'Public health care system (specifically for childbirth)' Medical

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Public health care system (specifically for childbirth)

I am currently pregnant and will be giving birth at home (in Uruguay) with midwives (I want to avoid all unnecessary hospital procedures such as continuous monitoring, pitocin, rupture of membranes, and have a maximum freedom during labor).

Up until recently, I was under the impression that my international health insurance would cover the birth, but we just discovered that it refuses to. So for the past week or so I have been running around from mutualista to mutualista to check their prices.

I don't need health insurance to cover the home birth (we are willing to pay for that) but to cover an eventual transfer to the hospital in case of complications and I only need insurance for one month as I will have my international health insurance for everything unrelated to the birth.

I have already checked out:

- The British hospital refuses me because I am past 20 weeks of pregnancy.

- Medica Uruguaya charges approx 16500 pesos for one month (because of the preexisting condition and a fee for the birth even if I don't come).

- Asociacion Espanola charges 800 pesos for one month if I don't show up for the birth and 25700 pesos if I show up for the birth.

- S.M.I. Sanatorio Impasa charges a pretty penny with 40700 pesos for 1+6 months of subscription minimum (large surtax because of the preexisting condition). Too bad as this was my second choice after the British hospital.

My midwives recommend I just go with the public health care system: ASSE.

For one because I will probably not need the service and therefor why pay a fortune for nothing. I agree but Asociacion Espanola is quite cheap if I don't end up using their services and even if I do, it still is reasonable.

For two because if I have to be transfered, they say the Pereira Rossell hospital will be more flexible in their procedures: my midwives will be able to have a word with the doctors/midwives from the hospital and continue playing a roll in the birth. They say that if I end up in the Espanola or Medica Uruguaya I will be at the mercy of whatever doctor is on call that day and my midwives won't be able to "intervene".

I guess I will be going with the ASSE, but I would like to know if anyone has any experience with the public system (ASSE or Pereira Rossell hospital).

How easy is it to "afiliarse" to the ASSE? Is it a convenient system?

Do you have any experience with the Pereira Rossell hospital (specifically for childbirth, but any experience is welcome)? Is it a competent hospital?

Thank you if you have read down to the bottom :)

Brittany

My nephew born with some complications and the hospital gave him all he and my sister needed while he was hospitalized.

Some people think public health it is crap but i think all depends on the doctors.

Ofcourse public health does not have many resources to buy the newest medical machines, but they are good anyway.

This hospital it is being remodelated on the past few years.

I hope this info can help you a bit.

Good luck!!

• Pereira Rossell Hospital

Hello Brittany:

I am a baby massage teacher and I'm in contact with and organisation in Uruguay who may be abale to help you.

It's call Instituto Perinatal del Uruguay , they will open the new birth centre in Uruguay in april, (Prado area)with birthding pool and only midwifes working there. A new concept for Uruguay!

I can put you in contact with them if you want and they can advice you better.

I am of the opinion that if you want your birth plan to be respect you should go for the public service Pereira Rossell otherwise you will end up with a C section even if it is no necessary.

The director of the Instituto is very aprouchable and she speaks perfect english , she lived in America for a couple of years.

Let me know if you want the deatils and I will be very happy to put you in contact with her.

oh and by the way congratulations on your pregnancy!

Graciela

I went to Centro Nacional de Afiliados on Cerro Largo with the necessary papers (cedula, constancia de domicilio and constancia de ingresos) and was out in 15 minutes with my ASSE card (wow).

They gave me a "Materno/infantil" type of card (the same as the regular, it just says "Materno/infantil" on it) which will expire 6 months after the delivery due date and they say that I'll have to come back then to get a regular card. Does this card entitle me to regular health care at the same title as someone with a regular card (I'd like to see a dermatologist for example)?

Graciela: I would love to get in touch with the Instituto Perinatal del Uruguay. Right now I am with the "Nacer Mejor" group of midwives, I don't plan on changing but I would love to see what a birthing center is like and talk about it. I am due at the very beginning of April, so I won't be able to go there anyway.

Thanks also for your opinion about not getting a C-section in the public service, it reassures me to believe I am making the right choice as backup. A C-section is really something that I would like to avoid as long as it is not truly necessary.

Brittany

Apparently the center owes it's opening to the US NGO "with women" who donated a great load of money for the initial phase of the center. The CMM will have one year to prove its results... so if you know any woman who might be interested: spread the word!

They will only accept low risk pregnancies of women in the public health care system (really straightforward to get if you're pregnant).

Two midwives will attend each birth which will take place in a room with a two-place bed, lots of pillows, a rope hanging from the ceiling to hold on to, a bathroom with a tub, a dresser to put all your personal belongings...

I think that the opening of this birth center is really great and it's a advanced and brave step for Uruguay where C-sections in the mutualistas are at an overwhelming 35-40% rate (I'm not sure but only something like 15-20% in the public health system in Montevideo and 10-12% in the interior).

• Se inaugura el Centro de Maternidad Montevideo

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