Giving birth to a baby requires a clean, safe and hygienic environment. It also calls for an excellent and most up to date medical infrastructure, care and attention. In this write up, we have picked a few countries, widely considered to be the best for child birth. With their state of the art medical facilities, superior health care, detailed and careful attention to every minute detail, nominal yet cost effective facilities that catapults them on the league of being the best. Let’s have a look.
France
French women enjoy a vista of maternity benefits that majorly includes the extended time off in the hospital. Apart from five months paid maternity leave, the country offers subsidized baby day care for next three years. 99% of women receive at least one pre natal visit and delivery care assistance from skilled attendants. France treats every pregnant woman like treasure, a fact that’s quite evident from the risk of maternal death rate which is as low as 1 in 6600 women.
Sweden
Sweden is often counted among the best countries for child birth. The nation has one of the highest birth rates in Europe, and holds an edge over France with 1.9 children per mom. The country grants generous parental leaves that allow Swedish women to juggle up easily between work and family. Apart from that, Swedish couples can enjoy an extended paid leave of 13 months with an additional three months leave. A look at the statistics provides a clear picture as the maternal mortality ratio is 1 in 11,400.
Norway
Norway has always been famous for its excellent medical facilities, especially when it comes to childbirth. What appears most impressive is giving birth to a child in Norway is 100% free sans any expense involved. Even ‘Save the Children’, an international organization, heaped praises on Norway and tagged it as ‘one of the most generous maternity leave policies in the developed world’. In 2011, the country earned a numero uno position in ‘Top Place to Be a Mother’ report.
Australia
In ‘Save the Children’ report, Australia sits at second position, mainly due to its low maternal death rate and faster access to medical resources. Throughout Australia, maternity medicare is almost free with only a nominal amount being charged. Also, Aussie women are quite conscious about their health and always make best advantages of the facilities available around them. The cost of having a baby is also subsidized through child care benefit of Australia that offers assistance and support with world class day care facilities.
Iceland
Extensive pre natal care offered to Iceland’s residents that also includes care from midwives and doctors, ultrasound and general medical examinations, make Iceland one of the best countries to give birth to babies. The hospital charges nothing during delivery and the mortality rate is 1 in 9400. Also, after delivery, nurses visit the new mother to assist in rearing babies. The country also offers quarterly child benefits for each child less than seven years of age, based on the size of family and income till the child turns 18.
Germany
In Germany, pregnant women and new moms are pampered with various maternity benefits and extra special benefits for nursing mothers. Post delivery, mothers are provided special attention like exercise and yoga sessions, therapeutic measures like sitting baths and sunlamps. Further, German moms also enjoy four months maternity leave and their employers are supposed to pay three months of pay. Statistics reveal an attractive figure, an impressive 1 in 11,100 maternal mortality ratio.
Switzerland
Swiss women are treated with much care and attention ever since the baby is born. Once the mom returns to her home with baby, she is assisted by a midwife provided both (mom and baby) are in well off condition. Mothers also get the option of giving birth to babies in home, devoid of any medical interference, attended by midwives. Working women are eligible for 14 weeks of paid maternity leave. The country’s maternity rate is quite low as well, reading a figure of 1 in 7,600.
Japan
Japan’s maternity benefits are much similar to Switzerland. Japanese moms can choose from top notch hospitals with midwife clinic being the most preferred choice. Couple of prenatal checkups are provided free of cost and nothing is charged for attending childbirth classes. Japan’s maternal mortality ratio is considered to be one of the best in the world, 1 in 12,200 and every birth takes place with skilled attendants around. The country also offers financial assistance post birth with women receiving 60% of their normal pay for 14 weeks.
Italy
Italy claims to be one of the safest and best destinations when it comes to child birth. The country was adjudged as the ‘safest place to have a baby’ in 2010. The maternal mortality rate is pretty healthy as well, with just 4 deaths per 1, 00,000 births. What sounds more interesting is, the country offers incredibly safe maternity environment and facilities for free. Italy also offers 1,000 Euro as baby bonus to families with new born babies. Health experts have also related this to high rate of C-section deliveries and doctors never really shrug to adopt immediate radical steps to save the mom in hours of adversity.
The Netherlands
For women who believe in normal delivery procedure would love to have their babies born in The Netherlands. The Dutch usually follow natural practice and avoid treating a pregnant lady, if diagnosed with certain medical condition. Home births are common in Holland with the country registering 30% of home births, highest in the world. The mortality rate is quite low at 1 in 7,100 deaths. New moms are taught about natural methods of pain management including yoga sessions. Also, women receive 16 weeks of paid maternity leave while fathers get paid leave of 2 days.
