Blog · 2024-09-21

Giving birth in Argentina: a first-hand account

Our client Maria recently obtained Argentine citizenship in just eight months with Murblz. Parents whose child is born on Argentine soil can qualify this quickly: the baby becomes Argentine at once under birthright citizenship. Maria shared her impressions of giving birth in the country with Murblz. We asked her to explain how Argentina's medical system works, what expectant parents need to know, and the particulars and nuances worth keeping in mind for anyone considering giving birth abroad. First-hand stories are a genuine gift for mothers-to-be who worry about delivering in another country. We hope our client's experience will serve as a useful guide.

When I first started planning my pregnancy, it never crossed my mind that I would give birth in Argentina - let alone that the experience would become not only a deeply personal milestone but also an incredible adventure. Perhaps my account will be useful to anyone thinking about giving birth abroad.

First steps: the Argentine healthcare system

Argentina has two medical systems, one public and free, the other private and paid. The free system is open to absolutely everyone, from locals to tourists. If an emergency arises - say, you go into labor at the airport - you can head straight to the nearest public clinic and be treated without any questions. But since I wanted more comfortable conditions, I chose the private system, which, to my surprise, turned out to be quite affordable. A single prenatal appointment, for instance, cost only around 20 dollars. That is a striking difference compared with prices in Europe, where such visits can run up to 130 euros.

The birth, cesarean section included, cost us roughly 3,500 dollars. For that sum I got a luxurious two-room suite with a lovely view, a sofa my husband could sleep on, and every possible amenity. In Europe or Russia, conditions like these would have cost significantly more.

Choosing a doctor

Choosing a doctor was an important part of preparing for the birth in Argentina. I decided right away that I wanted a female doctor who spoke fluent English, since I did not want to bring an interpreter. Choosing the doctor is crucial, because this is the person who will guide you through the entire pregnancy and deliver your baby. In Argentina, doctors have arrangements with several clinics, and you can pick one of them for the birth.

Interestingly, doctors in Argentina essentially rent clinics for deliveries. It works rather like a hotel: you choose your doctor, and the doctor tells you which clinics they work in. I found this a little unusual, but in the end I selected one of the most popular clinics and signed a contract with it.

Preparing for the birth: minimal bureaucracy

Another pleasant surprise: to give birth in Argentina, you don't need to arrange complicated documents, permits, or insurance in advance. All you need is your passport. Even at the maternity hospital entrance, no one will demand a stack of paperwork - your passport and your partner's passport are enough.

The one odd moment: as soon as you arrive at the hospital, they immediately ask for the baby's name. This can catch you off guard, especially if you haven't settled on a name yet, or if the baby's sex turned out to be a surprise.

Choosing the type of birth and the doctors' attitude

There's a myth that Argentina pushes women toward cesarean sections. In reality, the choice of delivery method here depends solely on medical indications and your own wishes. I found that doctors are highly respectful of the patient's preferences, and if you want a natural birth, they will do everything to support that decision.

In Argentina it is simply assumed that your partner will be present at the birth. This is treated as the norm, and it raises eyebrows if the partner does not plan to attend. If your doctor doesn't speak English, you can bring an interpreter, but I'm very glad I found an English-speaking specialist and spared myself the extra stress.

Pain relief and the difference between private and public births

When it comes to pain relief, private clinics give you options - you can request an epidural, for example. That is a major difference from the public system, where such a choice isn't offered and you receive a standard set of services. As for the doctors, the same specialists work in both public and private clinics. But at a public clinic you can't choose your doctor: whoever is on shift will deliver your baby. For me this was critical - I wanted to know my doctor and be confident that they understood me.

Another significant difference between private and public births is the postpartum conditions. In public clinics the rooms are usually shared, so besides you there will be several other new mothers with their families. It was important to me to recover in peace after the birth, without other people around, so I chose private care. Quiet and personal space mattered to me most of all.

After the birth: care and support

After delivery the baby always stays with the parents in the room, except for the brief time it is taken away for checkups. In Argentina great importance is placed on the so-called "golden hour" - the time when the newborn is placed on the mother's chest immediately after birth. You can discuss this with your doctor beforehand, and no one will rush to take the baby away if you want to spend that precious time together.

Nurses and neonatologists constantly check on the baby and help with feeding and care. If difficulties arise - as happened to me, when my milk didn't come in right away - they suggest alternatives, but always respect your choice. In my case they offered formula for the baby, but first asked whether I was comfortable with it, since it could affect lactation. That attention to detail and respect for the mother's choices meant a great deal to me.

Community support

Argentine society simply amazed me with its warmth and support. I lived in a large high-rise, and all my neighbors asked how I was feeling, how many weeks along I was, and how I was preparing for the birth. When the baby was born, everyone learned his name at once, and every time we went out for a walk, people stopped me to ask how we were doing. If I was pushing the stroller and couldn't get up a curb, strangers immediately offered to help.

Finances and insurance

As I mentioned, for the entire process - from doctor's visits to the cesarean - we paid around 3,500 dollars. That really is a small amount by European standards. I know you can sign a contract with an insurance company in advance, but I didn't see much point in it. Argentine insurers work slowly, and every step has to be approved. Personally, I found that inconvenient, since my wishes and preferences changed often during the pregnancy.

Citizenship for the child

One of the main advantages of giving birth in Argentina is citizenship for the child. My baby became an Argentine citizen right away, and the paperwork turned out to be remarkably simple: we completed everything in two weeks. Murblz arranged the support and the necessary documents, and even helped with the trickiest part - how to photograph a three-day-old infant for official documents with his eyes open and without mom in the background.

Citizenship for the parents

After the baby was born, my husband and I stayed in Argentina for a month and a half. During that time we received our DNI resident cards and filed our citizenship applications. We weren't planning to live in the country long-term, so as soon as our lawyer wrote that the key stages were complete, we returned to Europe. Then, just eight months later, I got the wonderful news: the court invited me to take the oath. I flew to Argentina, the court clerk read out the text of the oath, I said my "Sí," and the next day I became an Argentine citizen - and three days after that I received my citizen's DNI card and an Argentine passport.

Cultural quirks

One more thing that surprised me was the distinctive culture of communication. In Argentina it isn't customary to get straight to business. Doctors and nurses ask how you're feeling, share their thoughts on the weather, and chat about all sorts of unrelated things. At first this struck me as strange and even irritating, but then I realized it's part of local courtesy. Over time I learned to embrace this style of conversation and even began to enjoy it.

Giving birth in Argentina turned out to be an extraordinary experience - care, warmth, and a high standard of medicine. It was an incredibly important and personal journey, one that unfolded in comfortable conditions and with minimal stress. If you're thinking about giving birth in Argentina, rest assured that you will receive not only professional medical care but also genuine support and respect.

Thank you, Murblz, for the care and professional guidance throughout the entire process.

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