Giving Birth in Italy: Understanding Your OB/GYN, Midwife, and Birth Classes

You now have your tessera sanitaria in hand and you’re familiar with the various options for giving birth in your adopted city. What’s next?

The OB/GYN

In Italy, the OB/GYN plays an important role in monitoring your pregnancy, but not necessarily in your delivery. In a “normal” vaginal birth without complications, the doctor will typically arrive late in the labor process—just in time for your baby’s big debut. However, this is the same professional you’ll see at your many check-ups throughout the pregnancy.

Italy is known for its thorough prenatal care. Expect to have an average of seven ultrasounds, significantly more than the average in many other European countries or the U.S.

If your OB/GYN is affiliated with the hospital or clinic where you plan to give birth, you’re well on your way. If not, check the hospital’s policy on external doctors. Some facilities allow outside OB/GYNs to work in tandem with staff doctors, while others do not. In the latter case, you can continue prenatal visits with your preferred doctor, understanding that a hospital-affiliated professional will handle the actual delivery.

The Ostetrica (Midwife)

Perhaps the most important figure during labor and delivery is the ostetrica, or midwife. While “midwife” is the most common translation, it doesn’t fully capture the Italian ostetrica’s medical training and scope of responsibility.

In Italy, the ostetrica is a licensed healthcare professional, often working as part of a hospital or clinic team and sometimes independently. They provide essential support throughout pregnancy, labor, and post-natal care, including:

• Monitoring maternal and fetal health
• Offering education and resources
• Providing emotional and physical support during labor
• Guiding breastfeeding and newborn care

Whether you’re delivering in a public hospital or private facility, an ostetrica is likely to be your primary caregiver during labor.

Birth and Preparation Courses

Once you’ve selected a facility, inquire about birth preparation courses—many hospitals and clinics offer their own. These institutional courses can provide essential information about hospital procedures, labor stages, and postpartum recovery.

However, Milan also offers a range of independent prenatal classes that go beyond the basics. These courses are often more in-depth and tailored to the needs of international or English-speaking parents. They typically cover:

• The physical and emotional changes of pregnancy
• Coping strategies for labor
• Postpartum recovery
• Infant care and feeding

Recommended Resources in Milan:

• – La Lunanuova– Offers prenatal yoga, childbirth classes, and postpartum support in English and Italian.
• – Associazione Gepo– A trusted multidisciplinary clinic, offers birth preparation courses, postnatal support, and parenting workshops in Italian, with some professionals offering services in English.
• – Centro Medico Santagostino– Provides a wide range of medical services including ostetrica consultations and classes for expectant and new parents.

When choosing a course, consider whether you want in-person classes, small group settings, or online options. Many services are now hybrid, combining the flexibility of digital access with the comfort of personalized support.

Article by Karen Rigatti for Easy Milano, revised on 4 August 2025

Karen Rigatti is an American living in Milan since 2008. She is a Certified Professional Counselor, working with expats (individuals, couples and young adults), helping them develop more effective communication and coping strategies, to better manage interpersonal challenges and embrace the changes in their lives. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and AssoCounseling, in Italy and she also works as a Student Counselor at Bocconi University in the Department of Campus Life – Counseling & Self-Empowerment, counseling students ranging from first-year Bachelors up through PhDs on a wide variety of academic, adjustment and interpersonal issues. Additionally, she works at IES Study Abroad supporting their US exchange students.

www.karenrigatti.com

See other articles on cultural adjustment and expat life by Karen Rigatti.

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