Pregnant in Bogota!

Bill Turley says on Oct 20, 2007, 06:47:

I think if you call any of the better clinics such as Shio and Santa Fe and just ask for an OB that speaks English and you might be surprised. I have seen several doctors and all of them speak some English and many have studied in the USA

Mr. Bill Somondoco

Tinto (Moderator) says on Oct 20, 2007, 07:05:

The list below came from the Blue Cross/Blue Shield international site. Both of the hospitals Bill mentioned are included. I don't know how much research/qualification work BCBS does before they decide to put a hospital on the list but other members have mentioned that places like Fundacion Santa Fe and Clinica del Country are top notch.
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Clinica De Marly
General Hospital Calle 50 #9-67
Bogota, Colombia
57 1 343 6600

Clinica Del Country
General Hospital Carrera 16 #82-57
Bogota, Colombia
57 1 530 1720

Clinica Shaio
General Hospital Avenida 54, No. 104
Bogota, Colombia
57 1 271 0600

Fundacion Santa Fe De Bogota
General Hospital Calle 116 #9-02
Bogota, Colombia
57 1 603 0303

Hospital Universitario Clinica San Rafael
General Hospital Carrera 8, #17-45
Bogota, Colombia
57 1 272 9900

Clinica Reina Sofia
General Hospital Carrera 31
Bogota, Colombia
57 1 658 4053

Rob77 says on Oct 20, 2007, 08:16:

When I was younger, everyone said Fundacion was the best, and they definitely have doctors who studied in the states. Lately many people have been telling me that Reina Sofia is considered the best. But the address for Reina Sofia doesn't look right, unless they have 2 locations. The one I am familiar with is on Calle 127, next to the Autopista.

I think you are smart to look for a US-educated Doc, because the mortality rate is very high here. Though it is probably related to poor prenatal care. But, I was surprised to learn how many mothers have died giving birth here.

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

Cerealkiller says on Oct 20, 2007, 09:38:

svdo congrats on your pregnancy. Fundacion Santa Fe and Clinica del Country are your best options, you will get top doctors at both places. In reagrds to the high mortality rates someone mentioned earlier, I would say they are entirely poverty related, if you dont have a doctor in your town chances are you'll die...I have never heard of someone dying during childbirth other than in soapoperas, so I wouldnt worry about that. Best of Lucks!

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

Desideria (Moderator) says on Oct 20, 2007, 09:56:

I had both of my kids in Colombia (they're all grown-up now) and you don't have to worry about maternal mortality as it only affects women of low-income families and out in the countryside and villages with no hospitals, no running water, no sanitation, but plenty of poverty and ignorance.

I didn't live in Bogotá, but I don't think you'll have any problem finding a doctor (obstetrician) who speaks English. You might also want to have an English-speaking pediatrician available at the time of the birth.

Enjoy your pregnancy, it's a lovely time in a woman's life (well, most women's!), eat plenty of fresh fruit and remember that if not before, now you've got a licence to be cranky and capricious about just about everything:)) and get away with it.

Cheers,
Desi

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

Rob77 says on Oct 20, 2007, 10:53:

Actually Cereal, a friend of mine's best friend died giving birth in Clinica Del Country. She was not excessively young or old and had prenatal care. It really stood out in my mind, that is why I mentioned getting a US trained Doc. When I looked into it further, I found statistics showing it is not the exception here.

I am not trying to worry the future mom. Just point out the benefit of having a US-trained Doc.

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

Desideria (Moderator) says on Oct 20, 2007, 11:08:

Sorry to hear of your friend's wife. Do you really think it would've made any difference if the doctor had been US-trained?

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

Rob77 says on Oct 20, 2007, 11:19:

I can only share from personal observation. Maybe some personnel are just overworked here, or maybe they don't share the same sense of professional committment. I do know that is included in the education in countries like the US. I have less faith in the mid-wives and nurses here, and if it were me, I would feel more secure knowing a US-trained Doc was supervising them.

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

Desideria (Moderator) says on Oct 20, 2007, 11:46:

I'm only asking because I felt totally at ease and had total confidence in my Colombian-born, Colombia-trained obstetrician. I would not have ever questioned their professional merits, but of course, I lack the point of comparison since I have not given birth neither in USA or in Sweden.

