or say what seems to have begun, so that you go to the clinic together.
Medicine in Indonesia is not cheap: a simple visit to the doctor without insurance can cost about $100. The prices for childbirth in all clinics are different and depend on whether it will be a natural childbirth or a caesarean. Contrary to popular belief, no one inclines to a caesarean section in clinics. At some point, the doctor simply asks how you are going to give birth, and if there are no medical problems and contraindications, this is entirely the choice of the expectant mother. Five years ago, we paid about 1,500 US dollars for natural childbirth, now the price may be higher.
I don't like hospitals and I get tense at the sight of doctors, but I felt very comfortable giving birth in the clinic here. They treated me with respect, listened to wishes and fulfilled requests. Any person who wants to see the expectant mother, husband or someone else from close people can be present at the birth. It is interesting that they feed all the time: during contractions, immediately after childbirth. I didn’t feel like eating, but hot tea really pleased me. My little Lisa, as soon as she was born, was immediately placed on my chest. We have a photo in the family archive, where the baby is two minutes old. This is one of the most unforgettable moments in my life. The daughter was born in the evening, and a day later in the morning we, happy and contented, went home.
Anyone can attend the birth that the future wants to see mom, husband or someone else from close people
The Balinese have a belief that the placenta is another body of the child, his spiritual twin and guardian angel. Therefore, in the clinic, the placenta is given to parents in a special clay pot or container. It is customary to either bury it in the garden in front of the house, on a certain side of the porch, or release it into the ocean. Both actions are accompanied by a special ceremony with offerings to spirits and gods and prayers. We dispensed with special rituals and gave the placenta to the ocean. Maybe that's why our Fox loves water so much.
I also gave birth to my second baby in Bali, but this is a completely different story and an absolutely unforgettable experience for me. By the time of the second pregnancy, I already knew about the existence of the Bumi Sehat natural childbirth center on the island, which was founded by the world-famous midwife Robin Lim - an absolutely amazing person.
After the first visit to Bumi, I became confident that I wanted to give birth there, and my husband supported me in my choice. The center does not look like a hospital, it is rather just a cozy Balinese-style house, where there are several rooms for childbirth and for the rest of mothers and newborns. I was pleased to just be there during the pregnancy, listen to the advice of midwives and be sure that everything is fine with the baby. If necessary, midwives can do an ultrasound, but usually the position of the baby and its size are felt by hand. In Bumi Sehat, the most natural childbirth is practiced, the baby is not separated from his mother even for a second from the moment of birth. Anton, for example, was weighed and measured only in the morning, after he and I had slept peacefully through the night and had time to rest a little. The umbilical cord is cut or burned through 10-15 hours after the birth of the baby - or, at the request of the parents, left, and it dries up naturally in a few days. This ancient tradition is called lotus birth. For me, the second birth has become a truly magical process, when you feel and fully realize everything that happens. Yes, it hurt too, but I still remember the birth of Anton as a wonderful and very powerful experience, which I would love to repeat again.
All documents for babies born in Bali (birth certificate, passport) are made in Jakarta at the Russian consulate. There are no particular difficulties with the design, and this process has been repeatedly described in communities and social networks. The child acquires citizenship by the citizenship of the parents, it is impossible to become an Indonesian citizen by birthright.
If I could once again choose where I want to give birth to my children, I would definitely choose Bali again. For me, in addition to the professionalism of doctors and midwives, it is important to have a warm human attitude, the ability to feel comfortable and relaxed during childbirth, the presence of my husband next to me without any difficulties and questions from the medical staff. And of course, no one canceled the warm climate and the proximity of the ocean. The first two or three months of life, my kids spent mostly naked. We walk on the beach at sunset almost every evening, and for me it is always a charge of vivacity and good mood. Now the children run on their own so that you can’t catch up, but at first I wore each of them in a sling, walking along the edge of the ocean and listening to the sound of the waves.
USA, Chicago
Tatiana Mann, journalist
Patricia Katz, the Chicago doctor who managed my pregnancy, has two favorite expressions: "You"re a rockstar!" and "Awesome!" This is how she described my condition every time I came for regular check-ups.In between, the doctor managed to exchange a couple of jokes with my husband (we always went to the doctor together - many people in America do this) As a result, each time the doctor let us go after about three minutes.
We chose Dr. Katz from Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital in much the same way we usually choose restaurants: by rating and reviews. It sounds a little strange, but overall this system works great - at least so far it hasn't let us down.
