The path to motherhood often takes unexpected turns. When I first became pregnant, we were in the middle of the pandemic, so I did what any normal pregnant woman would do with a stay-at-home order…explore my US library’s Libby books related to pregnancy and birth.
Among those first books I found was a book that changed my pregnancy–and post-pregnancy experience for that matter—Babies Are Not Pizzas: They’re Born, Not Delivered by Rebecca Dekker, PhD, RN, an amazing woman who founded Evidence Based Birth. Those pages opened my eyes to a different perspective on childbirth, one that resonated deeply with my intuition. The biggest takeaway from this book for me to truly spark by Hypnobabies was the Fetal Ejection Reflex (mentioned here on EBB) under circumstances of natural childbirth.
Little did I know that this discovery would lead me through a remarkable journey of pregnancy and birth in Spain during the pandemic, equipped with Hypnobabies as my trusted guide.
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Finding My Way: The Three Paths of Prenatal Education in Spain
Like many expectant mothers, I found myself at a crossroads with multiple options for prenatal education and care. What made my journey unique was my decision to explore all available paths in Spain: Hypnobabies, the Spanish public healthcare system’s prenatal course, and a private insurance-sponsored program. Each of these experiences taught me valuable lessons about birth education and the healthcare system in Spain.
Hypnobabies: The Complete Solution for Childbirth
After reading Babies Are Not Pizzas, I was empowered to believe I could have a birth experience that honored the natural process. Specifically being mentioned in the book by Dr. Dekker, Hypnobabies caught my attention and I began to explore more. Hypnobabies aligned perfectly with my vision of childbirth and I signed on quite early in my pregnancy: I remember being 12 weeks along and starting out the initial tracks!
What struck me immediately was its comprehensive, evidence-based approach to childbirth education. Unlike other programs I encountered and completed, Hypnobabies didn’t just teach about birth – it prepared you mentally, emotionally, and physically for the journey ahead.
The program provided a wealth of resources: calming tracks that became my daily companions, positive affirmations that rebuilt my confidence in my body’s abilities, and in-depth education about the birthing process that went far beyond what I received in traditional courses. These weren’t just nice-to-have extras; they became essential tools in my pregnancy and birth journey.
Two Healthcare Systems
My experience with the Spanish healthcare system was a study in contrasts. I had the opportunity to experience both private and public healthcare during my pregnancy, and the differences were striking.
The public healthcare system surprised me with its excellence. Despite having to share a hospital room during my postnatal stay, the care I received was exceptional during pre-natal appointments and recovery at the hospital. The midwives, doctors, and nurses in the public system showed a dedication that went beyond just doing their jobs – they clearly had a calling. My public system midwife supported my birth choices without judgment, offering evidence-based information and genuine encouragement for my natural birth plans.
The private system, while offering certain conveniences like better ultrasound equipment, pictures, and more flexible scheduling, revealed itself to be more business-oriented than I expected. The doctor for prenatal care was cold and uncaring, always doubting my goals for the pregnancy and delivery…in fact, there was a point where I stopped sharing my determination for a natural birth and even gave a different birth plan due to her skewed perspective. Sadly, I was brought to tears more than once after appointments with her due to her comments and negative focus.
Thank goodness I had the balance with my public midwife! I learned afterwards that private hospitals want the biggest bang for their buck from the insurance companies, pushing for more interventions and longer hospital stays than the public system.
The Power of Education and Choice
What became clear through my journey was the invaluable role of comprehensive education in making informed choices.
Hypnobabies
The Hypnobabies education course equipped me with knowledge that helped me navigate both healthcare systems effectively. The program’s evidence-based approach gave me the confidence to ask important questions and make decisions aligned with my birth preferences…or tune out when the advice and focus did not match my goals – for the most part anyways. It covered the evidence based steps of birth from a medical perspective, but also highlighted the emotional support needed during pregnancy. I can hands-down say that out of all the prenatal courses, I learned to most from the Hynobabies course, which complemented the birthing-time preparation.
Public Healthcare
The public-provided prenatal course covered similar material to the Hypnobabies course, but significantly fell short. First of all, the pandemic did not help as the classes were done entirely through video calls, so the connection with other participants was null. Secondly, it covered science but not so much emotional support. Third, all other participants had the same mentality that an epidural is the best option for them…and the midwife handling the course did not cover the negative side affects common to birth interventions for them to make a more educated decision.
Private Healthcare
A private prenatal course was also covered under my private insurance , and I was shocked by the heavy emphasis on medical interventions. I definitely had the sensation that the hospitals pushed their agenda through the classes. When I raised questions about evidence-based practices I’d learned through Hypnobabies, I was quickly dismissed with statements like, “Why worry about that? You’ll have an epidural anyway.” This approach felt limiting and failed to acknowledge the range of choices available to birthing mothers.
