Midwifery Today Community

I'll be having my baby in early April 2013(at least that's when our due date is).We are living in Florence, Italy and I am having a very hard time finding a midwife here. I would love to have an English speaking midwife as well(though I do speak Italian well- English is my first language!). Let me know if you or any other resources you may have could possibly help. Thanks!

Hi Kristina,

I know that there used to be a couple of midwives in Florence that spoke English. But if you are looking for a mother tongue English speaker, you would have to look for a foreign midwife. You could either in this case hire a travelling midwife from the States or Canada (me!) or you look look for a British midwife who lives in Italy (I know of two).

What is your story - where are you from, is this your first child? Where are you in Florence ie, in town or not?

Hope that helps - please let me know if you want more info,

Be well,

Rivka

Hi Rivka,

Thanks so much for your quick response! Here is a little background: I am from California. This is our first child. I'm 32 years old and in great health. Everything has gone very well in my pregnancy. All of my tests are normal (blood, urine, Ultra sound etc.) I am 15 min. outside of Florence in the country. I want to do everything naturally as I know my body and I are capable of this. I would love to deliver in a birthing center(although, I have toyed with the idea of a home birth) as I am wary of hospitals. 

I think that the main issue would be that whomever I hire(you or someone else) must speak English AND Italian because if I do have to deliver in the hospital, I want them to be able to converse with the OB's. I want my midwife to be on the same page as me and be able to convey my birth plan to them. I am pretty sure that I will have to break quite a few rules there(for example, I don't want to cut the cord right away etc.) and I don't want to feel alone in discussing all of this with them, especially when I am trying to focus on delivering a baby!

So, this is where I'm at. Let's talk further to discuss possibilities.

Talk soon,

Kristina

Hi Kristina,

Please email me privately at montrealdoula@yahoo.com

Hi Kristina,

I hope you have had a good holiday season. 

I would be very interested in talking to you about your options. I am fluent in Italian and have experience with the Italian hospital system. Are you thinking about a home birth? Have you found a midwife yet?

We lived in Fiesole for a couple of years before moving to Umbria - are you that side of Florence?

Hoping to hear from you soon,

Be well,

Rivka

Hi Majikfairie,

I currently work as an Independent midwife in the UK but will be available for travel from October 2013. Would love to hear more about your current experiences. Which countries have you been to? What was it like? Greetings

Wish I could help you Kristina but am fully booked in April. wishing you well in finding the right support for this birth. Anja

Hello Kristina,

Have you found a midwife in the mean time?

I am a homebirth midwife in Germany and I'm free to travel around the time you are due, but I do not speak Italian.

Best regards to you and everybody else on here - hi, Anja!! -

Nina