Birth in Cyprus - Larnaca General Hospital

Today I am sharing Lisa's story with you,   Lisa had her first baby here in Cyprus in the General hospital in Larnaca after being told it was very unlikely that she would be able to have a baby.

I'll hand you over....

I wanted to share my experience with you as it was excellent and a wonderful experience.

I am British and have lived in Cyprus for 6 years. Firstly I want to tell you that in UK they told me it was very unlikely that I would ever have a child due to having poly cystic ovarian syndrome, and they never offered any help or advice. Here I went to Larnaca general hospital and my first appointment was with a specialist and was within a month of making the appointment. They were never negative like in the UK and for the first time in years I had hope.

So here are my comments for you.

  

Did you have your baby in a private clinic or in the general hospital? – Larnaca general

How much did it cost? – Nothing as I have a medical card

Would you do the same again? – Definitely yes would never go to a private clinic.

What was the antenatal care like? Were you happy with it? The care was wonderful offering a scan every visit (my first at 5 weeks) which I found reassuring as I had had a miscarriage prior and every appointment was with the doctor, I know this service is not offered in UK as my aunt is a midwife. Sometimes the wait was long for appointment but you wait everywhere is Cyprus don’t you, I just took a book. And I was never rushed by the doctor he had all the time in the world for me and sat and answered all my questions. My mom came to all of my appointments after 10 weeks and the doctor was even happy to answer her questions and showed her what the scans was a I remember the first time she came she was so excited and the doctor put the heart beat on the monitor and she was overjoyed. Oh and monthly appointments are standard up until about 7ish months and they get to every 2 weeks then down to weekly.

What do you wish you had known about having a baby here beforehand? That they do not believe in gas and air here or epidural unless it for a C section.

Did you have a c-section or natural birth? Was that your choice? Was planning on having a natural birth but ended up having a C sections baby was breach but it was fine.

Did you have any pain relief? What was available to you? I was upset at first as thought I would be put to sleep but turned out that I was offered a epidural as a preferred method as I was over weight and with high blood pressure. I never felt a thing and the staff were all lovely. Had 2 senior doctors with me who talked to me and sang to me the whole way through. All the staff was great and keep me informed in English the whole way through.

Did you have a birth partner? My partner was going to be there if natural but they do not allow it if a C Section, but he came to hospital at 7am as I was going down at 7.30am and was allowed to wait.

How long did you stay in hospital after birth? What was it like? 1 week it was ok has had a room to my self but it was holiday week in August so not that busy as not many scheduled ops that week.

Were you spoken to in English or Greek? English, I have to say that I was always polite to the staff and they treated me the same back. Courteous and manners goes a long way with them. (I have witnessed non Cypriots with little or no manners towards the staff be treated a bit harsh but they deserved it)

If you have had a baby here and abroad how did the experiences differ? What were the positive and negative aspects of each country? And where would you choose if you were to do it again? Never had a baby in UK but I ever did it again it would be here as I have compared my experience with my aunt and I’m sure I was better off here.

Anything else you’d like to add? I had no idea what I was supposed to do with this little baby but the midwives helped me all the way and no questions was considered wrong or silly. They are happy to leave you to look after the baby and be there to help when needed and they never moaned or groaned when I pressed my buzzer.

If you work here as well you are entitled to your maternity leave, a birth grant and family allowance. I even found my experience with the social security office Ok and easy but I never went to the main office so maybe that why it was better.

Overall it was a wonderful experience.

To see all the other stories so far.....visit my Pregnancy and Birth in Cyprus page