My Top 10 Tips for giving birth in Spain

1) Not many hospitals offer antenatal classes but they really are worth seeking out privately if this is the case for you. There are a number of independent midwives offering classes throughout Spain. You can either join a group class or in some cases have private sessions. I didn’t have any and I do regret this, not just for me but also for my partner who didn’t have a clue on the day! www.mumsinspain.com


2) If you are planning to breastfeed try to find as much support as possible. Hospital staff do encourage you to breastfeed but most do not offer anything in terms of help or advice. It is possible that you have a La Leche League group in your area who could give good advice, or if you have used a midwife for antenatal classes they could offer some support. Failing that talk to some experienced breastfeeding mums. www.mumsinspain.com

3) There is a high caesarian rate in Spain, particularly private hospitals. It is best to be prepared for this just incase by reading up a little about them and what expect. Your hospital stay will be longer than a natural delivery which is normally one over night stay, with caesarian it is up to 5 days and you should expect to find it difficult to move around for approx 2 weeks afterwards. This is worse case scenario but it is better to be prepared. Even if you do have a natural delivery it would pay to plan to have help when you come home.
There is little in way of support in the hospital after delivery and nothing when you come home, no health visitor system like in the UK, so someone to help with the house or younger siblings would be a great help, and possibly a home visit from a local independent midwife to check you and baby are well and coping. www.mumsinspain.com

4) It will save a lot of stress if you could make sure you know how to go about registering your baby before their arrival so that neither you or your partner are panicking after the baby has arrived wondering how to go about it. Locate your local civil registry office and find out a little bit about the process and what papers you will need to take. There is a time limit on registering your baby.

5) Don’t be afraid to ask questions from your Obstetrician or primary care giver. If a tour of the delivery suite is available request one. It might seem scary when you see it for the first time but it really doesn’t look the same way to you when you are in labour! My hospital didn’t offer me a tour but I did ask for one and they were glad to accommodate. I was horrified afterwards but it all looked a lot more welcoming on the day!

6) Do take anything that could make your labour more comfortable, i.e. a pillow, comfy T-shirt, birthing ball. Most hospitals will not offer much in the way of “comforts” so better to be prepared. I did pack CDs with me but I didn’t listen to any of them, but at least I had them incase. A big pillow or cushion would have been great to kneel on or lean against though with those hard marble floors! A birthing ball even better! I would include a good supportive birthing partner in my list of comforts too!
If you are planning to breastfeed perhaps take a breastfeeding pillow with you as the hospital beds can be uncomfortable and awkward to get a good position in, especially post-caesarian.

7) Pack a coming home outfit for your baby, but hospitals tend to provide everything for the baby including blankets, baby-gros, nappies, hats, etc. Do check with your hospital first if you are not sure. You will need some stuff for yourself though like breastpads, nursing bra, disposable pants and a nightdress that you can feed from easily as hospital robes are not practical for this, as well as maternity pads, although the hospital can provide you with these during your stay. Better to pack a couple of days worth of everything just incase your stay in hospital is a little longer than expected.

8) Never be afraid to ask for help or feel intimidated by any language barrier. If you aren’t sure of something get your partner to find someone who can understand you, there is sure to be at least one person who can speak a little English.

9) Speak to other mums about their own experiences and learn about what you can expect of your hospital care, etc. Do remember though that everyone’s birth experience is different, even within the same hospitals. Horror stories do the rounds wherever you live. Talk to as many different mums as possible and get a balanced view. www.mumsinspain.com

10) Keep an open mind! Giving birth may well be a different experience in Spain compared to the UK for example, but different doesn’t necessarily mean worse.

Good luck! You’ll be fine

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New Spanish School Year

The new school year is one week away and lots of little ones will be taking a very grown up step forward with their first day at big school. You can send your little one from the age of three over here, although legally it is not compulsory until they are six. It seems such a tiny age to send them off, but the hours are 9 til 2 which is the same as lots of children are spending at nursery anyway and the structure of the day is very much preschool, so plenty of learning through play. Here is a really comprehensive article about the school system in Spain which you might find useful:

Spain's state-funded school system (escuela pública) is supported by a comprehensive network
of private schools (escuelas privadas), including many foreign and international schools. Around one third of Spain's schoolchildren attend private schools, most of which are co -educational day schools.
State education is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and Science (Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia), although authority can be delegated to regional governments. Of the 17
autonomous regions, seven (Andalusia, the Basque Lands, the Canary Islands, Catalonia, Galicia, Navarre and Valencia) have responsibility for their own education system (including higher education). State education is free but parents must usually pay for school books (which are expensive, although they are provided free in certain cases), school supplies, and extra curricular activities such as sports and arts and crafts. Pupils usually go to local village (pueblo) nursery and primary schools, although attending secondary school may entail travelling long distances (buses are provided). Compulsory education (escolaridad obligatoria), termed the basic general education (Educación General Básica/EGB), begins at six years of age in a primary school (escuela primaria) and lasts for eight years. At the age of 14 (equivalent to eighth grade) pupils receive a school -leaving certificate, which determines the course of their future education. Those with high marks are awarded a título de graduado escolar certificate and attend a higher secondary school to study for their baccalaureate (bachillerato). Less academically gifted pupils are awarded a school certificate (certificado de escolaridad) and attend a vocational school (formación profesional) providing specialized training for a specific career.