A positive attitude towards patients in general and any of their oddities in particular is the main distinguishing feature of American medicine and its great plus. You are always warmly welcomed, every nurse sincerely smiles at you, you are by no means intimidated for no reason. Instead, they explain, almost without additional questions, what and why they will do to you. And yes, you are not dragged along for additional examinations for show. There is no such practice as a general medical examination during pregnancy. So you don’t have to visit ENTs and neurologists - unless, of course, there is evidence for this. I was generally lucky: my pregnancy as a whole proceeded smoothly, and the doctor only once prescribed an unscheduled ultrasound for me. At the same time, she so deftly and affectionately explained its necessity that I did not even have time to get scared.
And once I appointed myself an additional examination myself. The fact is that I have high myopia, astigmatism, nystagmus and partial atrophy of the optic nerves. In Russia, doctors have always said that the only option for me to become a mother is to schedule a caesarean section, otherwise the risk of losing what can be called my vision is 50%. I had already come to terms with such a forecast and, just in case, at the very first consultation I asked Dr. Katz what my prospects were. The doctor, it seems, did not understand where my conclusions came from, but suggested that I go to the optometrist to calm down. The optometrist, after an hour-long examination, declared that I was of scientific interest to her. And to my timid question about childbirth, she reacted with a surprised “What?!”. On her face was written something like “Where did you read this nonsense?! Googled it, right?" So all my doubts about childbirth and vision dissipated. Moreover, in the process of childbirth, I generally forgot that such a fear existed. But my husband and mother remembered this, and when they eventually asked how my eyes felt, I did not even immediately understand what it was about.
Another pleasant side of the attitude towards pregnant women in America is the virtual absence of bans on anything. Doctors are asked to refrain from only two dangers - contact sports such as boxing or American football and raw meat and fish. Traveling, playing the usual sports and being active in every possible way, on the contrary, is strongly recommended, there is even such a thing as a babymoon - a romantic vacation before the birth of a child. We gave ourselves a great babymoon, for which the doctor praised us very much, and flew several more times on business and on vacation, including to Russia. Also during pregnancy, I ran, regularly went to the gym and yoga, which, in my opinion, helped me feel great right up to the day of delivery.
Before discharge the nurse checked the presence of the car seat in the car and cut off the bracelet that tracks the location of the child and thus protects him from an attempted kidnapping from the hospital
The hospital where I gave birth allows up to four people to be invited to the ward. One of my acquaintances told how she was at the birth of her daughter, together with her husband and brother. I didn’t want to turn the birth into a party, so I had only my husband and 15 nurses, residents, assistants and floor managers with me. At first it was a little strange for me that people changed each other so quickly, but pretty quickly I stopped paying attention to it. I myself deliberately signed permission for the presence of students at the birth.
This does not mean that lectures were given in my ward during the contractions - just sometimes residents came in, and along with Dr. Katz, her student was trying. To many, this will seem intimidating or even unacceptable. But it was easy for me to come to terms with this, since my younger brother is a student at the medical academy, and I understand that it is important for him and other doctors to learn not only from pictures and someone should play the role of a guide.
I had quite a long labor, but I spent the first 17 hours of regular and irregular contractions at home. We arrived at the hospital at night on an Uber. And they stayed in the delivery room for another ten hours. The daughter was put to the breast immediately after birth and was not taken anywhere else. Literally a couple of hours after the birth, the baby was visited by her grandmother, grandfather and uncle.
Dr. Katz suggested that we go home the very next day, but the postpartum ward was very comfortable and peaceful. There was a comfortable sofa for my husband, and we could order food from the menu of the hospital or any restaurant. And most importantly, in case of any questions, a nurse was always nearby, ready to help. And from the window of my room there was a great view of Lake Michigan. In general, we refused an early escape and stayed in the hospital for the standard 48 hours.
Before being discharged, the nurse checked the presence of a car seat in the car (in America, everything is very strict with this) and cut off the bracelet that tracks the location of the child and thus protects him from an attempted kidnapping from the hospital. And the very next day - that is, on the third day of Maya's life - the baby and I went for a walk and unplannedly ended up in our favorite oyster bar, which everyone was very happy about. In America, by the way, there is no such thing as a nursing mother's diet.
