What's Finnish for 'epidural'!?

[strawberry]

too right- epidurals/drugs are fantastic. Don't let anyone (especially someone who hasn't given birth) say otherwise!

HEAR! HEAR!

My baby was also unaffected by the drug.

One of the best things of it all!

Would these people like to have a tooth out with no pain killer I ask

Well, I once read an article (in early 90's) written by a male obs/gynae specialist and co-written by a male anaesthetist who compared "natural labour" with a procedure called "TURP" whereby the inside of the penis is kinda like planed down as the urethra is too narrow, and they were just wondering if any bloke would like to go through THAT without any anaesthesia whatsoever? So...

[alloydog]

...even walk around if you so wish.

Aha, that's difference, I could hardly walk before I had it

[squeak]

...even walk around if you so wish.

Aha, that's difference, I could hardly walk before I had it

Please don't try to put any of us women down who have exprienced the pain of childbirth. There are many factors involved and having a certain amount of mobility even if it is agony is one of the most crucial parts of the birth. Also no two births are alike and no two people are alike. It is obvious to me that you have no idea of what you're talking about and are just trying to wind us mothers up.

[alloydog]

...even walk around if you so wish.

Aha, that's difference, I could hardly walk before I had it

Please don't try to put any of us women down who have exprienced the pain of childbirth. There are many factors involved and having a certain amount of mobility even if it is agony is one of the most crucial parts of the birth. Also no two births are alike and no two people are alike. It is obvious to me that you have no idea of what you're talking about and are just trying to wind us mothers up. Jerk.

I wasn't putting anyone down !
I was just giving my experience of an epidural - and pointing out that mine was probably a bit of a larger dose than that which strawberry described, because I had a back injury, and wouldn't want to feel a thing at all whilst they snapped my verterbrœ back into place.

I guess after the past few weeks, light hearted comments are no longer permitted, so I'll just p!ss off and let straight laces take over.

[squeak]

Just a sensitive subject especially as some one has written in saying that they're worried about a coming big move and a first childbirth. Feelings do run high when it comes to childbirth and child care. Sorry if I jumped on your comments too hard but just makes me mad if there is the slight wiff of a put down when some of us are breaking our own backs trying to produce and bring up good people.
By the way, I don't write here very often as I do not have the "wit" that some of you lot think you have but I do read a lot. I have lived in Finland 10 years and am suprised that there is a community of English speakers tucked nicely behind their computers just putting eachother down and fighting for some kind of supremecy. Come on, why does everything have to be a joke on here? And anyway, I don't care what you write on here as I have nothing to do with the whole thing apart from desperatly trying to seek some English "conversation" so don't bacause of my hasty reaction pyss off! Don't you start over reacting and don't call me straight laced and I won't call you a jerk again!

[Julie]

Dear Hannah,

Try not to worry too much.
I also had my first baby here in Finland. Way up here in Oulu and like you I was worried about not being able to converse easily with the hospital staff. However, as soon as I was taken to the birthing room and they read my 'birth plan' where I'd written that if possible I'd prefer an English speaking midwife, they quickly re-arranged the staff and I got a fantastic midwife and assistant both of whom spoke excellent English and kept me informed all the time.

I was impressed with the aftercare as shortly after the birth, and a shower, a trolley with some snacks and drinks was brought to me and my husband and we were left alone for a little while to get to know our new baby.

During the next few days at the hospital I was assigned an English speaking nurse to help show me how to look after a new baby.

I think that in the Helsinki area you shouldn't have any problem in getting English speaking hospital staff since even in Oulu it was possible and we don't have as many foreigners up here.

Our baby was quite small so the health visitor came to our house to check-up her weight after a couple of days. I think usually you go to the 'neuvola' healthcentre unless the baby is less than 3kg when they come out to you.
Then there are the regular check-ups at the neuvola for the baby (weight/length measured and vaccinations).

Hope this puts your mind at ease, PM me if you want any more info,
Julie

[strawberry]

Hey, guys, calm down, eh??? Yes, Alloydog, I'm afraid it IS a sensitive issue, as you may have noticed... And I do understand where Squeak is coming from. It's all them American namby-pamby films (hullo, Phil, here's your cue to jump in! ) that make child birth look all cosy, fun and romantic... Well, we all here know it ain't, including our friend Alloy, I'm sure. (Why is it they never show an excruciating 48-hr-labour that ends up in an emergency cesarean, I wonder...)

