Your journey, your choices, our support.
Giving birth in Barcelona
When giving birth in Barcelona we are faced with the following options: public hospital, private hospital, a birth center, or at home.
Public hospital
If you are a Spanish citizen or a resident in Spain, you have access to the public healthcare system, which ensures a comprehensive maternity care under the supervision of midwives and doctors, at no cost. If you are not a resident, but have an EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card) you are also covered at no extra cost.
The antenatal care in the public system involves a minimum of three ultrasound scans (and potentially a 3D scan, if you request it), regular blood tests, medical checkups and consultations with a midwife. These will be done at your nearest ASSIR (Asistencia a la Salud Sexual y Reproductiva, Sexual and Reproductive Health Care) linked to your CAP (Centro de Asistencia Primaria, or Primary Care Center) and the hospital associated with that CAP.
In the public system, you don’t choose the team of professionals for your care. Depending on the area you are in, the midwives you meet at the CAP might also be present during the birth at the hospital. Moreover, there are more protocols in place for a natural birth in public hospitals.
If, for whatever reason, you don’t want to give birth in the hospital associated with your CAP, you can choose a different one anywhere in the metropolitan area.
These four hospitals offer ob/gyn and maternity care in Barcelona, although not all of them allow doulas to be present during the birth.
Hospital Clinic (La maternitat)
Hospital Vall d’Hebron
Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
Hospital del Mar
Technically outside of Barcelona, the Hospital Sant Joan de Deu is well known for its neonatal and pediatric units.
Private hospital
To give birth at a private hospital or clinic, one must have private insurance, usually several months before becoming pregnant, but it's not necessary to be a resident of Spain.
Through the private system, one chooses their team (midwive(s) and gynecologists) and the appointments will likely be in the same center as the birth.
In the private system, you get a more “a la carte” treatment, which usually includes monthly sonograms, a 3D scan, blood work and medical checkups. In case of urgency, you will be referred to a public hospital, as private clinics usually don’t have the means to tackle situations of risk.
The level of care in private hospitals tends to be more personalized, the rooms bigger and test results usually arrive quicker than in the public system. However, there is a higher prevalence of C-sections in private centers.
Private centers in Barcelona include QuironSalud (Dexeus, Sagrat Cor, QuironSalud), Corachan, and Hospital de Barcelona.
Birth center
Although there are none in the city, birth centers provide an alternative setting for childbirth, aiming to facilitate a more "natural" birthing experience compared to hospitals. These centers strive to cultivate an intimate atmosphere while ensuring access to necessary materials and personnel.
There is only one such center in the Barcelona region, that is independent, the Casa de Naixements Migjorn (approximately 45 minute drive from the city).
There is only one public hospital (Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol (Can Ruti)), that offers a birthing center attached to the maternity ward. These spaces are designed to be more comfortable and intimate than a regular delivery room.
At home birth
An option that is becoming increasingly popular in Spain is to give birth at home, accompanied by independent midwives and your doula. This is not covered by social security, although some private insurance providers do cover some or all the costs.
The pregnancy care is the same as above, although everything is prepared so the birth can happen at home. This is only an option for pregnancies deemed low risk.
Your journey, your choices, our support.
When giving birth in Barcelona we are faced with the following options: public hospital, private hospital, a birth center, or at home.
Public hospital
If you are a Spanish citizen or a resident in Spain, you have access to the public healthcare system, which ensures a comprehensive maternity care under the supervision of midwives and doctors, at no cost. If you are not a resident, but have an EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card) you are also covered at no extra cost.
The antenatal care in the public system involves a minimum of three ultrasound scans (and potentially a 3D scan, if you request it), regular blood tests, medical checkups and consultations with a midwife. These will be done at your nearest ASSIR (Asistencia a la Salud Sexual y Reproductiva, Sexual and Reproductive Health Care) linked to your CAP (Centro de Asistencia Primaria, or Primary Care Center) and the hospital associated with that CAP.
In the public system, you don’t choose the team of professionals for your care. Depending on the area you are in, the midwives you meet at the CAP might also be present during the birth at the hospital. Moreover, there are more protocols in place for a natural birth in public hospitals.
If, for whatever reason, you don’t want to give birth in the hospital associated with your CAP, you can choose a different one anywhere in the metropolitan area.
These four hospitals offer ob/gyn and maternity care in Barcelona, although not all of them allow doulas to be present during the birth.
Hospital Clinic (La maternitat)
Hospital Vall d’Hebron
Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau
Hospital del Mar
Technically outside of Barcelona, the Hospital Sant Joan de Deu is well known for its neonatal and pediatric units.
Private hospital
To give birth at a private hospital or clinic, one must have private insurance, usually several months before becoming pregnant, but it's not necessary to be a resident of Spain.
Through the private system, one chooses their team (midwive(s) and gynecologists) and the appointments will likely be in the same center as the birth.
In the private system, you get a more “a la carte” treatment, which usually includes monthly sonograms, a 3D scan, blood work and medical checkups. In case of urgency, you will be referred to a public hospital, as private clinics usually don’t have the means to tackle situations of risk.
The level of care in private hospitals tends to be more personalized, the rooms bigger and test results usually arrive quicker than in the public system. However, there is a higher prevalence of C-sections in private centers.
Private centers in Barcelona include QuironSalud (Dexeus, Sagrat Cor, QuironSalud), Corachan, and Hospital de Barcelona.
Birth center
Although there are none in the city, birth centers provide an alternative setting for childbirth, aiming to facilitate a more "natural" birthing experience compared to hospitals. These centers strive to cultivate an intimate atmosphere while ensuring access to necessary materials and personnel.
There is only one such center in the Barcelona region, that is independent, the Casa de Naixements Migjorn (approximately 45 minute drive from the city).
There is only one public hospital (Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol (Can Ruti)), that offers a birthing center attached to the maternity ward. These spaces are designed to be more comfortable and intimate than a regular delivery room.
At home birth
An option that is becoming increasingly popular in Spain is to give birth at home, accompanied by independent midwives and your doula. This is not covered by social security, although some private insurance providers do cover some or all the costs.
The pregnancy care is the same as above, although everything is prepared so the birth can happen at home. This is only an option for pregnancies deemed low risk.
Your journey, your choices, our support.
