Being pregnant in Finland - experiences

[Amandine.K]

I'm wondering if because of my miscarriage I will get a scan earlier than normal to check if everything is ok. Do you know? We're going to try again this cycle and I know that if I get pregnant I won't be enjoying it until I know that the baby has a strong heartbeat. Will I have to go private for an early scan?

[Sara]

Sinti they just recently changed the Kela package in the summer so it will be next summer before its changed again. This is the current one. I got it recently and its mostly nice, one or two items Im not so keen on. On the whole its brilliant

http://www.kela.fi/in/internet/suomi.ns ... enDocument



Amandine, I dont know if they would give you an early scan because of the miscarriage, I suspect not. But if you are unsure of your dates you would get one sooner

I got pregnant in Feb, but due to some wedding stress I hadnt had a period since early Jan so Neuvola dated me much sooner even though I told I knew otherwise for sure. I went for the '12' week scan when I was 7 weeks, and then got to go back at 12 weeks then.

Good luck with this cycle

[Amandine.K]

Ok thans for the info. There's some hope then. Last time I went private I had to pay 90 € for 20 mn with the doctor. So I don't even want to know how much a scan would cost!

[Gigi]

Hei!

It is a long time since I have been on this forum, but this morning I had some extra time...

@Amandine: How are you doing?

I can actually answer your question from October. I am again pregnant (today 8w) and also very afraid because of my miscarriage last August. But considering, I am doing fine. Actually I have today my first ultra-sound in my local terveyskeskus. My local terveyskeskus organises an extra and earlier ultra-sound for women who have had a miscarriage. I think that is incredible sweet of them, because I also know that for example in Joensuu, they don't do that. So it might depend on your terveyskeskus/neuvola if you are going to get an extra one or not.
But I have already decided beforehand that IF I wouldn't get an early ultra-sound, I would go private.... Not that it will change things or my pregnancy, but just for my own peace of mind...

Greetings from Pohjois-Karjala,

Gigi

[Amandine.K]

Hi Gigi,

Well I'm 11weeks now and will have my first official scan on Friday. Very looking forward to it as you may guess. Here in Helsinki you don' get any special scan because you miscarried earlier but I had 3 done due to a threatened miscarriage at week 7 (thankfully the embryo was ok), then another one at 8wk+6 due to hypermesis (severe vomiting) and the other one at week 9 as I was spotting again each time I was vomitting. All the scans showed a good growth with good heartbeat so we're hopeful that everything is ok this time.

Compared to last time where I had no symptoms whatsoever this time is like my first pregnancy where I was sick like a dog for 20 weeks! I have lost quite a lot of weight and have been off work for nearly a month now and there is no much improvement as I still vomit at least twice a day and have no energy whatsoever (I'm probably hypoglycemic most of the time and am on the verge of fainting most of the day). Anyway the joys of pregnancy. I do have a big belly now though

Anyway let us know Gigi how your scan went. Fingers crossed it went ok. I'm seeing the doc and midwife on Thursday and I hope they won't send me back to hospital to get IV fluids!

[enhjørning]

Hello Everyone,

First off, I would like to congratulate both Gigi and Amandine... I've read through this whole thread, and found myself really hoping toward the end of the posts that you both would be pregnant again! LOL. I hope it goes really well for you both!

As for myself, I just gave birth 12 weeks ago to a beautiful little boy, Eetu Simo Viljami, in Lappeenranta.

I am from the U.S. and have been living here in Finland since October of 2006, but I still don't speak ANY Finnish at all, and that really made my pregnancy and delivery much more stressful than I think it would have been.

Unfortunately, in my area, the healtchare providers at my neuvola and at the hospital either did not speak English, or didn't feel comfortable enough with it. Fortunately, my Finnish husband was at every check-up and appointment to translate, but I really feel that not being able to speak with either the midwives or doctors to be really difficult. I always felt like I didn't know what was going on, what to expect or what to be worried about during the pregnancy, etc. And labor/delivery was particularly bad because of the lack of communication.

Post-pregnancy I had a few problems with my stitches and things, as well as some breastfeeding issues, and I felt that the care from my neuvola has been rather hasty, and I've been treated as if my 'problems' weren't a big enough deal to have been seen for. I'm still not exactly sure about where/when or even if I'm to get yearly gynecological exams and breast exams. They sure don't offer any information if you don't ask for it!

My son's care has been pretty good, though... they treat him like a little prince, though we do have to make sure to ask specific questions about things that I would consider to be pertinent and freely-given to new parents. I guess I'm just used to a more thorough and informative type of healthcare.

All-in-all my first pregnancy and birthgiving experiences in Finland have been a bit disappointing, but it was my lack of Finnish, and my care providers' lack of English, that made it so poor. I'm hoping the next one will be much better!

[sinti]

To enhjørning

Hi and thank you for telling your experience. I am in week 31 now and thinking lots about the birth and how it will happen in case they do not speak English. Our Neuvola nurse does speak and it has been great so far. But also feel like some information is passing by just because of not knowing the language.

What did you take to hospital for you yourself and the baby? I am not thinking of what I need to buy beforehand and it is so easy to get confused. Especially when it is quite different from Latvia where I am from.

Did you use any pain relief? For example, in latvia normally I would make an agreement with the place we choose to deliver the baby and probably even one particular midwife. and that gas thing (aqua-.... or what was the name) is something I have not heard before at all.

Quite confused but happily happy Hope all of you and especially Gigi and Amendine are happy too.

[Gigi]

Hi everybody,

after I posted my messages last time, I thought to come more regularly on this forum...

but I have had another miscarriage... the 2nd one in 6 months!

we are taking a break from getting pregnant now...

Good luck to all of you

Gigi

[annekmc]

Gigi, I am so sorry to hear that, I hope you are bearing up ok.

Don't give up hope all-together I had 3 miscarriages between after having my first Daughter, I went to a private doctor after this and she did some tests and explained to me it was as if my body was treating the fetus like a foreign organ and rejecting it, the next time I fell pregnent I had a scan at 4 weeks already and had to inject myself with a Fragmine every day during my pregnancy to stop my blood thickening around the fetus. All went well and Veronica a very healthy and happy 19 month old sister called Alicia.

I know it's so hard not to feel very sad and as if you are the only person in the world who is suffering, but I hope you believe there may be some light at the end of the tunnel, Don't give up hope. We are all thinking about you.

[Amandine.K]

Oh no Gigi! A big hug for you!

[RA]

Wishing you strength, Gigi!!

[Zakaria]

Hello everyone
i am separated from my wife for the last 5 months, now she gave birth to the child , is she allowed to name a child any name she wants with out my consent ?or do i have right by law to share my opinion about naming a child?
how the couple solve this problem specially if the coupe are from different religions?
another question , when i got married to my wife she changed her family for my surname , since my separation 5 months ago can she change again her family name to her old one during our separation? the reason i say this i am only worried that she will give her family name only to our child......
she went to hospital and gave birth to our child , but she did not inform , it was only her friend who advised regarding this.then i called the hospital and asked and they put me through to her and she was angry that i heard news about the new born child.she is planning TRICK to kick me out of our child life... please everyone advise....
As father of the child what type of right do i have? advice please....
thank you

[Sara]

Isnt it enough that you have your own thread of about 20 million pages full of advise and links for you to get help?

[Amandine.K]

I agree with Sara, keep the spam away from this thread. And yes I said spam as right now it feels like it is just that...

[Amandine.K]

Bumping the thread! I was wondering when did you get the Kela package? Did you receive a notice by post? How did it work? I've heard it was around week 21, is that really it?