-Published: Monday, December 9, 2019-




By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The staff of the neonatology ward of the Max Terán Vals Hospital in Quepos in Puntarenas is delivering to the families, the babies born there dressed in Christmas baby clothes.

This is the project called Little Stars Lighting Christmas, due to in the baby's clothes. A star is embroidered on the chest with the words: love peace, joy, faith and hope. This according to Karina Espinoza Cantillo, a physician, generates “feelings in the mother and her family about what this special moment represents, the arrival of one more member in the family."

As part of the Little Stars project, the staff also gives a gift to the mother, a photo of her baby.

According to Social Security, the Quepos hospital is one of the few public hospitals to have individual delivery rooms.


Another public hospital, located in Los Chiles in the northern zone of the country, in Alajuela,  a similar project is being made during this month. There babies are discharged with a scarf and a Christmas hat.

According to statistics provided by Social Security, in 2018 there were 64,291 births, for an average of 176 deliveries daily.

This data is equivalent to 94% of the total births throughout Costa Rica. The remaining 6% are children born in clinics, emergency rooms or elsewhere.

In 2018, the San Vicente de Paul Hospital in Heredia was where more deliveries were performed with 4,968. The hospital also had the privilege of attending the birth of the official five millionth child in September.

Other public hospitals that exceeded 4,000 deliveries in 2018 were the Calderón Guardia Hospital, the Maternidad Carit and the San Juan de Dios Hospital, all located in San Jose.





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Have you heard about children of expats born in public hospitals in Costa Rica?  We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com