Fewer restrictions at maternity hospitals

As of next year Czech women will have more freedom in choosing how they wish to give birth. Although doctors are still strictly against home births which they consider potentially extremely risky, a change of legislation will allow women to give birth in hospitals with only a midwife present. Under such circumstances the midwife’s fee would be covered by health insurance. Women who have given birth will also be able to ask to be released from hospital within hours. At present they remain hospitalized for three days in order to rule out post-natal complications to mother and child.