Anyways, of course goes without saying epidural was not invented child birth in mind, it's used for heaps of other things and there are related methods, as the spinal block which in turn is used in (planned) cesarean sections so as the mum can stay awake, but OBVIOUSLY is not supposed to feel ANYthing...

But, you missed an important part in your quote, Alloy

with these ones you can (in theory, mind ) even walk around if you so wish

Personally, I would not have been able to walk about in my wildest dreams, but there you go, as Squeak says, everyone's different.

As for you, Hannah, sorry about all that side-tracking etc. As Julie says, try not to worry, I know of a number of English-speaking people who have given birth here in Helsinki and it'll all be absolutely fine! They even have a "line" in the local polytechnic where you can obtain midwife's (and nurse's) diploma with the language of instruction being English! So, it will really be ok, and is not comparable with you giving birth in, say, China. (please anyone who's Chinese or given birth in China, it was a mere hypothetical example. Thank you.) Honest. I cannot imagine a situation where they wouldn't do their utmost to find someone to assist you who can speak English. Please try not to worry about it, you've enough on your plate as it is. Easier said than done, I know.

Maternity care as such is slightly different in Finland to the one in the UK. I've experienced both as a Mum (twice in the UK, once here) as well as having worked for the maternity side in the UK... Both are absolutely fine, just the approach is slightly different. In Finland we love metrical information in general and sadly the emotional side is often not focused on... So, you may need some support other than your other half. But, let us know when you arrive and I dare say there will be support coming from our end, if it's any consolation!

All the best, and please do not hesitate to PM me, if you need any advice.

[strawberry]

I think usually you go to the 'neuvola' healthcentre unless the baby is less than 3kg when they come out to you.

PS: Nope, this is standard practice nowadays for the FIRST check-up by the health visitor - particularly for winter babies... I think the practice has changed over time as the time spent in the hospital has decreased even for first-time mums. So, they don't expect you to hop on the bus with the babe the day after you arrive home... The subsequent visits are then done at the health centre. Although, I was told (in Helsinki) by my health visitor that if the mum is not very well, is particularly exhausted etc. they make exceptions, so keep that in mind... Mind you, my then health visitor was particularly nice an efficient, so it may depend on the person, as always.

But anyway, one of the major differences is, in fact, the post-natal care. Very different in some aspects, one big difference of course being the fact that a community midwife (which do not exist in Finland, however, a lot of the health visitors [=terveydenhoitaja] have both health visitor's and midwife's training) does not come and check up on you at home post-natally. I think that system in the UK is excellent, albeit changing there too due to lack of funding, I believe.

[ajdias]

S My husband and I will have our first baby in November and we are delivering at Naistenklinikka. I have been a wee bit nervous (okay, a lot nervous) because people that I have talked to have or are delivering at Kätilöopisto. I don't really know what kinds of experiences people have had at Naistenklinikka. Any further information you could provide about your experience at Naistenklinikka would be fantastic!!!

Kari

Congratulations!
Naistenklinikka is an excellent place to deliver a child. It's an university hospital, their staff is excellent and (of course) highly professional. In case heavy complications arouse you'll have the best professionals in the field nearby (surely won't be necessary).

[PeterF]

In case heavy complications arouse you'll have the best professionals in the field nearby.

Sorry.. my twisted sense of humour..but by "field" I asume you mean "medical speciality" not... "cow pasture!"

[strawberry]

Naistenklinikka is an excellent place to deliver a child. It's an university hospital, their staff is excellent and (of course) highly professional. In case heavy complications arouse you'll have the best professionals in the field nearby (surely won't be necessary).

They are both excellent places to deliver babies. Both hospitals have highly professional staff. Ok, Naistenklinikka is closer to Lastenklinikka whereby extremely specialised neonatal care is closer at hand, if needed. Other than that it is merely a question of "which do you support", almost like football teams... Really. My baby, for example, was delivered at Kätilöopisto and, due to a murmur of sorts and other symptoms, needed a heart ultrasound which was promptly organised, I got to attend, everything was very clearly explained by a friendly children's heart specialist etc.etc. He was examined extremely throughly otherwise, too. No complaints at all. Thankfully it wasn't anything more serious, yet I have no doubt in my mind that had it been, help would surely have been at hand, not to mention the fact that Lastenklinikka is really a stone's throw away.

