An Expat Talks about What is Was Like Having a Baby in Skopje, Macedonia

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

Skopje

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

November 2002

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...

Excellent experience at a private hospital, Sistina. Had a private room (like a suite) with round the clock attention from doctors. Had all types of pain management available and had planned an epidural but got to the hospital too late and delivered naturally. Hospital stay was four days. Lots of attention from doctors on how to take care of baby and breastfeeding. Not as much attention to my hemorrhoids!!!

How did you choose your doctor, midwife or other type of medical professional?

My GYN was recommended by a friend. Again another private doctor. My gyn was excellent providing ultrasounds every month and very good prenatal care. I could never have had this attention if I had had the baby in the U.S.! She also recommended someone after the baby was born as I suffered from post-partum depression.

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

Nope. Everything would be exactly as it was then. Preparation and delivery would be the same.

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

I'd recommend my same doctors and hospital. It couldn't have been a more perfect experience. I'd make sure the friend had an idea of post partum depression however. This was never addressed and I was completely in shock when I felt as I did after my child was born. Macedonia does not have a strong network for supporting the emotional and psychological needs of new mothers.