Pregnancy and childbirth with average coverage cost us about $2,500. How much it would cost without insurance, it is impossible to say. The prices for medicine in America are still a mystery. The lab might charge $900 for a routine analysis, but it would give the insurance company an $880 discount, and the insurance company would end up paying only $20. There would be no such discount for the private customer. At Northwestern Prentice Women's Hospital, giving birth without insurance costs from $10,000.
And a small spoonful of not even fly in the ointment, but absurdities in my story. At 16 weeks, my husband and I decided to find out the sex of the baby earlier than the classic 20 weeks and did a home DNA test. We ordered it on the Internet, a box came with detailed instructions and everything you need - a sample card, needles, alcohol wipes. The idea is that you take four small drops of blood from your own finger and mail them to the laboratory. And after a few days, the result comes by email. "Boy!" the letter told us cheerfully. "Girl!" - a month later, the nurse happily reported on the ultrasound. We no longer practice alternative medicine.
Russia Moscow
Anastasia Andreeva, senior editor
The Village newsroom
I had a planned pregnancy, but I did not specifically prepare for it. I passed the basic tests and from the moment we started, let's say, to work on this issue, I stopped drinking alcohol. That, in fact, is all.
When I got pregnant, I went to the same doctor I went to before. She works at a government hospital, but accepts for money. The ultrasound showed that everything was in order, and she advised me to choose where to conduct the pregnancy, since she herself did not specialize in this.
After a couple of days, I panicked. It seemed to me that something was wrong, and I turned to a paid clinic near my house. There, the doctor intimidated me with detailed descriptions of complications in the early stages of pregnancy, took a lot of money and sent me for a second ultrasound.
The specialist who did the research did not hear the child's heartbeat and solemnly informed me that I needed to do a cleaning - the procedure, as you understand, is also not cheap. I ran out of there in tears and rushed to call my doctor.
She explained that at such a short time, the heartbeat may still not be heard. A few days later, another ultrasound scan confirmed her words - everything was in order with the child. So in the first two weeks of pregnancy, I managed to fall into hysterics, do three ultrasounds and start to be afraid of doctors.
A couple of weeks later, I had problems that forced me to go to the district antenatal clinic. There I was reluctantly registered (“Yes, maybe you will lose more”), weighed and interrogated about my family life.
At that time, I was not officially married, and this raised questions. “Are you going to have an abortion in a week?” - kindly asked the doctors. There they tried to send me to the hospital for preservation. Taught by bitter experience, I called my doctor, who expressed a sound idea: from a miscarriage at such a time, lying in the hospital will not save me.
Judging that I could lie at home, and with less stress, I wrote a refusal, which incurred the wrath of the district gynecologist. Accompanying me with instructions that now I should forget about sex, work and partying, she sent me on sick leave, shaking her head in displeasure. Since then, I tried not to appear in the antenatal clinic unnecessarily, I came there only for the sake of marks in the exchange card.
Huge queues of pregnant women in the stuffy corridors and not too polite doctors with very dubious recommendations made me stay away from this place. In general, the duty of a pregnant woman to suffer seems to be written in the minds of many Russian gynecologists.
No exercises, massages and acceptable painkillers for you - be patient, and that's it. As if being tormented is a mandatory part of the process, something like paying for the opportunity to have a child.
I decided to give birth on the recommendation of friends in the maternity hospital at the children's city hospital No. 8 and conclude a contract for childbirth - 80 thousand rubles. I wanted to know in advance the doctor who will take delivery, to be able to contact him for advice at any time and to be sure that I will be accepted in this maternity hospital.
In addition, only paid childbirth made it possible to take a husband with them.
By law, a family member has the right to attend the birth free of charge, but in reality this is not always the case. In the maternity hospital where I gave birth, they said that they allowed relatives for free only if there were free closed boxes, so as not to embarrass other women in labor.
I twice used the right to call the doctor with an exciting question - and once at night. The doctor answered exhaustively, advised something. On the day of the birth, I had an appointment in the morning and an ultrasound, which showed that the child had a triple entanglement of the umbilical cord, and all the loops were tight.
Accompanying me with instructions,
what now I have to forget about sex, work and parties She put me on sick leave shaking his head in displeasure
The gynecologist reassured me that, perhaps, before the birth, he would still unravel himself, but already on the way home in the car, I realized that it was not necessary to leave the maternity hospital. I called the doctor and warned that it seems to have begun and I will be right back. The doctor, as I knew, was after the night shift, and I was a little worried whether she would be in shape so that now she could deal with me for another 15 hours. But that didn't turn out to be a problem.
