Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Anyone in Madrid?

99 replies

eggnog · 27/11/2006 15:47

Are there any other Mnttrs in Madrid? Been feeling a tad lonely recently....

OP posts:
bebespain · 06/06/2007 17:30

Hi Impy

I would love to met up but I´m a bit far from the centre and haven´t been brave enough yet to use public transport with my LO. Combined with my fear of driving here I´m currently confined to the outskirts for the time being
Didn´t want your message to go unanswered though so maybe sometime in the (near) future - "must be brave" she chants...

ImpyChica · 07/06/2007 19:27

Ah Bebe, thanks for replying. Are you near a Cercanias train station? Maybe I could hop on a train and come and see you, if you fancy some company! (But I understand if you don't want some person you met on the web turning up out of nowhere )

How's it going with your wee bairn? Mine will turn ONE in July - where has the time gone?!

bebespain · 11/06/2007 10:40

Hi again!

It might be easier if you e-mail me direct:
[email protected] and maybe we could work something out?
By the way how do you get around with LO?

MamaGoose · 24/06/2007 23:06

Hello
I wondered if any of you could give me some advice. My other half has been told he's moving to Madrid with his work later this year. We were thinking about having another baby (and starting to try now). Only thing is that my youngest was born at home - no drugs, no interventions, birthing pool in the living room, a couple of midwives to help. Was really great. And yet everything I've heard about the Spanish approach to birth is pretty scary - lots of c-sections, routine episiotomy, have to go to hospital etc. Is this true? Work would probably pay for me to go private but everything I've read seems so bad that I'm seriously thinking about staying in the UK till after the birth. I'm really worried.

Sixer · 24/06/2007 23:21

Hi, can only tell you about our experience. Hospital, Strapped in the bed through out labour, un-strapped and moved fom the bed as bady was coming out. Walked down the ward with baby's head showing. (apparently this help them out!). DP was allowed NO WHERE NEAR ME. I screamed in spanish (I know it's wrong now, but NO Husband, No Baby, in spanish of course!) My oh my, did they run to get DP, and right at the last moment as DS2 was OUT. OK SO i AM A WIMP. However i and my parner wanted to have the whole birth together. including all the swearing, pushing out of the way, spitting, etc etc that goes on. WITHOUT GAS AND AIR or any other help. (How I wanted at least gas and air). I WILL NEVER EVER EVER HAVE ANOTHER BABY IN SPAIN. so there. I Take my hat off to you, and this is ONLY my experience. Good luck.

Sixer · 24/06/2007 23:27

OH and by the way, They will shave you and empty you out. (a secret between me and you, Rub loads of Wheatgerm oil into your under bits, perim.... from 36 weeks, it will help stretch the important bits. It's helped the lovely nurses from cutting me twice, which apparently is standard procedure in Spain.) Sorry, but i hope the truth helps.

MamaGoose · 25/06/2007 22:10

OMG. That sounds horrendous. You poor thing. Depressingly your story is entirely consistent with everything I've heard from other people! I just want to find a birthing centre or something - but it would need to be in the Madrid area as it'll be my third child so could be a quick birth. Failing that, it looks like I'll be staying put!

bebespain · 26/06/2007 09:10

Hi MamaGoose

Here´s my take...
I live in Madrid but had my first baby in Andalucia last December. I know that there are vast differences depending on which part of the country you are in but I think generally in Spain giving birth is seen as a medical procedure. I know of many people who were very pleased with the care they received here but if like me you prefer the softly, softly approach then giving birth here may not be your cup of tea. I feel that there is great concern for the baby (quite right too) but as far as the mother is concerned well she can go and whistle! Women have been have babies since year dot etc...is often the attitude

I had a caesarean after a 12 hour labour which I don´t believe would have happened in the UK. My baby was doing fine but due to lack of support/encouragement from medical staff I was flagging. I was dilating very slowly but this was my first after all and I felt they just wanted rid of me kind of thing. I found the whole thing very frightening and undignified it didn´t help that my DH was not allowed in with me. The post-natal care was nil (no health visitors, baby clinic here) the only time I saw another health professional was to have my stiches removed! I found it very difficult trying to establish BF without support whilst recovering from a C-Sec. (Thank God for MN!)
Sorry about the length I didn´t mean to write a book

Good luck whatever you decide!

ImpyChica · 26/06/2007 14:59

Hi Mamagoose

I had a v similar experience to Bebespain - was induced and given a c-section after 12 hour labour. But I don't regret having my baby here - his health was paramount throughout the whole pregnancy. I was given loads of tests and checks - I'm on private health care but would have had similar treatment on the public system.

