Giving Birth in Greece as an Expat: What You Need to Know

How does the Greek maternity system work? What's the deal with the C-section rate? What if I don't speak Greek? What happens if something goes wrong and I can't communicate with the medical team?

If you are expecting and living in Greece - or planning to move there before your baby arrives - you probably have questions. A lot of them!

I work with English-speaking expat families in Greece every week, and these questions come up in many conversations. So let's go through a few things together - the stuff the internet doesn't make easy to find, and the things most people only learn the hard way.

Photo by Ame Taha - Unsplash

Public, private - or something else entirely?

Most people assume there are two options in Greece: public hospital or private clinics/ OBs. But there is a third path - more popular abroad - that's worth knowing about, especially if you are looking for a more personalised, less medicalised experience.

Public hospitals

Care in public hospitals is covered by social insurance (if you have AMKA and are registered with the EOPYY). The cost is minimal, and the medical teams are experienced - Greek public hospitals handle a high volume of births. The trade-off is less personalisation: you will likely be seen by whichever doctor is on shift, unless your doctor works in one of these hospitals, the facilities can feel clinical, and English-speaking staff are not guaranteed.

Private clinics

This option gives you more control. You can choose your OB-GYN, and they are usually the person by your side during your labour and birth - not whoever happens to be on shift. That's a big difference from systems like the NHS. The rooms tend to feel more comfortable, and pregnant people generally have more say over their experience. The downside? Cost. A straightforward vaginal birth in a private clinic can range from €2,000–€5,000+, and a ceasarean birth might be more likely. Some private insurance plans may cover part of this, and the governments offers an allowance. but check the criteria and your insurance policy carefully - maternity cover varies a lot.

Independent midwives and homebirth

This is the option fewer people know about, but it's becoming more popular in Greece. Independent midwives offer continuity of care throughout your pregnancy, labour, and postpartum, meaning that you build a relationship with one person who truly knows you, your situation and your preferences. Some of them, support hospital births as a birth companion alongside your OB, while others attend homebirths. Homebirth is legal in Greece, though it's not widely practised and finding an experienced, English-speaking independent midwife takes some research. If this path interests you, start looking early - the number of midwives offering this kind of care is still relatively small, especially in English.

There is no "right" or "wrong" choice. It depends on your budget, your preferences, your insurance, your situation, your risk factors, and what kind of birth experience matters most to you. What is very important, is that you understand what is available so that you can make an informed decision - not one based on assumptions based on a different country's system.

The C-section rate - and why it may matter to an expat

Greece has one of the highest C-section rates in Europe. In private clinics, estimates put it at over 60%. In public hospitals, it's lower but still above the WHO-recommended range.

I'm not saying this to scare you and it doesn't mean that you will have a C-section. But it does mean you need to have an honest conversation with your OB about their personal rate, their approach to intervention, and what circumstances would lead them to recommend one. It is also important for you to have this information so that you can be better prepared. If your doctor seems uncomfortable with that conversation, then that tells you something..

Being informed about this isn't being "difficult". It's being a good advocate for yourself or your partner - especially when you are navigating the system in a language that may not be your first.

Finding a care provider you can actually communicate with

Here is something that catches a lot of expats off guard: if you go the OB-GYN route in Greece, your doctor is typically the person who is present during your labour and birth. It is not like the UK or other countries where you see a midwife throughout pregnancy and then whoever is on the ward is there when the time comes. In Greece, you build a relationship with your OB, and they show up for you.

If you are working with an independent midwife, you get that same continuity - often even moreso, since midwifery-led care tends to be more hands-on throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period.

Either way, choosing the right person is one of the most important decisions you'll make. And "right" doesn't just mean qualified - it means someone you can communicate with clearly, you feel safe and you trust, especially under pressure.

Many OB-GYNs in Athens and other major cities speak English well. But there is a difference between conversational English in a calm consultation room and clear, nuanced communication during active labour. Ask about this directly - whether there will be English-speaking midwives and nursing staff too. Don't assume and don't expect that your partner will be able to handle all the information, interpretation, as well as supporting and advocating for you.

If you are considering an independent midwife, ask the same questions if you need to and also ask about their experience with international families, their approach to transfers if needed, and how they coordinate with hospitals. If you are in a smaller city or on an island, your options may be more limited. This is where preparation becomes even more critical - having a birth plan in both English and Greek, knowing key medical vocabulary, and having a support person who can bridge the gap if needed.

Your rights at the hospital

You have the right to:

• Be informed about every procedure before it happens - in a language you understand

• Consent to or decline interventions

• Have a birth companion with you (in most hospitals a birth partner is allowed but make sure you check the specific hospital's policies - some might need the partner to attend a seminar first)

• Request skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth

• Ask questions and receive clear answers

  
  

I know that you are probably aware of the above but it can always be a good reminder to have them on paper. And they do exist on paper. In practice, exercising them requires preparation - especially if there is a language barrier. A written birth plan in Greek, a supportive OB, and advance conversations with your hospital all help close the gap between what you are entitled to and what actually happens on the day.

What I would tell you if you were sitting across from me right now

Start early. Don't wait until your third trimester to figure out how the system works. Whether you are leaning toward an OB in a private clinic, a public hospital, or an independent midwife - start exploring your options now and have the honest conversations early. Ask about C-section rates, about language, about their philosophy of care, about what happens if plans change.

Talk to other expats who have given birth in Greece. Not to scare yourself, but to learn from their experience. What would they do differently? What surprised them? What helped?

And if you want structured support through all of this - that is exactly what I do. I run antenatal courses designed specifically for English-speaking expat parents in Greece. We cover everything in this post and much much more, tailored to your situation.

Your next step:

I've put together a free guide to giving birth in Greece - it covers the system, the choices, the practical details, and the things I wish every expat parent knew before their due date.

And if you would rather talk it through one-on-one, you can book a free discovery call and we will figure out together what support makes sense for where you are right now.