Having a Baby in Greece

Having a baby in Greece as an expat can be a unique experience, filled with excellent healthcare, beautiful surroundings, and supportive communities. However, it's also important to understand the local customs, practices, and challenges that come with navigating a foreign healthcare system. Here's what you need to know:

Choosing a Doctor

Finding a healthcare provider you trust is crucial. In Greece, you can choose between a public doctor (ypiretis) or a private one (iatros). Midwives (maias) also play a significant role in pregnancies. English-speaking doctors are not as abundant as in some other European countries, but you can find them, especially in major cities like Athens and Thessaloniki. Embassies, local expat groups, and online forums can provide recommendations. Always ensure that your chosen healthcare professional is registered with the Greek National Organization for Healthcare Provision (EOPYY).

What to Expect for Prenatal Care

Prenatal care in Greece typically involves regular check-ups with your chosen doctor or midwife. These usually include ultrasounds, blood tests, and other standard procedures. The frequency of these appointments usually follows international norms: once a month until the 28th week, every two weeks until the 36th week, and weekly thereafter. Public healthcare provides free prenatal care, but private doctors may offer more personalized attention and easier communication in English.

Do Expats Typically Have Private health insurance when Having a Baby in Greece?

While Greece's public healthcare system offers free maternity care to residents, many expats opt for private health insurance to avoid long waiting times, potential language barriers, and to access a wider range of services. Private insurance also gives you the flexibility to choose your doctor and hospital. However, it's essential to check the details of your policy, as not all plans cover maternity care or may have specific exclusions.

Giving Birth at Public vs. Private Hospitals

Greece has both public and private hospitals, with the latter often boasting more modern facilities and shorter waiting times. Public hospitals are free for residents, but they may have less individualized care and more language barriers. Private hospitals, on the other hand, can be expensive but offer a higher level of personalized care and are more likely to have English-speaking staff. Both types of hospitals generally provide a high standard of medical care.

C-Sections in Greece

Greece has one of the highest rates of C-sections in Europe, with the procedure being quite common. While the reasons for this are multifaceted, it's important to discuss your preferences and concerns with your healthcare provider. Elective C-sections are also an option in both public and private hospitals, but they may come at an additional cost in private facilities.

Pain Management During Delivery

Pain management during delivery varies in Greece. While epidurals are available in many hospitals, they are not as routinely offered as in some other countries. Gas and air (Entonox) is also not commonly used. It's important to discuss your preferences and any concerns with your healthcare provider well in advance. Natural birth methods and water births are gaining popularity, especially in private clinics and some public hospitals.

Hospitals with Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Most major cities in Greece have hospitals equipped with Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). Some of the notable ones include "Alexandra" Maternity Hospital and "Aretaieio" University Hospital in Athens, and "Papageorgiou" General Hospital in Thessaloniki. However, the availability and quality of services can vary, so it's crucial to research the facilities in your area. In case of premature birth or complications, it's reassuring to know that these specialized units are available.

Expats Talk about Having a Baby in Greece

"For the private sector: I chose my obstetrician first. He was affiliated with one of the 3 large private maternity clinics in Athens. It is a very large clinic. Positive points: very clean, plenty of staff on hand 24 hours (even if they are rushed), very modern facilities. Negative points: very expensive (around 2000 euros for the cheapest room option - 6 mothers sharing a room, not including doctors fee); impersonal; breastfeeding difficult because rooming in is near impossible; staff ill-informed about breastfeeding; Too many visitors and visiting hours are not strictly enforced by staff. I had natural childbirth with epidural. Hospital stay: 4 days. The birth experience was positive thanks to a fantastic UK-trained midwife and obstetrician. My experience with the clinic was very negative," commented an expat living in Athens.

"Both babies born at home.Very positive experiences. Just breathing and working with the labour, hot water compressors, loving midwives made my births wonderful.Giving birth in your own enviorment makes all the difference," said an expat in Athens.

"If you want a hospital natural birth, get good Dr's names from me,LLL or Birth Voice, if you do no want the hospital experience, but still feeling safer to be close to a medical model, go to the Birth center, again we can advise you to a good midwife, if you want a home birth, there are midwives with a good repitation for exellant home births.If you want the 5 star,'hotel', with a painless, quick c/s, go to any Dr in a private Hosp," said one expat living in Athens.

"I would give her my doctor and midwife's contact details, would warn her about the prevalence of unnecessary c-sections, give her my book on breastfeeding. Dealing with the maternity clinics requires some know-how but luckily my midwife did this for me (insisted baby was brought to me whenever it cried, etc.), told them I didn't want a systematic enema when admitted for labour, etc. It's very useful to have someone else negotiate this stuff for you, the last thing you want when you're in labour is to have to argue with nurses," wrote a member in Athens.