At some point, while I was waiting in the emergency department (a very sad and uncomfortable place, by the way), it seemed to me that now they would send me home and I would go eat fried potatoes, which I was terribly hungry for. But these dreams were not destined to come true. The doctor confirmed that I was giving birth, and said that, despite the entanglement, we would try to give birth without a cesarean.
I will bypass the details of what happened in the emergency room and prenatal. I can only say that in maternity hospitals at old hospitals what money is, that without them the same Soviet Union reigns with general examination rooms without curtains, toilets that do not close (although this is probably for security reasons), elderly nannies with mops and their cruel jokes and to everyone else.
However, I did not encounter rudeness on the part of the medical staff, which is often written about: everyone was as friendly and tactful as possible.
After I was transferred to the ancestral home, my husband was also brought there, who remained with me until the very end.
The doctors, it seemed to me, behaved professionally and quickly responded to problems. Moreover, at some point, five people gathered at my bed at once, including the head of the department, so I can’t complain about the lack of attention that many say they face.
I was confused by one thing - the anesthesiologist, who put me on an epidural for about 40 minutes, asking me not to twitch at that time. By the time the baby was born, there were already two neonatologists in the ward. At the same time, despite the difficult birth and my condition, the child was not immediately taken away from me and was given to hold and feed him before my sister took him to the nursery.
After giving birth, I was taken out into the corridor and brought very sweet tea and a sandwich with a thick layer of butter. This sandwich was probably the most delicious I've ever had in my life.
Then they took me to a separate room. The child was given to me on the second day, when I more or less came to my senses. But for those whose births were easier, the children were left immediately. Living conditions in the maternity hospital were perfect. In the wards, the heat was around 30 degrees - apparently, in contrast to the 30-degree frost outside the window.
At the same time, it was recommended that the child be dressed in a vest and wrapped in a warm blanket. Fortunately, I quickly realized the dubiousness of this recommendation, and the son slept in one diaper. From the surroundings, I still remember the inscription “Do not park children here!” on the doors of the dining room. The food was quite edible, by the way.
A few weeks after giving birth, I got a call from the district antenatal clinic. It turned out that my mother did not bring them a part of the exchange card, which must be handed over after the hospital, and they did not know that I had already given birth.
“You haven’t been to the reception for a long time, when will you come?” - the tired girl asked me. “Sorry, but I already gave birth. And if I had not given birth, then I would have had a period of 43 weeks. I'm not an elephant. But if you have a missing girl on the site, who has been overstaying the term for a long time, then this should somehow worry you, isn’t it? I asked. “You can’t keep track of everyone,” they said in the phone. "I'm glad you're doing well."
Everything seems to be the same: contractions, attempts, birth, but in each country, childbirth has its own characteristics. We are accustomed to thinking that, of course, everything is worse with us than with others. However…
If you want to give birth - pay money
It turns out that you cannot give birth abroad under the compulsory medical insurance policy. So, in the United States, childbirth costs a woman in labor a tidy sum (up to 15 thousand dollars for a cesarean and about 10 thousand dollars for a natural birth, plus 10 thousand dollars for a stay in the hospital). By the way, America and Australia are the most expensive countries for childbirth. The insurance that they purchase in advance helps future mothers save money. But even with it you have to pay extra (about 2 thousand dollars).
Maternity hospital? What is it?
In many countries there are no maternity hospitals at all, only departments at hospitals. So, for example, it is arranged in the same America, and the delivery is taken by the doctor on duty - one for the entire department. The rest of the doctors are busy managing the pregnancy. In addition, there are special birth centers, focused mainly on natural childbirth (without surgical intervention).
Opening is still low! Come home!
This is in Russia, if the contractions are labor, and the opening is still small, the woman in labor is still left in the hospital. Abroad, everything is tough: “Contractions less often than after 5 minutes? Why did you come then? Ride home! Come back later!" Of course, they have only one department in the hospital, there are not enough places!
Husband is always there
But this fact can be envied. Abroad (USA, Israel), relatives and friends can be near a woman during childbirth (in Israel, the limit is no more than 2 accompanying persons), and after the baby is born, the husband stays overnight with his wife and child - even for him in the ward allocate a separate bed! They say that doctors are not even comfortable if a woman gives birth and lies in the hospital alone!
Wrestling match
TV in the delivery room is not uncommon in some countries, for example, in Israel. And if you ask local doctors why he is needed there, they will be surprised: “What will the husband do while the wife is giving birth?”.