Enrolment
The normal registration period is in May for the following September, and is usually done at the
local town hall (or sometimes by applying directly to a school). Enrolment in a Spanish school requires an interview and in rare cases an examination. New arrivals in Spain must have their children's education record officially verified through a process known as homologation (homologación) or validation. This is an expensive and lengthy process involving the confirmation of credits and marks for each year of schooling. It can be very expensive, e.g. 300 € to 1200 €, depending on the number of years to be validated. Without the necessary paperwork a child won't be accepted at a state school, irrespective of his qualifications (foreign qualifications such as the British GCSE aren't recognized in Spain). If possible, this process should be completed before arriving in Spain, as a child may not be accepted at a school until the official papers (confirming validation) have been received and stamped by the Spanish Department of Education. In Spain, children must attend a state school within a certain distance of their home, so if you have a preference for a particular school, it's important to buy or rent a home within that school catchment's area. Town halls and provincial Ministry of Education offices can provide a list of local schools at all levels. To enrol a child in a Spanish school you must provide your town hall with the following documents:
your child's birth certificate or passport, with an official Spanish translation (if necessary); The academic year in Spain runs from the first week in September to the end of June, with the main holidays at Christmas, Easter and the long summer break. School hours vary depending on the particular school and are usually from 0900 until 1600 with a one hour break for lunch, although an increasing number of schools don't have a lunch break and finish classes for the day at 1400. Lessons are usually divided into teaching periods of 45 minutes. State schools and communities usually provide an after school nursery (guardería) for working mothers.

Spanish school children have long school holidays (vacaciones escolares) compared with many other countries. School terms are fixed and are generally the same throughout the country, although they may be modified in autonomous regions to take account of local circumstances and special events (such as local fiestas). The school year is made up of three terms, each averaging around 11 weeks.

School holiday dates are published by schools and local communities well in advance, thus allowing parents plenty of time to schedule family holidays during the school holidays.

Pre-school education (Educaciòn Infantil)
Spain has a long tradition of state-funded pre-school (preescuelar), with over 90 per cent of children aged four or five attending for at least one year before starting compulsory schooling.
The term pre-school embraces play school, nursery school (guardería), kindergarten (jardín de la infancia) and infant school (escuela infantil).

Under the LOGSE reforms, pre-school education is divided into two cycles; cycle one (ciclo 1º) for ages one to three and cycle two (ciclo 2º) for ages four to six. Attendance is voluntary and ree in public centers in many areas until the age of 5. The obligatory age for starting school is 5 years old.In addition to state-funded schools, there are also many private fee-paying nursery schools,
usually taking children aged from two to six, some of which are an integral part of a larger primary school. Arrangements are generally flexible and parents can choose attendance during
mornings or afternoons, all day, or on selected days only. Many schools provide transport to and from homes. Fees are generally low and schools are popular, well-organized and good value for money.

Children learn about social, personal and environmental values, as well as developing their
physical and mental skills. During the final years of nursery school, the rudiments of reading,
writing, English and arithmetic are taught in preparation for primary school.
Nursery school is highly recommended, particularly if your children are going to continue with a
state education. After one or two years of nursery school they will be integrated into the local
community and will have learnt Spanish in preparation for primary school.

Primary schools (Educaciòn Primaria)
At six, children move to primary school. It last for 6 years and is divided into 3 cylces. Pupils will
study Spanish language, Maths, Conocimiento del Medio (include biology, history, geography...), a second language, art and physical education. In addition most of them will study religion.
Although State education is free, parents will still have to buy books, material and pay for extra
activities.

Secondary Education schools (El Instituto)
At age 12, children progress to Secondary school. The first 4 years are called ESO (Educaciòn Secondaria Obligatoria) and children can leave the education system at the end of this section (or at the age of 16). The EsO is divided into 2 cycles of 2 years each (with the possibility of repeating the first year)
At the end of the 4 years, students will obtain a certificate. For most of the students who choose
to stay at school, they will then follow a 2 years Bachillerato academic course. There are 4 types of Bachillerato: Arts, Humanities, Natural and Health Sciences and Technology. At the end of the 2 years students will stand examinations during the monthj of May and the final result will be based both on results and continuous assessment.

University
In June, students who wish to go to University take a general University entrance examination
(PAU) and the courses they will be able to follow depends on that examination and the result of the Bachillerato. Students may take as long as necessary to complete their degree, repeating courses and spreading out examinations over years.

InformationAEEA - Andalusian Association of Spanish Schools for Foreigners - Marbella, Spain Nathalie
Boone Ctra Nacional 340, km 189, 6 Marbela, Malaga 29600 - Spain
http://www.aeea.es/

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Outdoor play

I had a friend visiting from London last weekend, escaping the non-existent UK Summer! We had a nice lunch before she left at the Kempinski Hotel, down in their garden restaurant alongside the beach. They had a great little playground area all enclosed with a picket fence for little ones so we popped down there when we had finished eating.

