Barcelona Mum

Rowena Stevens

What is your name, age, where do you live and how long have you lived in Madrid?
My name is Rowena Stevens. I live close to Pinar de Chamartin metro station. I’ve been living here for 6 months.

Do you work, and if so what do you do?
Previously I was Head of Modern Foreign Languages at a secondary school close to London.  I hope to eventually teach German and English here.

What nationality are you and your partner?
I am Australian and my husband is Argentine.

How many children do you have and what are their names and ages?
Sophia is nearly 4 months old. She was born in May 2008.

What was your experience of having a baby in Madrid? (if relevant)
Before coming to Spain I had been living in the UK for 6 years and I had a very clear idea of the kind of birth I wanted from having spoken with friends there and visited them in hospital. Giving birth lying flat on my back was definitely not one of my wishes! Before arriving in Madrid I researched what childbirth in Madrid was likely to be like and was really disappointed and frightened to discover that it was highly medicalised (e.g. Inductions, operating theatres). It was with trepidation that I first met a gynaecologist and asked him about what my experience was likely to be like. He confirmed that what I had found out was true and in the end my birthing experience pretty much followed the same pattern. There were complications and I was induced. I was hooked up to drips and monitors and kept lying down with no food or drink for 12 hours and was provided with very little explanation as to what was happening or what I needed to do. The doctors however were fantastic and really very caring. They even spoke English with me, something I hadn’t expected.
The antenatal care I received was very thorough. I went private and was given over 10 scans during my pregnancy. I saw about 7 different doctors throughout this time but that didn’t really concern me because I realised that once in the hospital I would not know the doctors who were to deliver the baby. Next time however I will try to find a gynaecologist who can be present at the birth as I feel this would have been far less stressful.
Sophia suffered as a result of the long labour and difficult birth and needed to stay in hospital for 10 nights. This is up there with any parent’s worst nightmares but we were very fortunate that she came through fine. The nurses in the Special Care Unit were fantastic. They were very pro breastfeeding, which was a great relief and offered lots of support and advice. If you find yourself in a situation like this, especially if you are a new mum, be sure to how you can help to care for your baby (e.g. Changing nappies – not easy with all those tubes though).

How did you find the process of relocating to Madrid with your children (if relevant)?
I was pregnant at the time…what to great way to get out of all that heavy lifting and packing!

How well integrated would you say you and your children are?
I have made a lot of expat friends but am gradually meeting more Spanish people. I will be taking Sophia to Spanish music and rhythm classes, which hopefully helps. I think this is an area we need to continue to work on.

What language do you speak to your children?
I speak in English my husband speaks in Spanish. We speak English to each other but we hope to speak more Spanish because I do feel that it is really important to speak it fluently.

What has your impression been of childcare and education in Madrid so far?
This is an area I still need to learn about.

How do you rate the amenities available for parents and children in Madrid?
We are lucky in that our metro station is new and has lifts. I am shocked to learn how few restaurants and cafes in Madrid have changing facilities and disabled access toilets.
I think there is a wide range of activities available for families with young children. We have playgroups (albeit not Spanish ones), baby swimming lessons, rhythm and music sessions in English and Spanish, great parks with brilliant play areas and more.

Where you live, how good are facilities for children (shops, restaurants, activities etc)?
In my area there are fantastic parks and play areas, child-friendly chain restaurants, a very child-friendly new Corte Ingles (cubby houses, rides, ball room, great café) and activity centres. Supermarkets tend to have little activity centres for the kids to relax and have fun in whilst the parents shop – that is a great idea.

What do you think are the main advantages and disadvantages of being a parent from the International Community living in Madrid?
Advantages include playgroups and clubs, easy bus travel, helpful locals and more. Some people also receive a baby bonus but I didn’t qualify.
Disadvantages include the lack of pushchair access around the centre, lack of nappy-changing facilities and smoking in cafes and restaurants.

What do you wish you had been told before you came to Madrid?
To stock up on familiar childcare/healthcare products which are less readily available here (e.g. Paraben-free creams and other natural cosmetics). That said I have found pretty much everything here that I wanted it just took a bit of searching. I did have lots of trouble hunting down Polo mints/ mint Lifesavers though…right when I was craving them!

What advice would you give for anyone having a baby or thinking of relocating to Madrid with children?
Consider buying prams and other items and toys before you come because they tend to be more expensive here.

What couldn’t you live without in Madrid?
The playgroup mums, the metro, the buses and the ability to get by in Spanish.

What could you live without?!
Having to hunt down baby-friendly cafes and restaurants.