Moving to Fuerteventura

Having a baby in Fuerteventura can be one of the most exciting events of your life. However, if you are not fluent in Spanish, the prospect can be terrifying. Obviously, as with any pregnancy – you will want to know where you can get advise, support and care for your impending happy arrival.

The standard of health care in Fuerteventura is excellent, and the support for Mums-to-be is superb. You can get this either from your own health centre, or opt to go private.

Pre-Natal Care in Fuerteventura

As soon as you suspect you may be pregnant, book an appointment with your doctor. They will examine you, confirm that you are indeed pregnant, and will arrange blood tests and an early ultra sound scan.

The following dates may vary somewhat – but will give you a rough guide to how often you can expect to be seen by your doctor:

• every 4 weeks until week 28
• every 2 weeks until week 36
• weekly until delivery

As in the UK, the midwife provides a great source of support to the mum-to-be.  Speak to your Docotr to see if your clinic has a resident midwife, or to find out whether you need to visit another clinic for this. Most in Fuerteventura have the teams on site – so this shouldn’t be a problem.

Pre-Natal Classes

Knowing exactly what will happen, and being as prepared for childbirth as possible can dramatically improve how well you and your unborn child fare during the pregnancy. Again, speak to your Doctor and Midwife to see what options are available, and whether they can offer support in English for you.

The courses will probably include preparation for labour, breathing and relaxation techniques and advice for baby feeding.

Where to have your baby delivered

The Fuerteventura hospitals offer a very high standard of natal care, with emergency personnel services on hand in case of any problems. Home birthing is not encouraged in Fuerteventura – but most women would want to be close to medical help when going through this experience anyway – just in case of any unforeseen events.

Your doctor and midwife will be able to talk you fully through the facilities, activities, and what forms of pain relief are available.

Following normal cervical delivery without any unusual complications, Mum and newborn can expect to go home within 24 hours. Following a Caesarean section you may go home between 3 to 5 days after the birth.

On discharge from hospital, they will issue you with all the paperwork for registering the birth of your new baby, offer you advice on vaccinations, and provide you with an infant record book which records your new baby’s health from birth to 18 years of age.

Registration of a Birth

Births must be registered within eight days of the birth at the Registry Civil in Puerto del Rosario. It is the parents’ responsibility to ensure this is done and it should be carried out in person. However, in some unusual cases the hospital, clinic or midwife can register the birth. This could be for example, if the new Mum is too poorly to attend the Registry Civil.

There are two types of certificate:

• short/abridged (un extracto de inscripción de nacimiento or certificado simple): contains the date of birth, the names of the child and parents and the inscription number
• full birth certificates (un certificado literal de nacimiento): full certificates may be needed for registration with the Consulate of a baby born to foreign national resident in Spain

The birth registration includes:

• name of the new-born
• date, time and place of the birth. In the case of multiple births, when the exact time is unknown for each new-born, indication will be given of the order in which they were born, or alternatively that this could not be determined
• whether the new-born is male or female
• the parents, when the relationship is legally recognised
• the number assigned to the birth or verification file
• the time of registration

Birth certificates must state whether a child is legitimate or illegitimate. Babies born within 6 months of their parents’ marriage, or within 300 days of the parents’ divorce, a marriage annulment or the death of the father are all considered legitimate.

The following documentation must be taken to the Civil Registry:

• Medical delivery report (this form is provided by the hospital where the delivery took place)
• Official proof of identity of the parents
• Family Book (or marriage certificate duly legalised and translated, when appropriate)

Registering a child born outside of wedlock

In this case, a statement is required from both parents, with the father and the mother both going to register the birth in person, providing the following documentation:

• Medical delivery report (this form is pr

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