Moving to Italy

[Albadaisy]

I'm moving to Italy in a few weeks and I'm pregnant. Does anyone have any experience or advice about pregnancy and giving birth in Italy? I have health insurance and will be based around Gallarate.
I'm terrified about this, so please be nice to me!!

yes that was ridiculous. especially the one from almost 3 decades ago!

Birth and pregnancy are VERY medicalised in Italy.

Everyone who can afford it will have a private gynaecologist who will see them at least once a month during pregnancy. Only the poorest of women tend to use the consultorio (it's the same for dentistry etc)

Epidurals are pretty common these days, but weren't up until quite a short time ago. Birth tended to be totally without pain relief, or a C-section. Italy has been criticised by the WHO for having one of the highest rates of C-sections anywhere. It's connected really to the thing about everyone seeing a private gynae. Easier for them to deliver your baby at 9am on Thursday morning rather than hanging around waiting for you.

Once the baby is born, you'll breastfeed. Some hospitals will actually refuse to let mothers use formula while they're still in hospital.

Homebirths aren't common.

I gave birth in Italy (south) 20 years ago. Can't fault it. Healthcare in general in Italy is excellent. I saw the gynae monthly. Had an epidural. Was in hospital 48 hours. Then back on Day 5 for postpartum check up. I had stitches.

No health visitors as such, my own GP came out to see me on day 6 as I was running a temperature.

All under 14s have their own paediatrician.

There are now a fair few medicine degrees taught entirely in English, (two in Milan) and I think you'd be extremely unlucky not to find a doctor in one of the big Milan hospitals or Gallarate itself who didn't speak English.

Good luck!

Some hospitals will actually refuse to let mothers use formula while they're still in hospital.

perhaps two decades ago when you were last there

not now

PS 20 years ago, my baby was definitely not taken away from me. Relatives could stay overnight as well. And the food was bloody lovely. Could have stayed a fortnight.

And I repeat: that's the impoverished and backward south. 🙄

I'm here now.

which hospitals

or are you confusing fact that The policy states that the hospital protects families from inappropriate marketing of breast milk substitutes (86.7%) and prohibits the prescription of formula for exclusively breastfed newborns at discharge (92.9% of hospitals).

because in this country… an exclusively breastfeeding mother would not be prescribed formula upon discharge

So you don't speak Italian.
Your husband doesn't speak Italian.
And you are pregnant for the first time.
And you a planning to move to an entirely different medical system from the NHS.
While your husband works full time in a new job.

I mean, that isn't a ticket for stress and worry, at all.

this country being the uk

and no friends or family whatsoever out there

(though the hospital I gave birth in did let you take formula in even then. My niece in Bologna couldn't last year)

Good point.

yes she may not have been permitted to bring in her own. as they are trying to protect against poor brands.

however absolutely formula was permitted

I'll tell her she was lying because some random know it all googled. 🙄

for the best

you won’t name the bologna hospital where formula is BANNED will you?

@Albadaisy

I'm presuming your health insurance would cover you for pregnancy expenses. Lots of the tests that you have during pregnancy aren't covered by the Italian health service so have to be paid for. (nothing too expensive but worth factoring in)

she wasn’t allowed to bring it in

because a big part of the italian policy is to stamp out shitty substitutes

of formula is needed it will be prescribed by the hospital

No fucking clue mate.
I'm in the other end of the country.
Try Google.
Are you by any chance promoting formula? Because your interest seems a little unhinged.

Do you even have any experience other than what you're googling?

Mind you. A quick Google of my own shows you're pretty much an expert on almost everything on Mumsnet, aren't you?

With lots of shouting and capital letters.

@Albadaisy if you have any questions feel free to PM me or the lovely @Sgtmajormummy (hope you are well, don't think we've spoken since COVID times! I've namechanged a lot since then!)

relax

for anyone joining it is nonsense that some italian hospitals outright ban all formula on its premises

nonsense

No fucking clue mate.

agreed

by google i presume you mean AS

expert? in far from that

i just don’t like posters posting nonsense