Management of pregnancy and childbirth in Armenia

A wonderful situation sometimes finds women unexpectedly. Or, on the contrary, you carefully planned and waited for a long time for this happy event for your family. In any case, if you have a child and you find yourself in Armenia, then you have a lot of questions about where to give birth, which doctor to go to, whether you will have to pay, where to do documents, and so on. Today we will try to answer the most important questions.

Contents

1. Who is entitled to medical assistance?
2. Where to observe pregnancy?
3. Attitude towards pregnant women
4. Emergencies
5. childbirth
6. The unspoken law
7. Documents for the child

Who is entitled to medical assistance?

Photo: Sparks

First and most importantly, in Armenia EVERYONE has the right to medical care. Pregnancy management, pregnancy, childbirth - all this relates to medical care, and no matter what citizenship you have, you are obliged to provide it. Another question is under what conditions this will be carried out.

Registration and a minimum set of pregnancy examinations are completely complete here. free for all citizens of Armenia. If it suddenly happened that your official spouse has Armenian citizenship, then it is enough for you to provide a marriage certificate to the registry. In this case, you, being a citizen of any other state, will observe the pregnancy for free.

For citizens of Russia observation in a public hospital will cost 60,000 drams for the entire 9 months. At the very beginning, they ask you to pay an additional 10,000 drams to open the profile. This cost includes three scheduled ultrasounds, a minimum set of general tests and communication with an obstetrician-gynecologist.

Sometimes there is a need to pay for research from above, but everything is voluntary, no one can force you to do this. Average cost "additional» Ultrasound ranges from 7,000 drams to 15,000 drams.

Where to observe pregnancy?

Registration is possible in absolutely any clinic, state antenatal clinic or private clinic. Choose based on your preferences and capabilities.

The most popular antenatal clinics are located in Erebuni hospitals, Markaryan maternity hospital, Beglaryan medical center, Republican hospital, Grigor Lusavorich medical center.

Private clinics that are usually chosen for pregnancy management include SlavMed, Nairi, Shengavit and Astghik. The cost of observation in private clinics varies, but on average starts from 20,000 drams for each trimester. 

It’s convenient that you can pay in installments, because in total, pregnancy management costs up to 150,000 drams. This cost also includes a minimum set of studies, but the price for additional ones will be higher than in government ones. For example, an ultrasound scan in private clinics rarely costs less than 20,000 drams. In addition, sometimes doctors in private clinics insist on studies that you can do without (from personal experience). Remember that any manipulations with your health are carried out voluntarily.

An undoubted advantage of observation in private clinics is the ability to book an appointment with a doctor and for an ultrasound scan. In state residential complexes you can spend several hours in a stuffy queue.

Attitude towards pregnant women

Photo: dianaforsberg92

Many foreign women note that the attitude of the medical staff towards pregnant women here is very pleasant, no matter what conditions you observe. This is because people in Armenia adore children. Compliments from nurses, patient clarification of questions from an ultrasound doctor, an affectionate attitude from an obstetrician-gynecologist - all this is normal here. 

It is known, unfortunately, that not all CIS countries take care of the mental state of pregnant women. In antenatal clinics, you can encounter shouting, swearing, devaluation of experiences and caustic remarks from medical staff. All people are different, and, of course, in Armenia no one is insured either, but if you are faced with such an attitude, know that changing your doctor will solve the problem.

As for round-the-clock telephone communication, everything is individual here. In private clinics, as a rule, the gynecologist gives his contact information and asks you to call at any time of the day at the slightest suspicion. This also happens in government ones, but it’s optional.

Let's be honest with you - a box of chocolates, polite communication and a friendly attitude will melt the heart of any doctor, and they will cost you very little. Try to build a warm relationship with your doctor, and he will meet you halfway.

Emergencies

If it happens that during pregnancy there is a need for urgent medical care, then you have two options:

1. In any case, first try to contact the doctor who is monitoring your pregnancy. Perhaps he is on shift now and you can come to him. 
2. If it was not possible to get through to the doctor, then either go yourself to the emergency room of any nearest hospital, or call an ambulance (103 or 112). By ambulance in the emergency room you will be received without a queue. Calling and transfer to the hospital in Armenia is free of charge for all emergency situations.

You can read about the work of ambulance in Armenia in this article.

childbirth

According to Armenian legislation, childbirth in Armenia is free for everyone. It doesn't matter whether you give birth naturally or need a caesarean section - childbirth is completely free.

Of course, you can insist on additional options in the form of a separate room and special conditions. These pleasures are already paid for by you separately.

Not all private clinics and antenatal clinics have maternity hospitals. It is very common for a woman in labor to simply follow her doctor (they usually work in several places, and at least one of them will have a maternity hospital).

But, of course, you can choose the hospital yourself. In Armenia, it is possible to agree on conditions and conclude a contract for childbirth in advance, but you can also trust the team on duty.

As for the process of childbirth - the difference is enormous. In some hospitals, the Soviet atmosphere still reigns, husbands are not allowed to give birth. In some, complete freedom of movement, the possibility of partner childbirth, a bias towards naturalness, postpartum application. Clarify these questions individually and in advance.

The unspoken law

Photo: laros

Despite the fact that childbirth in Armenia is officially free, local residents prepare gifts for doctors. No one is forcing anyone to do this, but the situation is so commonplace that the doctors themselves do not hesitate to talk about it.

So, after a successful delivery, happy relatives meet the doctor and thank him to the best of their ability. Someone puts money in an envelope, someone buys expensive alcohol, someone buys a certificate and an expensive bouquet.

I can’t thank the doctor enough on such a joyful day for many.”it’s a shame,” so the issue is usually not even discussed. They thank both the one who was present at the birth and the one who managed the pregnancy. Therefore, it is advantageous for it to be the same person. But let us remind you that no one can oblige you to this.

Documents for the child

Photo: Nutrilak.com

After giving birth, a certificate is prepared in the hospital. With this document, the happy father (or other close relative) must go to the passport office and receive a birth certificate. Some hospitals have now begun to issue certificates on their own. It is, of course, about Armenian citizenship and document.

With Russian citizenship things are a little different. You must go to the Russian Embassy with a certificate from the maternity hospital. It is difficult to predict the day and hour of birth in advance, so it is unlikely that you will be able to make an appointment in advance.

There are three ways:

1. Try register online for the coming dates.
2. Call the embassy and check reception hours on this issue. You may be accepted without an online registration.
3. Go directly to the embassy, explain the situation and ask for admission. In general, if it is a reception day, then sooner or later you will be able to enter.

The Russian Embassy will only issue you a standard birth certificate for the child. You will have to get him a passport yourself on other dates.

We wish you an easy pregnancy and birth and very healthy babies! We hope that our article helped you understand the main issues. May also be useful our material about pregnancy from FAQ.

Do you have any questions? Write to Telegram support service @move2armenia_official.

Article author: Ekaterina Hakobyan