Support for single mothers

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:33 pm

What kind of help is available in Finland for a single woman, who will soon be "yksinhuoltaja" or single mother for a baby?
KELA website has some information, but is there anything else available? I am a nurse, but will I be able to find work during pregnancy?

Another question is about "neuvola", depending on what area of the city you live, is the closest "neuvola" the one you must go to? Can you get your prenatal check ups done at a private clinic as well?
I am hoping to move to Helsinki, western part of Helsinki would be ideal as I have lived there before and my brother and his family are living in the same area too. Unfortunately my boyfriend has difficulty obtaining visa at the moment, but he'll join me later- I am wondering if we need to get married before he can actually come and visit or live with me in Finland. We both know Finland has one of the best maternity care in the world, and having the baby in Finland closer to my parents and relatives is important for me.

If anyone can advice, I'd appreciate it.

**Sponsor:**

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 2:56 pm

Are you Finnish?

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:28 pm

Pia wrote:Unfortunately my boyfriend has difficulty obtaining visa at the moment, but he'll join me later- I am wondering if we need to get married before he can actually come and visit or live with me in Finland.

kind of a no-brainer question... add to the fact then establishing paternity and the likes... though marriage isn't anything that automatically would grant a residence permit if the bf is from a country the schengen views as suspect...

the neuvola system runs like the health centres...

a good question is though will anyone hire a pregnant woman... nurses then again work only short contracts so that gives them a way out, but the maternity leave benefits won't be much...

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 5:03 pm

Joo olen suomalainen, mutta muutin Suomesta vuonna 1995 Englantiin.
Same in English: I am Finnish, but moved from Finland to England in 1995.

Boyfriend (or fiancee) is from Asia (Philippines), it might be more difficult for him to get a visa, so I think the first step is contacting the Finnish embassy and ask them what needs to be done. Obviously we'd like to live together, and I'd love him to be around when the baby is born (early June, we hope). Moving to his country, well, why not, but I've not been there yet and fiancee says European standard of healthcare is better in general.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 5:46 pm

Is he a nurse too.....?

Not trying to be funny. There is a shortage of nurses in Finland and the health service has been recruiting them from as far afield as the Philippines. You need to teach him some Finnish, fast.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:23 pm

hehe, you should have put "Armi" as your nick...

OK, so get married there in the UK as otherwise you have to fight for all kinds of funny paperwork here, get the marriage recorded at the embassy... then apply for him the residence permit in London from the Embassy before you come over... the process gets very much longer the closer you get to Finland so you do *not* want to go to the Malmi zoo to file... and yes, as penny sez they're actually importing philippine nurses...

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 7:51 pm

He's not a nurse.. but yes, I have heard they have been recruiting nurses from Philippines. I wonder how they have adapted- does anyone know?
Learning Finnish, that might be a challenge but we are trying. He's the sort of guy who doesn't have problems learning a new language.

EP · Post by EP » Thu Nov 06, 2008 8:21 pm

I wonder how they have adapted- does anyone know?

Well, or so I have heard. They just worry that their skills deteriorate, because in the beginning they work in old people´s homes, so basically they are "apuhoitaja". Or is that nowadays "lähihoitaja"?

And of course you can go to a private clinic, but why would you? Your own neuvola midwife is often a very good support, and you get all you need from neuvola (even for "äitiyspakkaus" regular neuvola visits are a requirement).

EP · Post by EP » Thu Nov 06, 2008 9:52 pm

In that case it has changed. It used to be a kind of "carrot" that lured to neuvola also those women who otherwise maybe would have neglected their check-ups.

onkko · Post by **onkko** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 11:28 pm

You arent single mother and you have no right to ask finland to support you.
Ask your husband and your country to support you, your counrty is where you paid your taxes.
Leeches like you are repulsive, you dont want finland till you want something..

Ask uk and your husband to support you.

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 6:40 am

What's that Onkko, a bit like that neighbour of mine who doesn't speak for months....until he wants to borrow my drill...

Mook · Post by **Mook** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 9:58 am

EP wrote:In that case it has changed. It used to be a kind of "carrot" that lured to neuvola also those women who otherwise maybe would have neglected their check-ups.

I don't remember that one. But you do have to do the ~5 week postbirth Katsastus so that the maternity allowanc continues.

Pia · Post by **Pia** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 10:40 am

Onkko, thanks for your encouraging (not) reply, I wasn't looking for advice like that.
You know when I graduated in 1995 there was very little work for nurses and after six months of unemployment I finally got a job offer in the UK so of course I went. "keikkatyo" wasn't what I was looking for as newly qualified nurse.
Are you saying that even if I am Finnish citizen I don't have the right to return? I'm not saying I plan to come and get every cent out of Kela- I was planning to work to earn mine and my family's living. I don't think you can get away by being unemployed in today's society, anywhere in the world.
Neither my fiancee or myself wish to stay in the UK, my family and friends would like me to come and stay in Finland for good and that was what my plan was, until I read your unfriendly and arrogant message, kiitos

I just feel embarrassed by your "kindness" and "hospitality".

Majority of Finns aren't like this, nor are the "foreigners" who have settled in Finland, and the Finns and Scandinavians, who've I have met around the world have been friendliest and approachable.

Neither my fiancee or myself wish to stay in the UK, my family and friends would like me to come and stay in Finland for good and that was what my plan was, until I read your unfriendly and arrogant message, kiitos

I just feel embarrassed by your "kindness" and "hospitality".

enk · Post by **enk** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 10:46 am

It's best to just ignore onkko's posts by the way.

-enk

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Fri Nov 07, 2008 12:10 pm

enk wrote:It's best to just ignore onkko's posts by the way.

-enk

Do not ignore, but take a note. There are people that think and act/say like onkko in real life. Not many, but enough that it is real possibility. So instead ignoring or fighting or going to despair, think about it a minute. No need to change your view or trying to change onkko's mind, but try to understand where those ideas and views come. Then it is not such a big thing (and I know that it still is biggie) if you are confronted by one, be it online or real life.

<ot>IMO the reason for success of PerusSuomalaiset in the latest election is ignorance. There were few people in big parties willing to think that there might be something wrong in immigration policies.</ot>

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