V julijski številki e-novic Mednarodnega porodnega združenja MamaOtrok (IMBCO www.imbco.org) je bilo objavljeno poročilo Zalke Drglin, zastopnice IMBCO za Slovenijo.

 SLOVENIA UPDATE

2010 was an exciting year for Slovenia in relationship to improving birthing services. In the beginning of 2010 Slovenia's Ministry of Health announced plans to allow women to give birth outside of hospitals. Currently, most women give birth in one of fourteen maternity hospitals; freestanding birth centers do not yet exist. This legislation would allow autonomous midwifery practices to be formed, create protocols for homebirths and a professional organization for homebirth practitioners, as well as expand options for birthing services.

Within the established maternity hospitals in Slovenia, one facility has begun piloting a "midwifery house." Recently opened, the midwifery house allows women to have natural childbirths with a midwife for an out-of-pocket fee. Slovenia's IMBCI country representative is hopeful that the new "midwifery house" will enable the midwifery paradigm to be further implemented around the country. Finally, the Natural Beginnings Society, (locally known as Mama Zofa), which operates as the sole national NGO in Slovenia dedicated to improving maternity care, celebrated its tenth year in 2010. In August, 2010, this NGO created a document entitled, "Our Common Goal: Excellent Maternity Care in Slovenia."

Despite these advances, there remains much to change. Slovenian women are only permitted one companion in labor, and children are prohibited as it is considered an "unacceptable practice" by Slovenian health care practitioners. This limits the possibility of both doula and the  patient's partner to be present, as well as children. Additionally, discussions are circulating about the possibility to completely centralize maternity units, thereby closing units with fewer 1,000 births per year on the grounds of being unsafe. While the medical establishment supports this measure, women and local citizens' representatives are largely opposed. Closures of small units would also limit access to medical back-up for freestanding birth centers and homebirths in less populated areas