Charlie had such a great time on the slide and see-saw and as I looked at him it occurred to me how fortunate both of us are be here. There he was having fun in the sun with palm trees behind him and lots of fresh air. It can be all too easy to get caught up with the negatives sometimes, but ultimately this is a great place to raise a child for so many reasons and this is just one of them.

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New Spanish online store - www.indybel.com

A new online store for pregnancy and baby in Spain has just been launched! Indybel specialise in British and International pregnancy and baby products as well as innovative and organic products for pregnancy, birth and beyond … and it is owned and run by two Mums who met on MumsinSpain.com! How great is that. Please support Sam and Lesley by checking out their website http://www.indybel.com/

The story of Indybel

Indybel was set up by Sam and Lesley who met last summer via mumsinspain! Here is their story in their own words. “Firstly it has to be said that our company Indybel would never have existed without mumsinspain.com! Our daughters are roughly the same age and we live near each other, and so via Claire’s website we became friends and baby confidents. A while after we met we found that a lot of our conversations were taken up with moans and groans about baby products we wanted to buy but couldn’t find here in Spain. We both relied heavily on friends and family bringing things over from the UK and we knew many others here who were in the same situation. That was October 2007 now nearly 11 months later http://www.indybel.com/ (named after our daughters India and Isabella) is finally here! Starting a business with two small (often grumpy) toddlers in tow has not been easy! In fact as they have got older it has become more difficult as our girls need more entertaining and we need more time to work. We have found working with babies to be a completely unpredictable experience, one day they’ll happily play together for hours on end, needing hardly any attention and we can sit at the laptop and smile over at our wonderful daughters, the next they act as if they can’t stand each other and cling to our ankles as if we were the meanest, least affectionate mums in the world. At times like these it’s almost impossible to work properly and we have come to realise that starting a business in Spain is all the harder because often there is less extended family around to support you and those that are here work full time. Aside from the complexities of actually setting up an SL company our main challenges have included the logo design, website design and deciding what we can afford to sell as opposed to what we would really like to sell! Choosing products has been really exciting. We started off with a wish list and changed our minds about a lot of products which were either too expensive and we felt wouldn’t sell, or weren’t quite what we were looking for. We have always been very clear about our aim, which is to offer the types of products that we have found we have needed over the last 18 months but just couldn’t find here in Spain, as well as a good organic range. As our babies grow we find there are more things we need ourselves and so we are adding products with experience! ( right now we are going through toilet training! ) We went to the Baby Show in London last year and found some brilliant new products and Lesley ( while pregnant with number 2 !) has managed to find the time and energy to pop over to Thailand twice to source manufacturers, suppliers and products for our own brand items! We are hoping to visit two more UK trade shows this October in order to continue to be able to offer the most up to date, exciting and innovative products on the site. There is so much still to do and most of our days are spent juggling babies, emails, meetings and whenever possible grabbing just a few minutes here and there researching on the net. But despite the sleepless nights, having to take our babies to meetings, working into the small hours once they are sleeping and the ongoing fear it could all be a huge disaster and we might be bankrupt this time next year, it’s been so exciting to launch our business and right now, we wouldn’t change a thing!!” Sam and Lesley

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Hard Spanish Surfaces

I remember when Charlie started to crawl at the very early age of 5 months that I was quite concerned about how his little knees and legs would find the hard floors that are so common in Spain. We have marble in our house and I had always assumed that would only be a concern when he started to walk, but of course crawling brings with it its own problems. Although Charlie's knees seemed to be fine, apart from the odd bruise from crawling over door frames some children do suffer. I did come across a rather unique product sometime ago for crawling babies, have a look at this:
http://www.bayon.es/cart.php?action=detalle&idp=3283&idSEC=48&categoria=&subcategoria=&inicio=0
what will they think up next! But I am sure it does help protect little ones.

If anything I found that the marble assisted Charlie crawling as he had less resistance than he would with a carpet, and certainly moved a lot faster! Good for him, not so great for me!!!

I made good use of those sponge squares that you can buy in packs on most supermarkets or toy stores. We used these are doorways where there was step or change of level so if he fell he had a soft landing, as well as simply setting out a big square in the room with his toys which was a little padded. They were great and inexpensive. The best things generally are!
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Looking for a mother and toddler group?

Looking for a group to go to with your baby or toddler in your area of Spain? We have lots of information on the site posted by myself and other members. From baby massage to yoga, straight forward mother and baby groups to singing and dancing!

http://mumsinspain.com/forum/index.php?c=11
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NEXT comes to Spain!

For those of you who miss shopping at NEXT, I have just come across www.nextdirectory.eu You can order all your childrens clothes, maternity wear and even buy something for the hubby if you like and they deliver to Spain for just 7.50 euros!! Hooray!
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Freecycle

The Freecycle Network™ is made up of 4,557 groups with 5,525,000 members across the globe. It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them's good people). Membership is free. www.freecycle.org Lo and behold, we have a group in Fuengirola!!
Fab site, and the more members we have, the better it becomes!
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