They are both good places to have babies. I've heard both good and bad of both hospitals, there is no point in having a competition. I think the rule of thumb may be that Naistenklinikka is perhaps used to the routine of dealing with more complicated pregnancies, as that is where the most difficult of cases are referred to. In other words, no other place in this country with more knowledge about these things, I suppose. Kätilöopisto in the meanwhile may have slightly more softly-softly approach with regards to the mums, as they get to deal with perhaps more of the "routine" deliveries. Bearing in mind that the VAST majority of deliveries are "routine" ones and severe complications are EXTREMELY rare... Please remember that. There are always "horror stories" floating around pregnant women and I find that very unfair, particularly to the first-time mums. And the culprits are us women ourselves! Don't always approve of the way we have to compete as to whose story/experience is the worst... The delivery itself is of course an extremely important event, one that has perhaps life-long implications (mentally) but at the end of the day it is a mere tiny fraction of the way your life will be completely changed by having a child/children. Sometimes I wonder if more focus ought to be given on that...

[squeak]

The delivery itself is of course an extremely important event, one that has perhaps life-long implications (mentally) but at the end of the day it is a mere tiny fraction of the way your life will be completely changed by having a child/children. Sometimes I wonder if more focus ought to be given on that...[/quote]

That is so true. I got really worked up before the first birth and suffered mentally afterwards because of it. I put things into perspective for the births of my next kids as the birth really is just a small moment in a now hectic life with small kids and it is hectic.
In the Helsinki area the health carer usually makes the first visit home if everythings normal after about two weeks. They can as Strawberry said do subsequent visits home too in special cases but I think they want to encourage people to learn to get out and about with the baby.
A doctor was available very promptly to examine my first baby still in the birthing room at Kätilöopisto but the medical examinations from doctors afterwards were appauling leading to months of problems. However the health carer was very good after the birth in the hospital and an absolute genius at teaching me (a completely hopeless case) to breast feed. I too have heard good stories from Kätilöopisto but usually they have been from people who had quite straight forward births. The hospital couldn't wait to get rid of me as a patient and played on my vunerable state of mind to avoid me suing their arses for crappy care. I should have put everything in writing but the arrival of my baby took over everything and anyway putting things in writing in Finnish makes everything much more difficult.
Wow! I got that lot off my chest finally after almost 5 years. Sorry for boring you lot with too many details especially the blokes round here who feel they can't have a laugh anymore. Some subjects are just no laughing matter!

[scoobymcdoo]

Hiya
Thanks for all the tips and information...it is gratefully received.
I announced at work the other day that I was pregnant and I am now having birthing horror stories thrown at me daily! These stories are on top of the horrors of moving abroad stories! What are we letting ourselves in for! Ho hum, its all good experience!
Anyway, thanks again for all the messages posted here and the PM ones.
Hannah

[kwallette]

I had a bit of relief and now feel much better for two reasons. 1) although I did not start this thread, just reading what everyone has to say made it a little easier. I know it isn't going to be all roses and sunshine, but I have a better idea at least of Naistenklinikka . 2) we had an ultrasound at 30 weeks for various reasons (everything being just fine) and we were scheduling a time to tour the hospital. Actually with a nurse we didn't even see at the hospital any of the times we were there. Anyhow, when scheduling, she must have seen from the chart that I speak English (my Finnish is getting better and better, but still learning) and scheduled us for an English speaking tour. Such a relief. Sooooooo, after the ante-natal care and the poor communication abilities there, I was and am really happy that everyone so far we have met at the hospital, indeed, speaks English...and very well I might add. The midwife at the neuvola is very nice and tries, but we just can't seem to communicate together at all, plus for some reason, when I am there, she is even timid to speak Finnish with my husband. The doctor, however, is another story. Well, let's say I know more Finnish than she does English, unfortunately I don't know the right words in this area in Finnish nor her in English. But all feels much better and more at ease now. (I say that now, but just wait about 9 more weeks and then we will see how I feel).

Thanks again!!!!!!! You've again all proven to be very helpful.

[squeak]

Good luck you guys having babies soon in Finland! I'm glad that you have got something out of this discussion and I just wanted to say that it wasn't at all intended to look like some kind of horror story thread or hospital competition. Some questions were asked, some answers given and there are always many sides to different stories. Now I have my three little ones I look back at the whole experience of having them with (believe it or not) fond memories!! Even the not so good bits. Good luck !!