Russians specially go to Argentina to give birth to a child. For what?

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"Between the decision to have children and emigration for us, there was always an equal sign"

Lena Tretyakova, 34 years old, former bass player of the Ranetki group, clinical psychologist and gestalt-therapist

My wife Diana and I initially planned to give birth not in Russia. Between the decision to have children and emigration for us, there was always an equal sign for us, because we wanted our child to grow in a free country where people are not divided by their race, skin color, orientation, weight and other signs. We wanted to be able to just live and not be afraid. I really love Russia, but the lack of freedom to be myself is too much price for the right to live there.

In January 2022, we chose Argentina for childbirth. We were attracted that the child automatically receives the citizenship of this country, and for parents the procedure for obtaining it is greatly simplified. A strong passport that guarantees an entrance without a visa in 170 countries was also a powerful argument in favor of Argentina.

We flew to Buenos Aires in June when I was at the 32nd week of pregnancy. Before that, I flew to Argentina in the 2010s on the shooting of the show “Cruel Games”, but then my acquaintance with the country was short and lubricated. Before you come here, my wife and I read a lot about theft, a criminal atmosphere, but did not encounter anything like it in eight months of life in Buenos Aires. Of course, at first, since they were scared by all these stories, did not get phones on the street, bypassed large companies and held bags at hand. But all this quickly passed.

Argentina is a leisurely country, where there are queues everywhere, and they always move very, very slowly. But for pregnant bursts do not exist: they are passed everywhere, good people literally take you to the cash desk by the handle. So being pregnant in Argentina is a special buzz.

The team with which we entered into a pregnancy contract helped me a lot. We were met at the airport, settled in temporary housing, answered questions about the city and driven to the doctors. Thanks to them, we also made all the documents for the child quickly - and immediately went to permanent residence and citizenship.

I gave birth in a paid Aleman hospital with insurance. Pretty quickly I decided on the doctor and thanks to the Dowl-Transer, who was with us at every appointment, she could ask all the questions that interest me five hundred times. The ward was separate, for the wife there was a sofa nearby, where she slept, but, of course, you can give birth and absolutely free. This is just a question of your comfort, knowledge, language, time and effort.

Another significant plus of Argentina - here all families have equal rights. My wife was with me at all receptions with doctors, ultrasound and childbirth. And they didn’t even look at us askance, which, of course, is very cool. In general, I had a wonderful, very comfortable childbirth. The doctor and his team were incredibly caring, always in dialogue with us, explained everything and cared about me.

Boom for childbirth in Argentina among Russians can really be seen. If earlier Russian-speaking people in the city center could be found once every two to three weeks, now we are joking that if you have met a pregnant woman in Palermo and she is not Russian, then it is time to make a desire. My wife and I have not yet been able to make a desire.

Now everything is happy with us in Argentina: an excellent climate, an abundance of fruits and vegetables, incredible nature and very friendly people. In the near future we plan to go on a big trip around the country, then, perhaps throughout Latin America. And what will happen next, we do not make.

"We make up a negligible percentage of the total number of migrants"

Galina Tolstoy, 36 years old, used to work in a construction company in St. Petersburg

The decision on childbirth in Argentina was made by the husband: he was attracted by the opportunity to obtain a second citizenship. And I first of all considered childbirth abroad as an opportunity to change my child’s life for the better. In Argentina, we were also attracted by a high level of free medicine, and we also thought that Spanish would learn us easier than other languages.

At the same time, we were concerned about the financial issue. The flight and rental of housing for a long time is expensive, and the transition to remote work negatively affected her husband's income. Paid birth is standing around four to five thousand dollars, depending on the clinic and other factors. Caesarean is also paid additionally, as well as neonatological assistance to the child, if necessary. Due to the fact that it cannot be known in advance which of these services will be needed, we did not contact private clinics-I gave birth in a state hospital. As a result, our trip lasted six months and cost us somewhere in 10-15 thousand dollars. Yes, even with free births.

I arrived in Buenos Aires for the first time-then I was already at the 35th week of pregnancy. Before my arrival, Argentina seemed to me a poor country with a difficult political situation and pronounced inequality in society. But it turned out that social support, a comfortable urban environment and very friendly people, always ready to help, are well developed there.

This goodwill was striking in the hospital: the staff treated children with sincere love. All postpartum procedures - examinations of doctors, taking tests and even vaccination - were carried out in the ward for my comfort. I never had to go out somewhere, leaving the child alone.

How my birth went through, I was also satisfied. First of all, a large staff of doctors surprised: almost 10 people were engaged in my birth. Friends said that in the Russian maternity hospitals, the staff is now categorically lacking. When I myself was observed in Russia, I had to go to my doctor in different clinics and go to receptions to various gynecologists who could even cancel each other's appointments. It was very inconvenient.

The Argentines of the Russians arrive differently, but basically adequately: they understand that we have a difficult situation and we are forced to go. Plus, we make up a negligible percentage of the total number of migrants: there are much more Peruvians and Bolivians.

