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Holistic Options and Postpartum healing (Plus some useful Portuguese words and phrases) Midwife-Led Care This is very common in Portugal. Parteiras or Enfermeiras Especialistas (midwives) are the primary care providers for low-risk women during labor and delivery, especially in public hospitals. There is little to no need to advocate for a midwife, as they will most likely be provided for you. A doctor will typically only be present if there are complications or the pregnancy

Paperwork and Labor & Delivery Hospital Bag Documents When you go into labor, the last thing you want to think about is documents, so make sure you prep early and have all these ready for when you head to the hospital or birthing facility. Keep them in a clear, labeled folder in your hospital bag. But keep them with a trusted individual like a birth partner or doula. Do not let them leave your room. Medical Documents Document Purpose Notes Boletim de Saúde da Grávida (BSG) Yo

Healthcare System and Prenatal Care Decoding Portuguese Healthcare Two Paths: SNS vs. Private In Portugal, there are two options when it comes to healthcare. You can enroll in public health care, Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), or private healthcare. Public Health Care is available to all residents of Portugal. EU citizens can access services through the European Health Insurance Card, or you can register for SNS once you become a resident. If you are not an EU citizen, you

Our bodies were made to give birth, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy task. Giving birth is often compared to running a marathon, and if...

There are a lot of options when it comes to hiring a doula, but since every birth is unique, it's possible to find a doula that’s the...

Part 1: Sweden In addition to friendly people, wonderful pastries, and all the snow you could ask for, Sweden also boasts one of the lowest maternal mortality rates in the world. While this could be due to many things, one of the main reasons is their commitment to research into reproductive health and their ability to integrate evidence based interventions into practice. Along with this, they have a commitment to maintaining bodily autonomy for their patients and centering t

The postpartum period is full of life changes. Not only has your entire way of life altered until it is almost unrecognizable, your body...

What is a doula? A doula is a professional trained in perinatal health who provides emotional, physical, and educational support through...

1. Health insurance If you already have international health insurance, check and make sure your policy covers pregnancy and birth. If...