Giving Birth in Spain: Preparing for Labor

Baby boy Masson . . . almost 35 weeks

Seeing as how I have about 5 weeks left until my due date, I've been trying to learn as much as possible about what I need to know about labor, and hospital procedures here in Spain. Of course, I remember lots of things from Renae's labor, but I still find myself reviewing the chapter on Labor in "What to Expect When You're Expecting." So besides reviewing the labor process in English, I'm now desperately trying to learn a whole new set of vocabulary words!!! I really don't want to depend on flash cards in the middle of a contraction.

Here is a shortened list of basic vocabulary I've had to learn:

• To give birth- dar a luz-literally to give light, or to bring to light
• Pregnancy-el embarazo
• Epidural-epidural (pronounced differently)
• To push-empujar (empuja is what they'll be telling me to do)
• Labor-el parto
• Midwife-la matrona
• To breastfeed-dar al pecho
• Blood/lab work-análisis

On the bus to get my 3rd trimester análisis done

One of the things I've had to do in preparation for labor is have 3 different sets of labwork done. Fortunately, my clinic has a lab in the same building. Unfortunately, I still have to go get lab work done on a separate day. At an appointment, the doctor will give me a prescription to have blood drawn for specific tests. I return to the clinic on a different day with a urine sample and the prescription. In the states, you have to bring a urine sample to each appointment and they provide the cup. Here, you go to a pharmacy and buy a urine sample cup for about 50 cents. All of the results for these different labs can be picked up on a different date and I must take them with me to my appointments. I also am responsible for bringing all ultrasound and lab results with me to the hopsital on the day I give birth. They have record of them too, but I'm supposed to bring my results.



I stole a shot of the waiting room while waiting for blood to be drawn.

Besides my lab results, I also have to bring the following to the hospital:
For the baby: short and long sleeve onsies, footy pajamas, a hat, socks, diapers (they are provided the first day, but the rest of the days I'm in the hospital we provide the diapers), carseat.

For the mother: Shirts that open in the front, socks, breastfeeding "accesories", toiletries, and some other blog unmentionables. (Ladies, just think of all the "stuff" they provide for you in the hospital that you're embarassed to even have to use. THAT is what I need to go buy at a store.)

My new reading material-thanks Beatriz!

My good friend Beatriz has been a Godsend. I met her in the park last month and we've been hanging out ever since. Turns out, she still has a lot of stuff from when she was pregnant with her son and she's loaning me all kinds of magazines, books etc to get ready for labor. One of the books is called "Advice from your Midwife." I've found it a great little book for learning all the vocabulary I'll be hearing (and saying??) during labor. By the way, when you give birth in Spain, you are usually attended by a midwife, a nurse (or two) and then the doctor who will deliver the baby. You are also assigned a nurse for your baby once they are born. I'm gathering that the midwives here are more like labor and delivery nurses in the states. The midwife is with you for most of the time.

I'm going to start making my list of things to buy for the hospital stay as well as typing up a "How to take care of Renae" for whoever ends up watching her. (Hopefully the timing will work out great and my Mom will be here to watch Renae!) There is a lot yet to do in preparation for birthing this baby but I've still got about 5 weeks (maybe less??). Renae's room has been rearranged, and Baby Boy Masson's clothes and other necesities have been moved in. I even have his initials on the wall. (Sorry, I won't be posting a picture of that.) The countdown has begun!