I have lived in Spain for 13 years now and the time seems to have passed so fast! In that time I have seen many changes here in Spain and when I became pregnant I began my journey of discovery into a side of Spain I had never seen before. Having spent best part of my adult life here, leaving the UK at the tender age of 22 (!) I can't really compare the two fairly, but I am certain in some ways that my own experience of pregnany, birth and motherhood would be quite different were I still in England.

But as I always say, different doesn't necessarily mean worse. Raising a child in Spain has so many benefits, and certainly on the Coast I feel that there are even more, with such a great outdoor life style! We really are the envy of so many friends back in England trying desperately to entertain their children in the wind and rain, moving from one indoor playcentre to another. 

But being abroad can also raise challenges, so I think it is fairly balanced. I do think my experience of pregnancy and birth would have been very different were I lived elsewhere - it wasn't all bad (!) but it was very medical and I didn't feel the same level of control or contribution to my own labour/birth that I think you can in other European countries. That being said I have a beautiful son who will soon be 4 and who is thriving in Spain! I'll raise a glass of tinto to that!!