"I have opinions of my own, strong opinions, but I don't always agree with them."-President George W. Bush

Cerealkiller says on Oct 20, 2007, 15:15:

Rob sorry to hear about your friends wife. I do know that most of mothers who die during childbirth in colombia are usually poor and dont have enough resources to see a doctor. Delivering a baby is a pretty simple procedure when mother and baby are healthy.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

Monpirri says on Oct 20, 2007, 16:23:

Boy, that's is new to me, I did not know that in Colombia there was a high rate of death while giving birth to a child. I know usually poverty is the guilty party but don't they have clinicas de salud publicas in Colombia?
What part of Colombia are you from?

Annette Taddeo for US Congress 2008

svdo2006 says on Oct 20, 2007, 17:32:

Thanks tons for all the info. What are the conditions like in the delivery rooms? Does anyone have any actual names of recommended doctors? I appreciate it!

Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 20, 2007, 18:43:

Congrats on the pregnancy. We had a baby in Bogota and it was a great experience. Post an email address and I'll give you the recommendation of both a great OB and a great pediatrician, too.

BTW, we've also had a kid in the US, in one of the most respected hospitals there, and I'd rank the experience at Clinica del Country favorably.

Peter (Moderator) says on Oct 21, 2007, 01:22:

My wife had prenatal care in Colombia and I felt totally at ease with the quality of care (in Profamilia, a "cheap" place). In fact, I felt more at ease than I would have going to a doctor in the USA (I lived in the US for 5 years).

However, if you are giving birth in Colombia, be aware that in many places, they are kind of old-fashioned in the sense that they may not respect the mothers' wishes for a natural birth and will easily move to a C-section when it might not be required (because it's more convenient for the doctor). At least, those are the stories I heard from friends who had their baby in Colombia.

Poor but snappy

Rob77 says on Oct 21, 2007, 05:24:

I am no expert on the subject. My impression came solely from experiences related to me. I too assumed the majority of the problem came from the country-side, for lack of medical-care, heavy use of mid-wives, etc. I was surprised to hear of this occurring in places like Clinica Del Country. I know there are some highly trained folks available. I just have a bias towards Docs trained in more developed countries.

The topic made me curious about world stats on Maternal Mortality. So I checked with WHO. Theirs stats show that, while Colombia certainly has a far higher rate than countries like Australia, US, UK and Costa Rica, on a world scale Colombia is doing far better than many developing countries.

WHO puts the per 100k rates at:

Denmark and Sweden 3, Australia and Spain 4, Canada 7, UK and France 8, US 11, Chile 16, Saudi Arabia 18, Uruguay 20, Costa Rica 30, Venezuela 57, Mexico 60, Argentina 77, Brazil 110, COLOMBIA, Panama and Egypt 130, Dominican Republic 150, El Salvador and Nicaragua 170, Ecuador 210, Peru 240, Honduras 280, Bolivia and Guatemala 290, South Africa 400, India 450

Countries in Africa were at the extreme high end of the scale, like Nigeria 1100, Rwanda 1300, and Sierra Leone 2100. Of course, these are just countries I selected from the report. If anyone is interested in the complete list, it's on page 23: http://www.who.int/reproductive-health/publications/maternal_mortality...

BOYCOTT CITGO - CHAVEZ SUCKS!!!

Mr. Hollywood says on Oct 21, 2007, 09:01:

I think countrywide mortality rates are a too broad of a statistic to have much meaning as a point of comparison when we're talking about a couple really high quality hospitals in the most affluent section of the capital city of Colombia.

I don't doubt a country with 50% living below the poverty level has terrible infant mortality problems, but it's likely concentrated in those who are getting little or no medical care, period.

Our Colombian OB-GYN was locally educated but really up on things. Our pediatrician, I think, went to Harvard or one of those little schools.

Man Tequila says on Oct 21, 2007, 11:39:

Medical care in Colombia is very good at larger hospitals. You have little to fear.

Colombia has a lot of poverty but generally decent medical care. It ranks almost exactly in the middle of the pack in infant mortality rate (before age one). The US ranks about 40th in infant mortality rate, mainly due to poverty, rural distribution of doctors, and insurance. Poor states do worse.

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/hea_inf_mor_rat-health-infant-mortal...

http://www.statemaster.com/graph/hea_inf_dea_rat-health-infant-death-r...

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

ColombianitaintheUSA says on Oct 23, 2007, 08:43:

I don't know if he is still in Bogotá but you can try looking him up in the white pages. His name is Dr. Jose Pimiento.

Cerealkiller says on Oct 23, 2007, 16:20:

Colombianita, Dr Pimiento is not an ObGyn...no longer in Bogota either.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill