An Expat Talks about What is Was Like Having a Baby in Dundalk, Ireland

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Dundalk

How recently did you give birth in the country that you are reporting on?

2 months

Describe your experience giving birth there. What type of facility did you go to? What (if any) type of pain management did you use? How long did you stay in the hospital? Was it a positive experience? Etc...

I had a home birth, which is not at all common in Ireland, but is starting to be more supported and welcomed. I used homeopathic remedies and had a natural birth, which is definitely the way to go! I had first blood tests and scan in the hospital as a "public" patient (free.)

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How did you choose your doctor, midwife or other type of medical professional?

I found my independent midwife on the home birth association webpage, where you can also read our birth story. http://www.homebirth.ie/homebirthassociationofireland.htm

Each midwife has a pretty steep fee. Our regional health board reimbursed about a third and our health insurance would have covered nearly all if we had been insured for longer than 1 year at the time of his birth. (We missed it by two months...)

If you were to have another child in this country, would you do anything differently in terms of preparation and/or the delivery?

I would make sure the health insurance were in place to pay for it!

If a friend of yours living in the same country were expecting a baby, what advice would you give her?

Ask loads of questions and don't be satisfied until you have all the answers you need. Switch GPs if yours doesn't see eye to eye. Stay relaxed and in a calm state of mind and you will be grand.