Childbirth at the Villa
Do you want to visit the villa? Israeli women too, especially during childbirth, and for the villa to be closer to the hospital. Women in labor who do not want to go to the clinic rent a villa and hire a midwife. So childbirth takes place with maximum comfort and in a homely atmosphere. If something goes wrong, then you can always quickly move to the hospital, it is nearby.
It's good in the hospital, but at home it's better
This is how Dutch women decide, because giving birth in a hospital is an expensive pleasure, and the insurance company pays for childbirth only for special indications: a caesarean section, a period of more than 42 weeks, complications. But the insurance company sends expectant mothers everything they need for home birth: sheets, towels, diapers, cosmetics, umbilical cord clamps. So, women, go ahead, handle it yourself! If you don't know how - train on cats!
Ancestral hotels
This is also common in Holland. They are used by women who do not want to give birth at home and can afford to allocate additional funds for renting a hotel. They rent a room and wait for the birth to begin, and then call the midwife, who conducts the birth.
gave birth? Time to go home!
In the hospital (if the birth took place there), the mother and child are not kept for a long time. So, in the USA, they are discharged two days after a natural birth or 3 days after a cesarean section. But while the woman is in the clinic, they are doing it with might and main: every half an hour or an hour a nurse comes and asks about her well-being, and before discharge, the newly-made mother receives detailed instructions on how to care for the baby.
By the way, did you buy a car seat?
In many countries (Israel), in order to leave a medical facility with a newborn, you must present a car seat for the baby. And the midwife can also check whether the parents have fastened the little passenger securely.
1. Packing the umbilical cord in a wooden box (Japan)
When a baby is cut for the first time, most keep a lock of hair, others keep the baby's first shoe... But Japanese mothers take care of the umbilical cord. In Japanese hospitals, the baby's umbilical cord is wrapped in a wooden box and given to the mother at the time of discharge.Sometimes a doll in a kimono is placed in the box, which symbolizes the soul of a child. In this case, the kimono can be deployed, and the umbilical cord is placed inside. It is believed that keeping the umbilical cord in this way ensures a positive bond between the baby and the mother. A week after the birth of the child, the new parents and close relatives perform the Oshichiya ceremony for the child, during which the child receives his official name in front of the home altar.
2. Outdoor sleep for babies (Denmark and Sweden)
Would you leave your little one outside in the cold during daytime naps? Most Scandinavian parents don't even ask this question. For them, it is part of the daily routine, due to the belief that cold air helps babies sleep and eat better. Danish and Swedish babies spend the day sleeping on the balcony or outside while their mothers and fathers go shopping or cafeterias. In addition, in most kindergartens in Sweden, children are put to sleep outside, despite the low temperatures. The street sleep theory is that children who are outdoors, summer and winter, are less likely to catch a cold. Parents believe that being in the same room with 30 other children all day brings negative results. The Danish State Department of Health also recommend this practice. Some companies even make baby alarms that let parents know when their babies are waking up.
3. Every newborn gets a "mother and baby box" from the government (Finland)
There is a saying that "every child is born with a piece of bread in his hand." Well, in Finland babies are born with a box! For 75 years, pregnant women in Finland have been given a box by the state. This is a starter set of clothes, diapers and toys, and the box can even be used as a bed. Mothers have a choice between receiving the box or the amount in cash, which is currently €140 ($190), but 95% choose the box because the contents are worth much more. Originally created for low-income families, the box became available to all parents in 1949. Since then, it has been a staple of the new parenthood and a sign that no matter what class of society they are born into, all Finnish babies receive equal rights at the start of their lives.
4. Shaking a newborn in a large sieve to help him get used to the vagaries of life (Egypt)
In modern Egypt, life and the number seven are inextricably linked. It is on the seventh day of a child's life that the child is shown to the world in a ceremony called Sebukh. According to tradition, the mother places the child, dressed in white, in a large sieve and shakes it gently to help the newborn get used to the vagaries of life. Then, the infant is placed on a blanket on the floor with a knife placed along his chest to ward off evil spirits, while the guests scatter grain, gold, and gifts around him. All these are symbols of the abundance that is desired for the child. The mother knocks on the child's body seven times to ward off evil spirits, while the guests chant incantations so that the child will always obey the mother. A procession of fire and incense follows the new mother, lighting the way. Singing children and guests follow her with candles and incense to bless the house and its inhabitants. During Sebukh, a name is chosen for the child by lighting several candles at the beginning of the ceremony, each corresponding to the name of the child. The candle that burns the longest indicates the name of the child.
