Birth and newborn care

It is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. After reading, you will know where and how birth works, what happens to your baby in the first days and what care you get afterwards.

Start with "Choosing where to give birth in Spain". It explains how hospitals are assigned, what choice you have and which birth settings are open to you. The other pages follow the order you will meet things: the hospital stay, costs, newborn tests, your baby's handover to primary care, your recovery, and feeding.

Registering the birth, your baby's nationality, mental health after birth and insurance waiting periods are not covered here.

Key rules

• Public birth cost: Birth, epidural and the standard hospital stay are free in the public system for those entitled to it.
• First baby check: The baby's first check at the health centre happens in the first week of life, usually within 48 to 72 hours of discharge.
• Heel-prick test: The heel-prick test is done 48 to 72 hours after birth, once feeding has started.
• Postpartum check: The mother's postpartum check-up is usually around 6 weeks after the birth.
• Default hospital: In the public system you are assigned the hospital for your health area, based on where you are registered.
• Free choice: Whether you can pick another public hospital depends on your region, and the hospital can refuse.

Birth and newborn care: the whole process, step by step

• Register on the padrón at your town hall, then get your health card at the health centre: As soon as you know you are pregnant; undocumented newcomers usually need 3 months of residence, but pregnancy care is not refused. Read: Choosing where to give birth in Spain

• Meet your midwife (matrona) and GP, who refer you to your area hospital: At the first pregnancy visits, usually in the first trimester.

• Ask to change hospital, where your region allows choice: Early in pregnancy, well before the third trimester.

• If you have private insurance, check that your birth cover has started: Birth cover typically starts after a waiting period of 8 months, sometimes up to 10 months. Read: What having a baby in Spain costs, public and private

• Go to the hospital in labour: When contractions come about every 5 minutes for an hour and are strong, or sooner if your waters break or you have bleeding. Read: Giving birth in a Spanish hospital: what to expect

• Stay in hospital after the birth: About 2 days after an uncomplicated vaginal birth, and 3 to 4 days after a caesarean.

• Baby's heel-prick and hearing tests: Heel-prick 48 to 72 hours after birth; hearing screening before discharge. Read: Your newborn's first days: screening tests and discharge

• Collect discharge reports and birth registration paperwork: At discharge. Read: Your baby's handover from maternity ward to primary care

• First baby check at the health centre: In the first week of life, usually within 48 to 72 hours of discharge.

• First midwife visit, then a second visit: First visit in the first week after discharge, second around 2 to 4 weeks. Read: Postnatal care for the mother: midwife visits, check-ups and pelvic floor

• Your postpartum check-up: Around 6 weeks after the birth. Read: Postnatal care for the mother: midwife visits, check-ups and pelvic floor

• Start solid foods: At about 6 months, never before 4 months. Read: Baby vitamins and starting solids the Spanish way

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• A padrón certificate — What having a baby in Spain costs, public and private, Your baby's handover from maternity ward to primary care
• Photo ID — Choosing where to give birth in Spain

The home and the lease

• Proof of address — Choosing where to give birth in Spain
• Signed contract of the private hospital's birth package — What having a baby in Spain costs, public and private

Other documents

• Your health card
• Your discharge report — Your newborn's first days: screening tests and discharge, Your baby's handover from maternity ward to primary care
• The hospital choice request form — Choosing where to give birth in Spain
• The family book or birth certificate — Your baby's handover from maternity ward to primary care
• Proof of your public health coverage — Your baby's handover from maternity ward to primary care

Birth and newborn care: questions that cross several articles

Can I get free birth care if I have just arrived and am not yet registered?

Yes, a pregnant woman is entitled to pregnancy, birth and postpartum care whatever her administrative status. Registering on the padrón and getting your health card is still the first step, and offices apply the paperwork differently by region.

Which hospital will I give birth in, and can I change it?

You are normally assigned the hospital of your health area, based on the health centre where you are registered. Some regions allow you to choose another hospital if it has capacity and your pregnancy is not high-risk, so ask your midwife early.

Which papers do I get at discharge, and what do I do with them?

You normally get a discharge report for you and one for the baby, plus screening information and the birth declaration paperwork for the civil registry. Take them to the baby's first check at the health centre.

Which checks come after we go home, and who does them?

The baby has a first check at the health centre in the first week of life, usually within 48 to 72 hours of discharge. The midwife visits you in the first week and does your postpartum check-up around 6 weeks after the birth. Read Your baby's handover from maternity ward to primary care and Postnatal care for the mother: midwife visits, check-ups and pelvic floor.