An Expat Talks about What is Was Like Having a Baby in Pafos, Cyprus

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Pafos

How recently did you give birth in the country that you are reporting on?

1 yr ago

Describe your experience giving birth there. What type of facility did you go to? What (if any) type of pain management did you use? How long did you stay in the hospital? Was it a positive experience? Etc...

I have had previous pregnancies and births in the UK , which were definitely preferable to my experience here. I had difficulty accessing the local hospital due to the European minefield of rights or not enough rights as a non Cypriot European. After stressful months of no antenatal care, I was forced to go private to a small hospital and did not see a midwife once, only a gynecologist, my involvement was not required. Once a month I attended an appointment to check baby and me, no discussion on birth plans.. I tried to interact with my consultant and put across my wishes.. I asked to see the delivery room.. a dungeon of place in the basement, no windows, sterile, uninviting, full of unnecessary medical contraptions, not a nice place... I filled with dread at the thought of delivering my baby here... I looked at other clinics all pretty much the same and I searched for an independent midwife but no luck. There is no midwifery service here just specialists, there is no patients charter, no birthing plans, no say in how you want things, you do as you are told ...and the most scary part of the whole pregnancy and childbirth routine is 9 times out of ten your baby is delivered by caesarian.. as was mine .. 4 natural, drug free births in the UK and here a section. I have yet to meet a mum here who has had a vaginal birth..

I had a section and 3 days later i was home.. recovering slowly from my ordeal and sadly that's what is was... not a pleasant experience.. waking to no pain relief.. contracting a virus and vomiting and suffering with diarrhea ..my baby being kept in the nursery not by my bed, my son was the only child in the nursery and I could hear him crying, I demanded him with me.. I successfully breast fed all previous children this time no.. perhaps the trauma of the birth and aftercare affected my milk supply but the obstetrican grabbing and pinching my nipple certainly didn't have a positive effect... a relief to get home, self medicate and be cared for by my husband and children .. the most horrendous birth experience and I would certainly advise any mum to be to carefully research all possibilities and options before committing and certainly find a consultant who will allow vaginal births.. my son is a blessing

Avertiss Real Estate
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Avertiss is a professional brokerage firm that offers services in real estate and its related fields. We represent buyers and sellers in both the northern and southern parts of the island of Cyprus. Our brokerage consists of highly experienced professionals specializing in real estate investment, lifestyle, legal services, and valuation advisory.

Avertiss Real Estate

Avertiss is a professional brokerage firm that offers services in real estate and its related fields. We represent buyers and sellers in both the northern and southern parts of the island of Cyprus. Our brokerage consists of highly experienced professionals specializing in real estate investment, lifestyle, legal services, and valuation advisory.
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How did you choose your doctor, midwife or other type of medical professional?

I wanted my baby at the general hospital.. I was declined.due to paperwork and red tape even though I'm European living in a European country. I needed care so went private and only 1 clinic would permit me credit to pay for my horror..

If you were to have another child in this country, would you do anything differently in terms of preparation and/or the delivery?

God forbid i got pregnant again in this country, but if I did, I now have the relevant medical card for the general hospital... I would search hi and low for a UK registered midwife to assist my birth and I would demand the hospital listen and honor it... I would demand again that my birth be natural vaginal unless medically proven that my baby or myself were at risk,

If a friend of yours living in the same country were expecting a baby, what advice would you give her?

I would assist any woman here to have the birth and anteanatal she prefers.. Pafos needs a birthing centre, run by midwives and overseen by a consultant.