Preparing for Birth and Baby: Why Both Matter – Especially for Expat Families in Barcelona

Becoming a parent is one of life’s most extraordinary journeys. But often, the focus is placed almost entirely on preparing for the baby: choosing clothes, setting up the nursery, and making sure every tiny detail is ready for their arrival. While this is deeply important, it is just as vital to prepare for your birth, the moment when you step into parenthood. After all, birth is not only about welcoming your baby; it is about you, your body, your emotions, and the beginning of a lifelong bond.

As a doula, lactation consultant, and gentle sleep coach, I have seen first-hand how transformative it is when families dedicate time to prepare not only for their baby but also for their own birth experience. For expat families in Barcelona, this preparation carries even greater significance. Navigating a new healthcare system, managing cultural differences, and often lacking the support network of family and close friends can feel overwhelming.

With the right guidance, knowledge, and emotional preparation, you can enter this journey feeling confident, calm, and empowered.

Why Preparing for Birth Matters as Much as Preparing for Your Baby

Most parents pour their energy into preparing for their newborn: attending baby fairs, comparing pushchairs, researching sleep routines. And while these things are undeniably important, the birth itself is often left to chance or viewed as something beyond our control. Yet, how you prepare for your birth has a profound impact—not only on your experience of labour but also on your recovery, your mental well-being, and even your relationship with your baby.

Here’s why birth preparation matters:

• Empowerment through knowledge: Understanding your body, your rights, and your choices during birth gives you confidence to make informed decisions rather than feeling swept along by the system.

• Reducing fear: Fear is one of the greatest inhibitors of labour. Preparation helps to replace anxiety with calm, and fear with trust.

• A smoother transition to parenthood: When you feel positive about your birth, you are more likely to step into early motherhood with confidence and joy.

• A foundation for bonding and breastfeeding: A calm, supported birth can make those first hours with your baby more centred on connection rather than recovery from trauma.

Preparing for birth does not mean controlling every detail. It means equipping yourself with tools, knowledge, and support so that no matter how your birth unfolds, you feel respected, informed, and held.

Navigating the Healthcare System in Barcelona: Public vs Private Hospitals

One of the biggest questions expat parents face in Barcelona is whether to give birth in a public or private hospital. Both options offer high-quality care, but the experiences can be quite different. Understanding these differences allows you to prepare with clarity and confidence.

Public Hospitals in Barcelona:

• Free under Spain’s healthcare system (with your tarjeta sanitaria).

• Well-equipped, highly trained professionals, and excellent emergency care.

• Fewer options for continuity of care, you will not know which midwife or doctor will attend your birth.

• Breastfeeding support is usually strong, as many public hospitals are accredited as “Baby Friendly.”

  
  

Private Hospitals in Barcelona:

• Covered only with private insurance or self-funding.

• Some of them offer more comfortable facilities: private rooms, often with space for your partner to stay overnight.

• Greater chance of continuity of care with your gynaecologist may attend the birth if arranged.

• Typically more flexible around scheduling procedures, but also sometimes higher intervention rates.

• Breastfeeding support can vary significantly depending on the hospital.

The Expat Experience: Preparing for Parenthood Away from Home

Pregnancy and birth are universal experiences, yet being far from home brings unique challenges:

• Language barriers: Medical terminology in a second language can feel overwhelming, especially during labour when clarity is essential.

• Different cultural approaches to birth: In Spain, the medical system can sometimes be more directive than in other countries, which may feel unfamiliar.

• Lack of immediate support network: Without grandparents, siblings, or lifelong friends nearby, the postpartum period can feel isolating.

This is where preparation becomes so valuable. Learning how the system works, exploring your options, and building a local support network all contribute to a more positive experience. Choosing to work with a doula who understands both the Spanish system and the expat perspective can help bridge these gaps and provide continuity.

Preparing Holistically: Beyond the Birth

True preparation is not only about the moment of birth, but about the entire transition into parenthood. My work integrates three essential areas:

1. Birth Preparation – Understanding your options, preparing your body and mind, creating a birth plan, and feeling confident in your choices.

2. Breastfeeding Support – Preparing for the early days, understanding how milk production works, and knowing where to turn if challenges arise.

3. Gentle Sleep Foundations – Establishing healthy sleep habits from the start, without pressure or rigid schedules, so that your family can thrive in the early months.

By weaving these elements together, you step into motherhood with consistency, clarity, and a toolkit that adapts as your baby grows.

Join My Free Masterclass: Birth & Baby – Your Confident Start

To support expat families in preparing for both their birth and their baby, I am hosting a free masterclass next week: Birth & Baby – Your Confident Start.

In this session, we will explore:

• The essentials of preparing for birth with confidence.

• What to expect from hospitals in Barcelona, both public and private.

• How to prepare for the early days with your baby so that you feel nurtured rather than overwhelmed.

It’s a warm, supportive space designed for expat couples who want clarity, connection, and empowerment on their journey to parenthood in Spain.

Birth & Baby – Your Confident Start

Taking the Next Step: The Birth & Baby Antenatal Workshop

The free masterclass is just the beginning. For those who wish to go deeper, I invite you to join my upcoming Birth & Baby Antenatal Workshop two weeks later. In this comprehensive session, we will:

• Explore your birth options in detail, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Create personalised birth preferences that reflect your wishes and values.

• Prepare holistically for the first months with your baby, including breastfeeding, sleep, and emotional well-being.

This is not about rigid rules, it is about giving you knowledge, support, and confidence to step into motherhood feeling prepared and empowered.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for your baby is joyful and exciting. But preparing for your birth is just as important. For expat families in Barcelona, where the system may feel unfamiliar and support networks are still growing, this preparation is a gift you give yourself, your partner, and your baby.

Whether you choose to birth in a public or private hospital, whether you dream of a natural birth or are preparing for a caesarean, the most important thing is to feel informed, supported, and empowered.

I warmly invite you to begin this journey with me in the free masterclass next week, and then continue with the full workshop to step into birth and parenthood with confidence, calm, and joy.

With love,

Anna, Founder of MyMamaDreams 

Doula | Lactation Consultant | Gentle Sleep Coach

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