I found the post baby stage v hard without health visitors calling (though have read a lot of reports on MN that suggest that was no bad thing! ) and no mother and baby groups nearby. But you would be fine, having had two babies already, I'm sure!

I guess if you want a natural, limited intervention birth, you're going to struggle in Madrid. There is a water birth centre in Alicante that is supposed to be lovely and I know of people who have driven down there to give birth (five hour drive!).

Aside from all that, Spain is a wonderful place to bring up kids. We love it here - everyone makes such a fuss of ds and there's a really strong sense of community. I often see old men telling teenagers off (just for little things like sitting in front of the metro doors or playing on playground swings) but you never see that in the UK - people are too scared!

Anyway, hope you decide to give it a go here - even if it is post-birth. Let me know if you need any help!

Impy x

bebespain · 26/06/2007 15:52

Oh yes to echo what Impychica said about ante-natal care it really is exceptional. I had a friend in the UK who was pregnant at the same time as me and she was given no where near the same amount of checks as I was given as standard(Spanish public system)

MamaGoose · 26/06/2007 22:44

Ladies
Your advice has been invaluable. Frankly I don't think I'm going anywhere! Maybe I will stay in the UK till after the baby is born. My worry is that is delays schooling for ds1 and it means being apart from dh for a few months. But I think it sounds like it will be worth it.

We are definitely moving out. We were in Madrid at the end of last week looking at possible areas to live in and schools. Thought Chamartin looked like quite a nice area and Kings seemed like a nice school (but full at mo apparently). Advice on areas and schools also welcome! I loved the number of play parks everywhere - children seemed so much more included than here. I also heard about the toddler group in St George's church.

ImpyChica · 29/06/2007 19:25

Well me and BebeSpain had a lovely little meet-up in the Retiro yesterday. It was great to finally get together and have a good butcher's at each other's LO. Felix is goregeous! So if anyone else is up for getting together next time, let us know! Would be great to get a whole gang together...

bebespain · 30/06/2007 07:31

Oh I´ll second that Come on all you madrileñas we don´t bite!!

Awww thanks Impy, Ryan is pretty gorgeous too!

ImpyChica · 23/03/2008 07:35

Just bumping this for Lokka, in case she wants to get in touch...! Impy x

lokka · 27/03/2008 13:53

Hi Impy

Just got your message here, thanks.I've been away for a few days and not on MN but back again!

Good to find this thread. Seems like there's quite a few of us here in Madrid, although the thread is quite old...are you in touch with other mums here? Do you live centrally?

Good to see that I'm not alone here!

Maybe there are more lurkers???? Anyone?

MamaGoose · 03/04/2008 21:44

Yes, I live here now!

lokka · 05/04/2008 21:18

Hi Mamagoose!

Are you settled in Madrid now?

What do you think, are you happy here? (I don't think you've been here that long just from reading back thread)

How are your kids enjoying it here?

It's always worth it when the weather's like this, isn't it?

XX

MamaGoose · 07/04/2008 20:15

Hello

Yes, just been here a couple of months. Really enjoying it particularly over the last week, until tonight's thunder and lightening of course!

Boys starting to settle but it's been harder for them than we expected. And all the advice put me right off so I'm not up the duff after all!

xx

ImpyChica · 12/04/2008 23:15

Hi Mammagoose and Lokka! (and anyone else lurking...!)

Sorry - only just spotted your replies... Whereabouts are you guys living? I'm right in the centre - in the Rastro.

Funnily enough just spent this afternoon with a group of "angloparlantes" and their offspring - a group my friend set up recently - we generally hook up somewhere in the centre. Will let you know when we're next meeting up if you fancy joining...

Hope your boys are settling in better Mammagoose. Kids are so adaptable - I'm sure it won't take them long.

Anyway, hope we can all hook up soon!

Hugs Impy x

lokka · 24/04/2008 08:26

Hi Impy..

I live in Vallecas.Used to live very near you though, in the old days without baby-it was great there!

Sounds good,let me know whenever you have another get-together and i'll see if we can come along.

XX

bebespain · 02/06/2008 21:21

Bumping for Madridhermione!!!

Uselessmummy80 · 06/07/2017 14:13

Anyone on this thread actually still in Madrid??! DH has an international transfer. We move at the end of August.

doubletroubl · 25/11/2018 23:11

Hello,
I hope you don't mind me contacting you. Did you make a choice between kings and runnymede? We are starting the process of moving to madrid and I cannot decide and wonder if you had any advice please? thanks

SparkleMotion82 · 17/04/2019 13:40

I know this is a veerrryyyy old thread but just wondering if any of you ladies are still around and living in Madrid? :)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page