Partner births: how women from the regions give birth in Moscow under the compulsory medical insurance policy

Pregnant women from Russian regions are increasingly giving birth in medical institutions in Moscow — it's free, and registration in the capital is not necessary for this. According to the compulsory medical insurance policy, not only pregnancy and childbirth services are available here, but also partner births, psychological support, postpartum support for mother and baby, and extended examinations. Izvestia talked with young mothers who traveled from their regions to Moscow to give birth. About their impressions, how to choose the right maternity hospital, and what else is available to women in labor under compulsory medical insurance, see the Izvestia article.

"It didn't hurt, after four hours I was able to get up."

Anna Anikina from the city of Balakovo, Saratov region, became a mother just a week ago. She decided to give birth in Moscow because of the high quality of medicine and the opportunity to choose a maternity hospital, she told Izvestia.

— Here they can be accepted without direction, in the usual flow. Another important advantage is free partner childbirth," the girl noted.

The couple chose maternity hospital No. 15 named after O.M. Filatov.

— Even before the birth, the doctors answered all our questions. We have studied the reviews about the medical staff and the attitude towards mothers and babies. In addition, this place was recommended to us by relatives with whom we stayed in Moscow, and many friends noted the professionalism of the doctors. Now I'm convinced that it's true," Anna said.

According to her, the birth was very comfortable. When the contractions began, she was promptly admitted to the emergency department.

— This is my first birth, everything was new and a little scary, but the staff did everything possible to facilitate the process, — said the young mother. — Then they helped me with recovery and child care. It is convenient that the maternity hospital has an MFC office. This helps a lot: you can quickly and effortlessly issue a baby's birth certificate right on the spot.

Kristina Dainakova, a resident of Severodvinsk (Arkhangelsk Region), also gave birth in the same maternity hospital in 2024. The woman told Izvestia that during pregnancy she was diagnosed with a rather dangerous pathology — a violation of blood flow.

— I work as an obstetrician-gynecologist myself. During pregnancy, I was diagnosed with a pathology, there was a blood flow disorder, in which I could only give birth in the perinatal center. And I decided to give birth in Moscow. Besides, I have friends in the capital who gave birth at the Filatov maternity hospital, and they liked it. And I decided to go too. I called the hotline, chose the doctor I liked and made an appointment for a consultation," she said.

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According to Kristina, she remained "wildly delighted" with the hospital and the careful attitude of doctors.

"I was admitted on an emergency basis and was under extreme stress," the woman recalls. — They treated me very kindly, they encouraged me with jokes in the reception department. Then a council of doctors and even the head of the maternity hospital came to the ward. We had a conversation about the need for an emergency caesarean section. It didn't hurt at all. I've seen women come out of anesthesia before, what kind of pain they have and how they scream. Here, I didn't feel anything, the pain relief protocol was top notch. Four hours later, I was able to calmly get up and leave.

As the young mother noted, there were comfortable rooms and good food in the postpartum department, staff call buttons are located everywhere — you can immediately call the midwife if you feel unwell.

— I liked that the maternity hospital has the status of a child-friendly hospital (awarded by WHO and UNICEF to medical institutions that create conditions for breastfeeding support. — Ed.). It's immediately applied to the chest,— Kristina said. — Doctors work strictly according to evidence-based medicine, no obscurantism. That's why I'm happy that I had the opportunity to go to Moscow and have a quiet birth.

"If I gave birth again, I would go to Moscow again"

Evgenia Fedotova from the village of Silver Ponds near Moscow participated in the "Birth in Moscow" program in 2023. She told Izvestia that she found out about this possibility by accident when she was searching the Internet for what things to buy for a newborn.

— There are convenient memos and checklists on the project's website, — the woman explained. — I am not registered in Moscow, but I saw that there is a program under which nonresidents can give birth under a compulsory medical insurance policy. I compared three different maternity hospitals, signed up for field trips there, and met the doctors.

A resident of the Moscow region said that she had only good impressions.

"If I were to give birth again, I would go there again," admitted Evgenia. — I had the most ordinary natural birth, I asked for an epidural, and they did it right away. The doctors were helpful. When we were discharged, we were given a box for a newborn, it had very useful contents.

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How to arrange childbirth in Moscow according to compulsory medical insurance

There are six perinatal centers, five maternity hospitals and 16 women's health centers in Moscow, the Moscow Department of Health told Izvestia. Doctors accompany you at all stages — from preparation for pregnancy to postpartum recovery and follow-up of the child.

A woman from any Russian region can give birth free of charge in Moscow under a compulsory medical insurance policy. To do this, you must submit a request by calling the hotline or on the website of the Childbirth in Moscow project. The curator will help you choose a maternity hospital in accordance with the wishes of the expectant mother and the peculiarities of the course of pregnancy. If a woman has a pathology, you need to arrive at the hospital a few days in advance.

The compulsory medical insurance policy in Moscow provides services for monitoring pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care for mother and child. In addition, women have free access to partner births, extended neonatal screening, follow-up by specialized specialists if necessary, as well as breastfeeding consultations and support from a psychologist.

Young mothers can be visited by relatives, and a child's birth certificate can be issued directly at the hospital. As a gift, parents are offered a set for the baby or monetary compensation.

"All obstetric hospitals are part of the structure of large multidisciplinary city hospitals," the Metropolitan Department of Health recalled. "This allows patients and newborns to have round—the-clock access to diagnostics, laboratory tests, surgical care, intensive care, and consultations with specialized specialists."

In addition, the capital has a prenatal diagnostic system that allows for early detection of genetic and congenital pathologies. All pregnant women undergo prenatal screening tests three times.

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If a child requires long-term care, he may be transferred to the Department of pathology of newborns and premature babies. Many of them provide for the mother and child to stay together.

Most Moscow maternity hospitals and perinatal centers regularly hold open days, tours of maternity and postpartum wards, schools for expectant parents, and meetings with obstetricians and gynecologists. Classes on preparing for partner childbirth, as well as psychological consultations, are available for expectant mothers and dads for free.