My first birth was in the UK, second in rome (in Grassi) and then I decided come hell or high water my 3rd would be in the UK, which it was, and I was at home within 12 hours having a nice cup of tea with the family. So I guess that says enough without going into the sad details!
Good to have a tip about hospitals in Rome eh Claire? I have also heard good things about Fate Bene Fratelli. So you may have a nice choice and you can go and have a look yourself too!
I have a neighbour who would always tell me my kids feet were cold in 40degree heat. At one point I was going crazy with all the unsolicited 'advice' I was getting. In the end I just said 'ci penso io' (I'll take care of it) but sometimes I would loose my temper. One time I was going down the street and one of the kids was on a tricycle and it really wasn't working out. A mother coming the other way told me it was dangerous (which I could see for myself, and I was struggling with tricycle, double buggy and 2 kids), I practically bit her head off and she said 'god i was only saying...' I felt so bad afterwards, coz she was right, and only being 'Italian' but it was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Now I remember the worst story was when I got my 2.5 yr old Matteo locked in the car, with the keys in the ignition. It was summer, so really hot and i was in the super market carpark and I couldnt get the car open (long story and quite ingenious way of getting yourself locked out of the car), and he was strapped in his car seat in the back. I was going crazy, he was crying, and this stupid Italian Nonna came over and started shouting him instructions, and I was furious, matteo didn't speak italian and there was this crazy woman shouting at him and he was trapped in the car, and i kept telling her to go away, but she wouldnt listen. in the end I screamed at her, and giuli was so embaressed, and she was saying she was only a normal person trying to help, and i was telling she was an interfering old cow who should go away and mind her own business..at least that's what i meant, but god know what i actually said. People were stopping in the street to watch the drama. After a certain point I remembered the back windows were manual and matteo rolled the window down and we drove off...didn't go back to that gs for quite a while!!!!!!!!