being a foreigner and pregnant and studying in helsinki

[claudelinde]

hello all,

can somebody write me about own experiences being pregnant in finland and the finnish health system?
as not speaking finnish and also studying here until may my first try to find a gynaecologist was a bit confusing and very buerocratic.
i also would be very interested where i can find information about the topic studying and becoming parents.
every hint of information is very much appreciated!
maybe there is another person in the same situation?

thanks a lot and greetings,
claudia

[KIPKEMBOI KURGAT]

Please let me know which counry you come from and then i can advice you accordingly,

[claudelinde]

Hello,

from an EU-country (Germany).
Curious for your reply,

claudelinde

[EP]

Every pregnant woman (Finnish or foreign, studying or not) goes to a maternity place called Neuvola. Every district has one, usually in connection of the local heath center. There you first meet a midwife, and after her a doctor. Everything goes through Neuvola, if they don´t do it themselves they guide you further. They monitor your pregnancy.

And when the baby is born the midwife first comes to your home and sees that everything is OK, and then later you go to show your baby there at regular intervals. S/he for example gets all his/her shots there.

[EP]

where i can find information about the topic studying and becoming parents.

The same place, Neuvola. They have courses for new to-be-parents, some also in English. If you have some patience, go throught this "Families" branch, and you will find many similar questions, and answers.

[EP]

my first try to find a gynaecologist was a bit confusing and very buerocratic

I think the thing there has been misunderstanding. When a healthy woman wants a gynaecologist she just phones to any of the multiple private places, and gets an appointment at latest the next day. A healthy woman does not get a gynaecologist through public system. And pregnancy is not an illness, so women don´t go to gynaecologists unless there is something to worry about.

Just walk into your nearest health center and ask about Neuvola till you find a person who speaks English or German. That´s your place now.

[Meri-Tuuli]

thats not strictly true, I'm healthy and I see a gyn at the student health centre for rountine things, although I am a hypochrondriac so I tend to worry abit too much about these things.....oh well.