5. Sit a child on the floor with symbolic objects laid out on it to find out their future (Armenia)
When a child's first tooth erupts, Armenian parents celebrate with the Agra Khadig ceremony. They put the child on the floor and put symbolic objects in front of him, such as a tape measure, a stethoscope, a spatula, a book, and others. Parents ask the child to choose one of them. The object that the child chooses and plays with symbolizes his future. For example, if a boy chooses a roulette, it means that he will be an architect or an engineer. Of course, only time will tell.
6. Parents of a child hand out red-colored eggs as a symbol of happiness and the beginning of life (China)
In Chinese families, when a baby turns one month old, a Full Moon ceremony is held to commemorate the first month of life. This is the first important event for a newborn baby. On the morning of the 30th day, relatives and friends gather to give blessings and gifts to the newborn. The parents of the child also give gifts to their relatives and friends. The types of gifts vary by location, but eggs dyed red are the most popular gift, probably because in Chinese culture, eggs are a symbol of the changing process of life. Their round shape is a symbol of a harmonious and happy life, while the red color is a symbol of happiness. During the celebration, relatives and friends also give gifts. Grandparents usually give their gold and silver to their grandson to show their deep love. Of course, parents and the newborn also receive modern gifts such as baby clothes, toys, books and gift vouchers, but the most common is money wrapped in red paper.
7. The placenta and umbilical cord are hidden in a safe place, and a tree is planted in this place (Jamaica)
Of course, you have heard this quote repeatedly: "Every man should plant a tree, raise a son and build a house." In Jamaica, parents only have to build a house, because the rest is already done! According to Jamaican tradition, after the mother gives birth, the placenta and umbilical cord are buried in a special place and a tree is planted there. Parents, godparents or other relatives and friends take care of the tree. The tree is a pedagogical tool that teaches the child to take responsibility in life, as it is used to show the child that this is the beginning of his life and that he should take care of him. This tradition comes from the Jamaican expression, "Home is where your umbilical cord is buried," which symbolizes the spiritual closeness to the place from which each person originated.
8. Babies' feet should not touch the ground, as newborns are a blessing from heaven (Bali)
While some parents around the world don't feel comfortable leaving their toddlers to play on the floor, Balinese babies' feet shouldn't touch the ground until their 210th day of life because the baby is considered a divine being who descended from heaven. When the child's feet touch the ground for the first time, it symbolizes the crossing of a certain boundary, after which the child becomes a person.
9. Give money to a newborn to bring him prosperity (Trinidad and Tobago)
In Trinidad and Tobago, when people visit a newborn baby, they usually give money directly into his hands to bring prosperity and blessings. Another custom from this country is that some parents do not allow people to enter their house after 6:00 pm, as it is believed that the evening dew disgusts the child.
10. Twenty or more baby names (Nigeria)
On the seventh day after the birth of a Nigerian girl and on the ninth day after the birth of a boy, the child is endowed with certain properties that usually manifest as a taste on the lips of mother and child. They are given water to have no enemies, palm oil to have a smooth and easy life, bitter Kola (a type of nut eaten in Nigeria) to have a long life, and pepper and salt to fill the sweet life with emotion, meaning. and happiness. Then choose a name for the child. In addition to the surname, the child is given several other names. One of them describes the circumstances surrounding birth. For example, the name Idou means "child born after twins." As another example, if an elderly woman in a particular society died just before a girl was born, then the girl would be called Yethunde, or "mother's return." Parents often have a diminutive name that indicates what they see in their child, such as Ayoke, "one who is blessed", or Titilaio, "eternal happiness". On this day, parents announce the name of the child they have chosen, and relatives are invited to add additional names if they wish. Before they say names, they are asked to place a symbol (monetary contribution) in the child's basket. After everyone has had a chance to give the baby a name, money tokens are collected and given to the parents to open an account. As a result, the child may receive twenty or more names! The ceremony ends with prayers, and then everyone moves on to the feast.
11. Mom prepares gifts for every person who visits the child (Brazil)
In Brazil, a pregnant woman prepares a basket of gifts that she distributes to everyone who arrives at the hospital when the baby is born. Usually, gifts are small, such as lollipops, fridge magnets, mini notepads, sachets, and even tiny bottles of perfume, all chosen by the mother before the baby is born. Souvenirs often bear the child's name and gratitude for the visit.