Our family has never encountered negatives. But we know that the attitude towards the Russians has changed in clinics due to the fact that some refuse to give children vaccinations. Some clinics also introduced a condition: now Russian women in labor are required to come with a translator. The fact is that the local medical staff often does not speak English, and online translators, sometimes, are also mistaken.

"We were surrounded by such care, from which we are even a little tired"

Maria Rzaeva, 30 years old, journalist from St. Petersburg

Photo: Daria Gonikhina / Archive of Maria Rzaeva

Long before pregnancy, I saw on the Internet a list of countries where the “right of soil” is in force (the principle according to which the child has the right to receive citizenship of the country in which he was born, even if his parents are illiterate this country. - approx. “Cold”) . Then I allocated Argentina for myself as the most “Europeanized” from the Latin American countries that were on the list. But we never seriously thought about moving. We were born and lived all our lives in St. Petersburg, did the local media “paper” there, and, if not for the war, we would not have to move and look for a second citizenship for our child. They mouse that our child needs another, not Russian passport, since we can allocate money and money for this. He is just a little boy and is not to blame for what is happening now. He should have alternatives in life.

Neither I nor my husband Cyril were in Argentina, and we had some fears. The delight with which our acquaintances and just people on the Internet talked about life in Argentina was alarming us. We also thought that in Argentina a high level of crime, and we were also bothered by the big difference in time with Russia - it seemed that it would not be easy to work - and a long flight.

But we decided. We landed in Argentina on September 21, 2022, and the flight was nervous not only because I was at the 32nd week of pregnancy and for the first time flew a transatlantic flight, but also because, sitting on a plane, we knew that Putin and Shoigu was planned (they announced mobilization in Russia on September 21, 2022.-Note of the Cold) . I had thoughts to fly later to have time to do more work before leaving. Moreover, most airlines allow flights to the 36th week of pregnancy. But the husband insisted on going early. And I am very grateful to him for this, because at the 36th week I already gave birth to a child. If we arrived at a later date, I would simply not have time to choose a doctor.

We found an agency that helped rent an apartment, find a doctor and was engaged in the transfer of all documents. Understanding that we are waiting for us there and help will be given confidence. For everyone who can afford to pay for the agent’s services, I advise you to do this, because after the birth of a child I want to concentrate on it, and not on pieces of paper.

Arriving in Argentina, we realized that we were in vain feared high crime. We felt completely safe there. And in general, we were struck by the similarity of Buenos Aires with European cities. We quickly realized that Argentina is not an exotic, not jungle.

We gave birth to a fee, although we knew that you can count on the same high level of medical care for free. But in paid hospitals, things are better with domestic conditions. We had a separate chamber, similar to a hotel, with a shower and a toilet, a bed for a father and a medical-related transformer for a mother, a cradle for a child. Every 45 minutes, nurses with medicines came to us for me, nurses who checked the baby, breastfeeding consultants, maids who cleaned our ward and brought food. At some point, even a children's hairdresser came to us to cut a baby. I did not know at all before that there was such a service! In general, we were surrounded by such care, from which we are a little tired.

We were looking for a doctor first of all - Otamendi’s clinic chose, because the doctor that we liked worked there. Childbirth with our stay in the hospital cost us two and a half thousand dollars. I did not make a cesarean section, and the child, fortunately, did not need a resuscitation. Both that and the other would increase the cost. We contributed two more dollars as a bail - they were returned to us. The bail was needed in case we needed the aforementioned unscheduled services. As far as I know from the agent, now prices have become a little higher, but I can’t say reliably if they grew due to the wildest inflation or influx of patients from Russia.

I gave birth for the first time, and I can only compare my experience with a mass of terrible stories that I heard about Russian maternity houses. It is difficult for me to imagine that in the Argentine hospital someone shouted at women in labor or forced them to clean up in the ward. There really are all very friendly, very affectionate to young mothers. I was also pleased that the husband and translator were with me in childbirth. It was very painful and scary to me, and I can’t imagine what I would be in a toxic environment or without people who hold my hand.

As the parents of the child born in Argentina, we received the right to permanent residence and after a while we will receive DNI cards.

DNI is a document of national identification, which is issued by Argentina citizens, as well as foreigners with a permanent or temporary residence permit. The parents of the child who was born in Argentina have the right to apply for a permanent residence permit and Argentine citizenship without the need for living in the country for two years.

Soon we left Argentina because we have business in Europe. We were one of the few clients of our agency who left the country after childbirth. But after September 21, the number of departing decreased sharply.

People remain because in Argentina is good and inexpensive for those who make money in other countries. The Russians, according to my feelings, do not feel negativity from the local. Argentinean society is concerned about what is happening in Ukraine is not as much as people in Europe. For many Russians, this also becomes an argument for moving to Argentina. I am glad that the Argentine passport guarantees my child access to life in a country where, albeit an unstable economy, but there is excellent medicine and a free good education.

Argentina also attracts many Russians atmosphere of total freedom. You can be anyone, demonstrate any interests, have any features - and still you will be part of this society, where it is customary to be friendly and love each other.