Ola Uruguay Real Estate and Investments

While speaking with North American women, I am often asked questions about having a baby in Uruguay, and really, when you consider that the traditions and practices around birth are so tied to the culture of a country, it is hardly any wonder that there should be some concern.

Three years ago, our youngest child was born here, and even though my pregnancy was too strictly controlled for my rebelious nature, and I never thought to persist in finding an obstetician who spoke fluent English, nor an english speaking doula to help me through all the new vocabulary and medical tests, it was a very positive experience. Throughout the labor, the staff was friendly and even gathered around my bed to chat with us about soccer, forestry, and mate. Where else in the world could this happen?

For the most part, Uruguay is a traditional and conservative country in terms of its birthing practices. There are few services, and doulas are almost unheard of. Although a few women I know have had their babies at home, most people here think that this is a very risky option. There is no water birth or other similar alternative practices, as far as I have heard. You may bring only one person in to the room to accompany you during your labor. In addtion, unless you pay extra or are a member of the Biritish Hospital Society, the doctor at your birth may not be the doctor who attended you throughout your pregnancy.

In the hospital, birthing beds are equipped with the traditional stirrups, and preparation for a birth includes a complete shave and an enema, (unless you think to do a Briazilian wax just before.) Indeed, except for the British Hospital, the laboring area is separated from the birthing area.

Still, according to vital statistics, Uruguay has a very high success rate in terms of live births. Doctors are very careful and take precautionary measures. For example, when my water broke, I wanted to lounge at home and take my time but was requested to come to the hospital immediately where, upon entry, we were requested to change into the world’s ugliest sea green smocks and my husband had to tie some kind of cloth slipper over his shoes. We looked and felt ridiculous. I was fitted with an IV, an oxytocin and antibiotic drip, a monitoring machine for our baby’s heart, and then, they taped all the plastic tubing of the epidural on me, which by the way is an extra $400 or so. I felt almost gift wrapped in a strange way.

Although my phsycian had told me that I could walk during the labor process, when I asked about it in the hospital, the nurse pointed from one corner of the room to the other. “Yes,” she said, “from that corner to this one.” My visions of strolling on the beach during the first stages of the labor were shattered. They offered me a rather deflated exercise ball instead.

At a certain point, our doctor told me that I had only seven more hours to produce our baby. The rule seems to be that once your water has broken, you have only 24 hours to give birth, or you have to have a C-section. The threat of a C-section caused me much stress. According to what I have heard, all obstetricians, except for those practicing in the British Hospital, are paid extra for the C-section surgeries that they perform. From the circle of five children that we know who were born around the same time as our daughter, ours was the only natural birth. For me, the reason was not that the mothers were “too posh to push,” although you can request a C-section from the beginning, I think that doctors may be too anxious to act.

When our daughter emerged into the world, I saw that we were outnumbered by three to one by medical personnel, even with the new arrival. The obstetrician on call, our obstetrician, her assistant, two nurses, the neonatologist, his nurse, the anetheologist, and his assistant were all present.

It turns out I had to get used to the crowds, because, as soon as we were moved into a room, family and friends started to appear. Baby showers are not customary here and everybody brings a gift to the hospital to welcome the baby. I was glad that I had brought a nice nightgown to wear. My husband slept on a very hard sofa in the room with us. Luckily, this meant that he did not sleep deeply and could attend to our newborn while I recuperated from all the guests.

Still, our girl was born into this culture, and even though I want more privacy sometimes and don’t like so many eyes on me watching what I do, I do appreciate the willingness to help, and I can learn to feel the safety of this time-honored, medically tested system that works.