12. Hot stone massage and full body treatment to avoid postpartum changes (Malaysia)
After reading this paragraph, every new mother will want to go to Malaysia for postpartum treatment. Let us explain this exciting Malaysian tradition. After the birth of a child, a young Malay mother undergoes a pantang or period of confinement lasting approximately 44 days, which is designed to preserve the health and femininity of the mother. She is given a hot stone massage to cleanse her womb and a full body treatment to soften and brighten her skin, correcting postpartum body changes. New mothers are not allowed to wear heavy clothes or do anything other than take care of the baby. All household work falls on the husband and relatives, if they volunteer to help, or hired people.
13. Boy or girl? (USA)
The Americans have a tradition that has appeared recently, but has already taken root quite well. The doctor who does the ultrasound does not tell the sex of the child to the future parents, but writes it on a piece of paper and seals it in an envelope. The parents-to-be give the envelope to the baker who has to bake the cake. On the appointed day, friends and relatives gather for a celebration called the “Gender reveal party”, where the cake is solemnly cut. If the filling of the cake is pink, it will be a girl. If it's blue, it's a boy.
Soon Belarusian dads will have the opportunity to visit mothers with newborns in the maternity hospital. Perhaps the traditions of discharge will eventually change? Flowers can be given already on the first day after childbirth and a photo "for memory" with balloons can be taken right in the ward. In the meantime, the decision on the visits of dads is "hanging in the air", we will show what traditions of greeting newborns exist in different countries.
1. Save the umbilical cord (Japan)
As a rule, when a baby's hair is cut for the first time, parents in most cases leave a strand of his hair as a keepsake, while others keep the baby's first shoe. Japanese mothers usually prefer to nurture the umbilical cord.
In hospitals in Japan, the umbilical cord is packed inside wooden boxes and given to the mother upon discharge from the hospital.
Inside the box is sometimes placed a small doll depicting a sleeping baby in a kimono.
It is believed that the preservation of the umbilical cord in this way - it is a guarantor of the future excellent relationship between the child and the mother.
A week after birth, new parents and close relatives hold a ceremony to give the baby a name (Oshichiya), during which the child receives his official name in front of the home altar.
2. Receive a box as a gift (Finland)
In Finland, babies are "born with a box".
For 75 years now, women preparing to become mothers have received a "package" from the state. The package is a starter set of clothes, diapers and toys.
The mother has a choice between the package and the €140 cash subsidy, but in 95 per cent of the cases women choose the "package" because its content is worth much more.
Originally designed for low-income families, the maternity package is now available to every woman in labor since 1949. Since then, the package has become one of the staple "products" for newborns and a sign that, regardless of their future, all Finnish children get an equal start in life.
3. Putting a newborn in a sieve (Egypt)
In modern Egypt, survival and the number seven are inextricably linked. Therefore, on the seventh day of a baby's life its existence is officially recognized around the world in a naming ceremony called Sebooh.
According to tradition, the mother puts the baby in a white coat into a large sieve and begins to gently shake it to help the newborn begin to get used to the vagaries of fate. After that, the baby is placed on a blanket spread on the floor. with a knife on my chest whose role is to ward off evil spirits.
Meanwhile, the guests of the ceremony are throwing around the kid grain, gold and gifts. All this symbolizes the happiness and wealth that is desired for the child. The mother stands seven steps away from her child, again with the aim of driving away evil spirits, and listens to the singing of special people who conjure the baby to obey the mother and obey her.
This is followed by a procession with fire and incense led by the mother. Singing children and guests hold lighted candles in their hands, blessing the house and its inhabitants.
In the Sebooh ceremony, the baby's name is also chosen using candles. Several candles are lit, each given a potential name for a child. The baby will get the name the candle that will burn the longest.
5. They put it on the floor to find out its future (Armenia)
When a child grows up first tooth, Armenian parents celebrate a ceremony called Agra Hadig. They put the child on the floor, and around him there are various symbolic elements, such as a tape measure, a stethoscope, a spatula, a book, and others. Then they ask him choose any of the suggestions.
Depending on what the baby chooses, this will symbolize his future. For example, if a boy picks up a tape measure, it will mean that in the future he will become an engineer or architect. Of course, only time will tell whether such a prophecy is true or not.
5. Parents are given red colored eggs (China)
In Chinese families, when the baby turns one month old, the Full Moon ceremony is held. This is the first important event in the life of a little person.
