In Spain, you can choose to deliver in a public (state) hospital or private clinic (Private Sector). In the U.S., you can (99 percent) gave birth in hospitals with the help of a physician (91.3 percent). Midwives attended about 8 percent of all births (most midwife-attended births are in hospitals), Of the 1 percent of births that took place outside the hospital in 2008, 66 percent were in homes and 28 percent were in birth centers.
In both state/private Spain settings, a vaginal birth allows up to 3 days of stay for mother and baby. Vaginal delivery in a hospital or birthing center allows up to 3 days of stay but typically is just one day
Cesarean in Spain allows up to 5 days of stay in the hospital. Cesarean in U.S. is typically 2 – 4 days of stay .
Home births are becoming more common
in Spain but are not covered under public or private health care.
Statutory maternity leave in Spain is currently 16 weeks’ paid leave from work, of which six weeks must be taken after the birth. Fathers are entitled to 15 days’ paternity leave (depending on their job). In 2015 this will increase to 30 days. If there are complications for either the baby or the mother, the father is entitled to a longer period of leave. Maternity/Paternity leave are all dependent on the employer and benefits you receive and or pay for in the U.S. Leave can range from a week to 12 weeks for the mother and 0 days to a week for fathers.
In my experience with delivery, I had a vaginal delivery and stayed in the hospital 3 days because I had some excessive blood loss and needed to be monitored more closely. I was very fortunate to deliver at the end of the school year, only taking 10 days off of work and also having 8 weeks of summer before the next school year started. My husband was allowed to take one week off of work at 60 % of his pay if he did not want to use sick/vacation time to take leave. He also worked from home several hours. I would definitely appreciate if the U.S. would adopt some of the other maternity and paternity policies in the world like Spain’s 16 week leave with 100% pay for mothers. I feel if more mothers could stay home during these critical times with newborns, there would be less social/emotional delays or problems with children. When a parent is forced to return to work because of pay or no sick days, the parent can be stressed which then affects the newborn and family.
Information about Spain retrieved from
the following sites:
Hi Danielle this is amazing how different places do things differently. I have never really had to pay much attention to how many days people take off work after having a baby because I had mine in the summer also, but I think that mothers should be allowed to take as much time that is needed off.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, America should adopt some of the maternity and Paternity polices in Spain. I believe that In America you should have 100% pay for having a child because you still need that money to provide for your child and to continue to live and pay your bills.
ReplyDeleteHi Danielle,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing on childbirth in Spain and comparing to our country. I do not know how parents today afford the hospital costs when having a baby. Health Insurance is insane! I work for the school district in my county and for the last few year we pay a large portion of the cost. Times are changing and it seems like benefits are too - unfortunately.
Talk to you soon, MariaBL