Buying a cot mattress in Spain

Another item on the must buy list is a new cot mattress. I've heard that using a secondhand mattress has been linked to 'cot deaths' although there doesn't seem to be any information on this here in Spain. Spanish people here don't seem to be aware of the risks related to this subject and there aren't any information leaflets available at the health centre (there aren't any information leaflets available on anything related to pregnancy or childbirth for that matter).

It took me some time to convince my partner of the importance of this but finally I managed to get my point of view across. I asked at the couple of shops I know here but they only sold mattresses in the sizes for the cots they sold. A friend has offered me her old cot which is a standard sized cot.

After searching the Mothercare website in Spain I found out that they actually have a shop in Pamplona which is only an hour's drive from here (not including the half hour we spent driving in circles trying to find the shopping centre which is so new that it doesn't have any signs to it yet).

Problem solved anyway, we got to Mothercare and although quite small it had a lot of stock in the warehouse which wasn't on display. I haven't bought my cot matress yet but now I know I can get one with the special anti-bacterial fibres and a special airflow system it's put my mind at rest...but I did get a moses basket and stand for about half the price they cost here.

Another thing I'm thinking of getting is a special nappy bin that seals each bag that contains a used nappy. The one they stock in Mothercare is the Tommee Tippee Nappy Wrapper. The only thing is I'm not sure whether it's really worth it or not...

Pain relief during childbirth in Spain

This is a subject that has been on my mind for a while. Last week I met up with a friend of a friend, both English, who had given birth just 3 months ago and who was over for a short break in San Sebastian. She had a delightful baby boy.

We discussed lots of things but one of them was her experience during the birth. She told me that she used gas and air to control the pain during contractions and that in the end she didn't need an epidural as she found this was sufficient. She also mentioned that it made her feel rather dizzy (or in her words as 'high as a kite'). She explained how she was in control of taking the gas and air by breathing through a face mask when needed. An important point that she made was that this method of pain relief is completely safe for the baby as it doesn't cross the placenta and has very little side effects.

I've just seen the midwife this morning and one of my questions was about what types of pain relief were available and the answer was only the epidural. Given that this is only administered in the later stages labour when sufficient dilation has taken place I asked what else was available for the earlier stages. The answer was none.

When I mentioned the possibility of birthing pools she looked at me as if I was on another planet. I didn't even bother mentioning TENS which I've heard can be quite useful as a pain relief method during contractions.

Yet another example of how I beleive the Spanish healthcare system fails in women's health. Gas and air may not be ideal as it can make you feel rather high but its cheap and safe and helps with pain relief so why not make it available for those who want it, after all this is the 21st century.

I wonder how much a TENS machine is - I think I need to investigate.

Pregnancy and the beach

It's really started to get hot in the part of Spain where I live and this weekend I managed to get to the beach twice.

I'm 7 months pregnant now and have almost grown out of the maternity bikini I bought back in March...I just hope it'll last as I don't really want to fork out another 65 euros just for a couple of months wear. The trouble is I am bulging out of it in all directions! Another thing is I've been very lucky not have suffered with cellulite before now but being pregnant seems to have changed that!

I've found it's helpful to have a sarong sometimes to cover my bump or just to wrap around myself if I want to go for a stroll along the beach. A beach shade and high suntan protector (factor 30) are also another essential item when planning to go to the beach as is a large bottle of water as it's really important not to get dehydrated.

As for swimming in the sea - it's a nice way to cool off and I just make sure I get in slowly and don't plunge straight in.

Another thing that I need to invest in is a comfy chair, at the moment I'm making do with sitting up on a towel. Lying on my back is a bit too uncomfortable and not really recommended at this stage of pregnancy.

I think it's important to keep my bump cool and am not really sure how long I can sunbathe for, but usually I can't stand more than a couple of hours on the beach at a time anyway.

It's a nice way to relax and nice to see other couples on the beach with little babies and think that'll be me this time next year!

Buying a pushchair

I didn't realise that buying a pushchair could be so complicated or so expensive!

I live in San Sebastian and there's only one shop that I know of that has a wide selection of pushchairs. It also only has the most expensive models. Another big disadvantage is that you have to order your chosen pushchair at least 2 months in advance because the shop only has models on display.

Apart from that, there are so many extra accessories to get that the price can easily shoot up to almost 1000 euros.

I've been doing some research into the possibility of buying a pushchair when I'm back in the UK for a few weeks over the summer and it seems that Mothercare has a wide range at varying prices. Also if you go to one of the larger stores you can choose the one you like and buy it that day. If it isn't in stock then you can order it and receive it in 5 days. Much better.

However, I will be ordering mine today from the shop here because after extensive research and hours spent on the internet comparing prices I've found that the model I want is actually cheaper here. But I resent having to order it so far in advance - obviously it's perfect for the shop which not only has a monopoly here but also doesn't have in invest in stock ... all at the inconvenience of the consumer!