In the morning, on the 30th day of the baby's existence, relatives and friends get together to give gifts and their blessings to the newborn. The parents of the child also give gifts to their relatives and friends.
The types of gifts vary from case to case, but red-dyed eggs tend to be the most popular gift, probably because in Chinese culture eggs are a symbol of ever-changing life and its fluidity.
Their round shape is a sign of a harmonious and happy life, and red is the color of happiness.
During the celebration, grandparents usually give their grandchild gold or silver to show their deep love. Of course, parents and the newborn also receive "modern" gifts, such as children's clothing, toys, books, gift certificates.
At the same time, money wrapped in red paper is no less common gift. In other words, everything is like in the West and in Europe, only strictly in a month!
6. Placenta and umbilical cord are buried, and a tree is planted in this place (Jamaica)
Surely, you have heard the phrase that each of us should plant a tree, build a house / write a book and raise / give birth to a son (varies depending on culture). In Jamaica, apparently, the only thing left for parents to do is write a book, because everything else they have already done.
According to the Jamaican tradition, after a woman gives birth, the placenta and umbilical cord must be buried in a specially selected place for this, on which then a tree is planted. The tree is chosen by parents, godparents or other relatives and friends.
The tree is a pedagogical tool that teaches the child to take a responsibility on himself, because it symbolizes the beginning of his life, which needs to be taken care of.
This tradition was born from a Jamaican expression which says that "home is where your umbilical cord is buried." This speaks of a spiritual attachment to the place where each person comes from.
7. Don't let babies touch the floor (Bali)
While some parents around the world feel quite comfortable leaving their baby to crawl on the floor, Balinese babies' feet don't touch the ground until they're done. 210 days, because the child is considered a divine being who descended from heaven.
When a baby first steps on the floor, this indicates that he has become complete person.
8. Putting money in the hands of a child (Trinidad and Tobago)
In Trinidad and Tobago, when people visit a newborn, they usually put money in the baby's hands to bless the baby for a successful life.
Also in this country there is a rule according to which some parents do not allow guests to come to them after 18.00, because it is believed that the evening dew that the guests bring with them will cause the child to get sick.
Source 9Give your child 20 or more names (Nigeria)
On the seventh day after the birth of a girl, or on the ninth day after the birth of a boy, the child is blessed with special elements that his mother gives him with her lips.
First, the mother kisses him with lips dipped in water so that the baby has no enemies, then palm oil is put on the lips so that his life is smooth and easy, bitter Kola (a type of nut eaten in Nigeria) so that life is long, and also pepper and salt to make life sweet, filled with excitement and happiness.
After that, a name is chosen for the baby. In addition to the surname, the newborn receives several names. One of the names describes the circumstances of the birth, for example, the name Idowu means "child born after twins".
Another example is when a middle-aged woman dies giving birth to her daughter, in which case the baby will be called Yetunde, literally - "the mother has returned."
Parents often take their child some nickname, saying that they are praying for their offspring. For example, Ayoke means "one who is blessed" and Titilayo means "eternal happiness".
After the parents announce the names they have given the child, the relatives may also name the baby if they wish. But before giving a name, they must make a "monetary contribution" to the baby's basket.
Then everyone is given the opportunity to name the baby, the money is collected and transferred to parents who open an account for him. In this way, after the ceremony, the baby can have more than twenty names!
The ceremony ends with prayers, after which everyone is invited to the table.
10. Mother prepares souvenirs for all guests (Brazil)
In Brazil, the expectant mother prepares a basket of souvenirs that she gives to everyone who comes to visit her and the baby in the hospital.
As a rule, this is a small "pleasure" in the form sweets, a fridge magnet, a notebook, a sachet, and even tiny bottles of perfume, which are chosen by the mother in advance.
Thus she thanks the man for coming.
11. Hot stone massage and regular exfoliation for mom (Malaysia)
After reading this, every new mother will want to travel to Malaysia for these procedures. So that's what this Malaysian tradition is all about.
After giving birth, the woman is transferred to a special clinic, where she stays for an average 44 days, during which she is restored to health and feminine forms.
She is regularly given hot stone massages to cleanse her uterus, as well as full-body exfoliation to smooth out postpartum changes.
Moms are not allowed to lift weights or do anything other than feed the baby. All household chores are shifted to the husband or relatives.
How did your family greet you and your baby?
Educational museums in Minsk, where you should definitely visit with children
