Having a baby in Rome

Hi all,

apologies if this subject has already come up but I am looking for advice on having a baby in Rome. I am a British woman and I am 13 weeks pregnant. I have so far been a bit shocked by the "Italian way" over here and I am looking for advice on doctors and hospitals or also clinics that promote natural birth and even alternative birthing options, such as water births.

I am used to the UK system and so anyone who has had good experiences here in Rome that they can pass on then I would be very grateful. Also, places to avoid!

Thanks!

Hi,
I don't have idea about what you ask from my experience but I can check for you in Italian since it's my mothertongue.
Usually I guess that better hospital and private structures are in the North but I just searched for waterbirth as you said and I found that in Rome there is a private structure that is:
Casa di cura Fabia Mater
VIA Olevano Romano 25
Tel. 06-215921
and I took it form this website so you can also check other cities:
http://www.partoinacqua.it/8549/index.html

I aslo looked for other people opinions in some forum and they said:
- just in the FatebeneFratelli (a catholic hospital) they have the rooming-in so in other cases they have a nursesy or else you need to ask a private room most of the time.
-Ospedale amico dei bambini is supposed to be a good structure because they have more attention for the natural process and feeding, but most of the time it depends on the doctor you might have.

Of course as you can guess everybody has different experiences and opinions so someone said this is the best and someone said the opposite.

Another non-conventional thing is Bio-dance...that you do before giving birth and in some forum there are women that decide to give birth at home, meeting an ostetric first and choosing her.

This is just what I've found on the net but I hope it can help a little.

Good luck to you and your baby

Hi, not sure if you'd already have tried this but the British Embassy in Rome website have links to English speaking doctors that may be able either to help you directly, or point you in the right direction.

http://ukinitaly.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for … nationals/

In particular there is Dr Nico Naumann http://www.doctornaumann.info/en/index.html who is a fertility specialist and so he might be able to give you advice on where to go.