The contrast between my private and public healthcare experiences highlighted an important truth: more expensive doesn’t always mean better care. The public system’s midwife-led approach aligned better with the natural birth philosophy I’d embraced through Hypnobabies. While the private system offered certain conveniences, the public system provided something more valuable – respect for the natural birth process and genuine support for my choices.
Birth During a Pandemic
I took the Hypnobabies philosophy to heart during my pregnancy. I listened daily to my affirmations and completed the required tracks to be prepared when my little one chose the time to make her appearance (guess day in Hypnobabies lingo). Pregnancy is a time when you need a positive mentality and let negative comments brush off your shoulders…Hypnobabies gave me the tools to be confident and positive during my entire pregnancy, because it is not always easy to do even when not high-strung on hormones.
I had planned to give birth at the natural birthing center, Casa Laietània, located at Hospital German i Trias in Badalona, right next to Barcelona, a beautiful space dedicated to intervention free births. It was the perfect planned end to my ideal birthing time.
Hypnobabies Birth in Barcelona
Ultimately, I prepared too well for my birthing time. When I started having pressure waves (contractions for those not versed in Hynobabies-speak), I took it all in stride. The funniest part looking back is while I was in the early stages of labor 2 days before the guess day, I had an appointment at my private clinic in which they put the belts on to do a stress test…they did not detect anything out the ordinary and sent me home!
This was a big issue when pressure waves started getting more intense…I believed I was earlier in the birthing time than I truly was! I went to bed early that night with the pressure waves and put on my required Hypnobabies tracks. Later on that night, my husband went to bed and there I was getting closer to meeting our baby! My Hypnobabies training proved invaluable during this experience, providing me with the tools and confidence needed for a successful birth. What went through my mind was I am still early enough, I will let him sleep while he can.
Well, shortly thereafter when the waves were more frequent, I did wake him up and told him to call the taxi to go to the hospital. However, that taxi never came. Not that it mattered…at that point I could no longer stand up to walk. So he quickly called the emergency number (112 in Europe) and explained what was happening to the operator.
My husband ended up catching the baby in our home. We quickly wrapped her up to hold her close to me and waited for the paramedics to arrive and took us to the hospital for follow-up care.
Post-Arrival
Recovery is not easy, especially when you have a demanding newborn crying at all hours of the day, and you have a mutual learning curve to figure each other out. However, speaking from my personal physical recovery, it blew my mind and those around me how quickly I recovered. I had none of the side effects that most new mothers have with an epidural, tearing, nor a C-section recovery. In fact, even my own mother, who has several children, forgot at times that I had just given birth a few loooooong, sleepless (just me?) weeks earlier.
As another fun fact…even the pediatric nurses and doctors commented on how her head was shaped round like a C-section baby…that’s how fast effective the Fetal Ejection Reflex was.
Why Everyone Should Consider Hypnobabies
Even if you’re unsure about natural birth, Hypnobabies offers value that extends beyond birth preferences. At a minimum, you gain:
- A comprehensive prenatal education grounded in evidence
- Relaxation tools useful for pregnancy and beyond
- Positive pregnancy affirmations that build confidence
- Knowledge to make informed decisions about your care
As one of my appreciated readers, you can apply the discount code “BarcelonaMomLife” to enjoy 20% off any Hypnobabies products!
For those organizing their pregnancy and birth options in Spain, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of understanding both private and public healthcare options. While private care offers certain conveniences, don’t underestimate the quality and humanity of the public system.
Final Thoughts
My journey through pregnancy and birth in Spain taught me that with the right education and support, you can create a positive birth experience that aligns with your values. Hypnobabies provided the foundation of knowledge and confidence I needed, while the Spanish public healthcare system offered the supportive environment for my choices to flourish.
Whether you’re considering natural birth, exploring your options in Spain, or simply wanting to be well-prepared for your birth journey, I encourage you to invest in comprehensive education like Hypnobabies. The knowledge and tools you gain will serve you well, regardless of how your birth story unfolds.
Remember, birth is a natural process that your body knows. With the right preparation and support, you can approach it with confidence and peace, just as nature intended.
If you’re inspired to try Hypnobabies for your own pregnancy journey, you can support this blog while getting started on your path to a positive birth experience. Click here to explore the Hypnobabies program and receive all the comprehensive materials that made such a difference in my journey. Use code “BarcelonaMomLife” for 20% off to try Hypnobabies for yourself! I only recommend resources I’ve personally used and found valuable, and purchasing through this link helps keep this blog running at no extra cost to you. Whether you’re planning a natural birth like mine or simply want the best preparation possible for any birth setting, Hypnobabies provides tools for every scenario.
