Thousands of babies are born in Italy to Bangladeshi mothers every year. The National Health Service guarantees a pregnancy care pathway that many newly arrived women don’t know about.
What is free
- Pregnancy check-ups and tests — scans, blood tests, regular checks — are exempt from fees when prescribed for monitoring the pregnancy.
- Antenatal classes organised by local health authorities.
- Giving birth in a public hospital and post-natal care.
The family clinic (consultorio)
Consultori are public ASL services with midwives, gynaecologists, psychologists and social workers. You can go without a doctor’s referral. They offer pregnancy check-ups, breastfeeding support, contraception and help in difficult situations. Many cities have a cultural mediator: ask whether someone speaks Bengali.
Women without a residence permit
Pregnancy and childbirth care is also guaranteed to undocumented women, with an STP code. The law forbids the expulsion of pregnant women and of mothers up to six months after the birth; during this period they can apply for a residence permit for medical treatment.
After the birth
- The baby must be registered with the civil registrar within 10 days (at the town hall) or within 3 days at the hospital.
- The baby must be registered with the health service and assigned a paediatrician.
- The parents’ residence permit must be updated with the new child and, where applicable, an application made for the child allowance.
