One year ago, HM Nou Delfos Hospital launched its new Maternity Unit, designed with a modern and renewed concept of motherhood to meet the needs of 21st-century families. In its first year, the unit has assisted over 300 births, fulfilling the demand of many women who wish to be the main agents in their birth experience.
Coordinated by Dr Carmen Medina and Dr Andrea Molina, the HM Nou Delfos Maternity Unit was created with a forward-thinking mindset and the goal of supporting the physiological process of labour as much as possible, while providing continuous care for families. As long as the health of mother and baby allows, unnecessary medical interventions are avoided.
According to Dr Andrea Molina: “The HM Hospitales childbirth care model is focused on transforming the birth experience, prioritising respect for the woman, her right to make informed decisions, and a deep understanding of birth physiology. Every woman experiences childbirth in her own way, and our aim is to provide a supportive environment where she can lead her own process.”
Dr Carmen Medina adds: “This philosophy and protocol seek to respect the physiological rhythm of labour, uphold the woman’s autonomy, promote shared decision-making between professionals and families, and intervene only when medically necessary for the safety of the mother and baby. Any necessary intervention is always carried out according to protocol and based on scientific evidence. Furthermore, all actions are clearly explained and agreed upon, with the aim of creating a setting where women feel respected and accompanied throughout.”
Advanced expertise in External Cephalic Version (ECV)
HM Nou Delfos Maternity Unit is one of the few private centres in Barcelona to offer External Cephalic Version (ECV)—a procedure performed in the final weeks of pregnancy when the baby is in breech position. It involves gently guiding the baby into the correct head-down position and can reduce the number of caesarean sections due to breech presentation by up to 40%.
The unit features spacious, modern facilities and advanced technology: a Level II neonatal ICU with capacity for seven newborns, two Labour, Delivery and Recovery rooms—one of which is equipped with a birthing tub for natural water birth—dilation and observation areas, 17 inpatient rooms and a 24-hour Emergency Department.
360º patient care
Since opening, the HM Nou Delfos Maternity Unit has become the reference centre for all women in Catalonia choosing to give birth with HM Hospitales. Pregnancy follow-up can continue at any of the group’s clinics in the region, with coordinated care across the network. This allows HM Hospitales to offer patients in Catalonia truly integrated, 360º care through a network of centres that accompany patients throughout all stages of life.
Dr Julio García Prieto, Medical Director at HM Nou Delfos, shares a very positive assessment of the unit’s first year: “We have exceeded our initial expectations. When we made the decision to bring this service back, we knew we had to offer families something extra—especially considering the ongoing decline in birth rates in Spain. We couldn’t rely on a guaranteed volume of births, so our focus had to be on quality, and we’ve achieved that.
We’ve assisted over 300 births with the mother at the centre, respecting her wishes whenever the health conditions allowed. Beyond labour support, our specialists also carry out postnatal activities such as newborn care support, physical and mental health follow-up, breastfeeding and parenting consultations, and baby first-aid training courses—all of which have been highly appreciated by families.”
Dr Lidón Millá, Regional Director of HM Hospitales in Catalonia, affirms: “Good work always pays off. Some called us ‘crazy’ for opening a Maternity Unit while others were closing theirs in the city, but we’ve shown that times are changing—and so are the needs of today’s families.
Expectant mothers are more informed and no longer accept everything blindly; their opinions matter. With the experience we’ve gained, our goal for 2025 is to reach 500 births, and we’re already working on improvements—because there’s always something we can do better.”
