Ciao,

just an update on my adventure (pregnancy of an Italian woman in Bologna)hoping it can help my expat friends, too.
Cristina, I hope you don't mind about these posts, feel free to tell me I just need to take my a...s outta here and go open my own blog on pregnancy!

Well, last wednesday Gabriele rushed me to Pronto Soccorso at Ospedale Maggiore in Bologna because while I was preparing myself to go to bed I "saw red". Not much, but it was definitely red. You can imagine my shock.
We rushed to Pronto Soccorso Ginecologico (a different section of pronto soccorso just for pregnant women or "women's problems" in general (separate from the ordinary bolgia of the general PS) and to my surprise in 5 minutes I was introduced to a private examination room where a big nuse told me not to worry, that it's not so uncommon to have little "perdite" in the first months of pregnancy.
In ten minutes a very professional (and cold) lady gynecologist saw me and had another scan done. ALL WAS WELL, the baby was perfectly healthy,grown something like 6 mm in three days (!) no sign of blood in sight.
They explained me it could have been the uterus adapting to the baby, I was still shaking but gained my color again.

In 20 minutes I was in Gabriele's arms shaking but this time out of joy.
Cost of the trip, the examination and all: ZERO (apart from the fuel from Castello to Bologna at 1.00 a.m under cats and dogs of rain).
( I know I know I seem to live in another world, but this is my experience of Bologna, so far, maybe I was just lucky).

The following day I called my ob-gyn, who wanted to see me today, had another scan, everything ok, the baby is now 26 mm and saw him/her in shape of a baby for the first time (I can't even begin to explain what mixed feelings of joy, fear, hope, excitement one can feel at that sight).
Cost of today: ZERO.

And my urine test box are given to me by the ospedale di Bazzano for free when I book my urine tests at the CUP (Yes, at the CUP I have to stay in line with the little number ticket ).

Stay tuned, hope all will end well, so far, a rollercoaster...

Un bacione
Chia

Well,
maybe not PC to say, but Bologna and the region as a whole do challenge the ideas many foreigners have got of Italy.
A "communist" past has left a more than decent public sector and people are generally committed to what they're doing.

While the outer world think of Italy as a series of gondolas, colosseo, ruins and leaning towers, there's a different Italy that, simply, toils.

So much for regional patriotism – an oxymoron, I know....


On a side note, is Castello Castel San Pietro?

Don't know if this has any bearing, but isn't ER also the one of, if not the wealthiest region in Italy?

Whatever, Chia, I am glad everything was fine - I have been in that position too many times where it wasn't. Always make a fuss and get it checked, don't be put off by tales that it is normal. For some it is, others not, but you won't know without a check-up. I'm guessing you are around the 8 - 12 week mark for them to say it is normal.

Thank you,

JAP, I'm from Castello di Serravalle, south of Bologna, at the very beginning of the Apennines.

Alyson yes, it's 9 + 3 but I'll always check for sure! Sure it's not ALWAYS normal, nor it's always ok, that's why we rushed! Again, thanks!
ER is the second after Lombardia but I'm proud to think it's the best balance between richness and services. Sometimes richness does not mean the best services.

A presto
Chia

quote:

Originally posted by Chia of Bologna:
Thank you,

JAP, I'm from Castello di Serravalle, south of Bologna, at the very beginning of the Apennines.

Alyson yes, it's 9 + 3 but I'll always check for sure! Sure it's not ALWAYS normal, nor it's always ok, that's why we rushed! Again, thanks!
ER is the second after Lombardia but I'm proud to think it's the best balance between richness and services. Sometimes richness does not mean the best services.

A presto
Chia

No it isn't always normal, but in the UK I had to insist on having a scan when it happened as the hospital tried to fob me off over the phone by saying it is "normal" around 8 - 10 weeks when the embryo implants in the placenta. So many women have it but even so.....

Just saw this ad in this weeks online verison of Easymilano,


Engl speaking midwife (London
degree) providing continuity of care;
antenataly in labour & postnataly
& home birth. Loredana Zordan Tel.
347.511.7813


(hope I am allowed to post this)

May be some use to you pregnant ladies out there!