Naistenklinika

[nonyvs]

Hi!
I am gonna have my baby in September and its suposse to be at Naistenklinika. I have been reading about it and i have a few questiions, i wonder if somebody could help:
1.Is it true that if the water breaks i have first to call and they decide by telephone if I should go or not??
2.How difficult it is to get a family room? Are they many, are they usually full? When do you have to say it?
3.How many nigths do you stay usually ( I mean if everything goes normal) at the hospital?
4.It is possible to ask for a spanish-speaking nurse, or I just have to hope that they would speak english?
And the last thing is that i would like to know if it feels strange the whole process with everybody around you speaking finnish, I mean, how does it feels to be there totally nervous and having to talk in a language that is not your own? Its my first baby and I have been living here only a few months, so it will help a lot to listen somebody else experience.
I know its already a topic about this but it doesn´t help me totallly
Thanks!

[Rip]

0) In case you did not know, they organize info tours for expecting mothers (and fathers) also in English language

1) If I remember correctly, the policy was to call in pretty much any case - both to judge if you'd be off still at home and to do some preparations when you do come.
2) For us it ended up being a Cesarean, so no family room for us. General availability in my impression was good, but not guaranteed,
3) I think 2-3 three nights is typical for first timers at least. If everything is fine there is no rule why you could not leave earlier if you wish.
(Ours was a late evening operation, after four nights we felt comfortable leaving)
4) Ask during the tour. I'm bit doubtful, but at least English speaking staff should be available. My recollection is that pretty much everything in the room happened in English, except when I as the dad-to-be switched to Finnish a few times to make sure nothing got lost in translation.

[Mook]

1) They give a list of things that, when they happen, mean you should go in. You should call so that they're ready for you

2) Luckily we didn't get a family room, it meant that at least one of us managed to rest properly rather than neither of us.

3) 3 nights

4) they have English speakers

[nonyvs]

thank you both!

[Gigi]

Hi!
I am gonna have my baby in September and its suposse to be at Naistenklinika.

And the last thing is that i would like to know if it feels strange the whole process with everybody around you speaking finnish, I mean, how does it feels to be there totally nervous and having to talk in a language that is not your own? Its my first baby and I have been living here only a few months, so it will help a lot to listen somebody else experience.
I know its already a topic about this but it doesn´t help me totallly
Thanks!

1st of all congratulations. I am from a different town so I can't help you with the 1st questions, but I can make a remark about the language. Although I do speak rather good Finnish, I had also asked for an English nurse, because I didn't know how I would react and remember the language whilst in labour. BUT seems that they couldn't get it organized, as I had a nurse who spoke only Finnish. (so situation would be a bit the same for you if you get a English speaking nurse) And it went great, she repeated things if I didn't get them immediately and of course my husband was there to help to translate when needed. At the moment of birth itself I shouted (yes I know) in at least 3 languages...

I would explicitely ask for an English speaking nurse, which shouldn't be a problem. Another tip: Discuss beforehand with your partner about what your wishes are concerning labour (medication, labour position, heart monitoring, breastfeeding baby, 1st contact, etc) and write them down. This is a good way for your husband to know what you want and he can express your wishes if you can't + give the list to the nurse, then they also know what you want and can (try to) respect your wishes.

Good luck!

[nonyvs]

Thanks for your answer!
I think English-speaker nurse will be enough, so let´s hope that this is possible!
I know I should have decided already that kind of things, (medication, position..), but I don´t know yet!
What could be the reason for not using medication? I am thinking a lot about this, and it has to be something, when so many women are not using, but isn´t it horrible the pain?
I am really nervous, but wanting so much to see my little girl, that I don´t want to think very much about "the moment", because it makes me really afraid!

[Rip]

Various methods of pain relief are a topic discussed during guided tour of the maternity clinic. As far as I remember, the main problem with popular and usually efficient epidural method is that it may slow down the labor in some cases, but nurses on our tour were pretty much recommending it anyway.

Advance planning may be good, but in the end end you see what works for you when the d-day comes...

[Olga]

I didn't have any huge dialogues with the nurses during the labour. Most of the time anyways the woman passes with her husband (if it is normal labour), not with medicine personnel.

It was funny that when I was doing the final pushes, nurses cheered me up saying "hienosti" - "fine", but my husband always heard "huonosti" - badly

[Gigi]

I know I should have decided already that kind of things, (medication, position..), but I don´t know yet!
What could be the reason for not using medication? I am thinking a lot about this, and it has to be something, when so many women are not using, but isn´t it horrible the pain?

Like Rip said, those things are partly discussed during the guided tour in the maternity clinic. But I would suggest to read on the topic too.
... medication, there are lost of discussion about it, but I think you should do what you feel right. Some women just don't want pain relief, others do. The pain of labour is so different for each woman that it is difficult to say how it will be for you.
... position, the "laying on your back - all the time" position is not needed anymore and that is something you need to know, that you have options! You can not know beforehand which one will be the most comfortable for you at time of labour, but try them out beforehand so you know your options.

Labour and giving birth are special, life-changing events and yes it does hurt. So the more you are informed the better, it can help you a lot when the time is there.

GIGI

PS: when is your due date?

[onkko]

Listen what nurses say. We have child mortality about 3 of 1000 what is second lowest after sweden in EU.
Gigi if youre professional then please tell me your education and experience. Do not tell people to do what they like because its not only their life in risk. I dont care if adult wants to play russian roulette but when there is others life in danger i care.

Labour isnt nice, it never has been and never will be but main thing is that baby survives.

[raamv]

Labour isnt nice, it never has been and never will be but main thing is that baby survives.

and dont forget the Mother too!!
Nurses here are very helpful and go out of their way to communicate during labor.

[Rip]

Listen what nurses say. We have child mortality about 3 of 1000 what is second lowest after sweden in EU.
Gigi if youre professional then please tell me your education and experience. Do not tell people to do what they like because its not only their life in risk. I dont care if adult wants to play russian roulette but when there is others life in danger i care.

Labour isnt nice, it never has been and never will be but main thing is that baby survives.

Actually, as long things are going reasonably well, I think the nurses (or doctors) actually prefer the "patient" to have an opinion of their own. For example they explain the pain relief methods etc. available, but after that they'd rather not to do the decisions for the mother, at most they give suggestions. Of course the list of options offered have been earlier pre-approved, to include only those that are helpful to at least some (some of them for most) while having relatively low risks and side effects.

Of course when they do explicitly tell you to do something, then you'd better do exactly that.

[Gigi]

Listen what nurses say. We have child mortality about 3 of 1000 what is second lowest after sweden in EU.
Gigi if youre professional then please tell me your education and experience. Do not tell people to do what they like because its not only their life in risk. I dont care if adult wants to play russian roulette but when there is others life in danger i care.

I have never stated and would never state that I am a professional. I just wanted to make clear that you have options.

Of course when they do explicitly tell you to do something, then you'd better do exactly that.

And I totally agree with that too... The real professionals know what they are doing. BUT in case everything goes normally, you do have options and you can make this life-changing experience as most comfortable for you as possible as well as for the baby.

[nonyvs]

Thank you all for your help .
The 23 of september is my d-day.

[biscayne]

Well, I am a professional, and here is what I know, based on years of actually being the nurse................

They all come in with their little "birth plans" (thanks to the Americans for coming up with that little gem...) and they want a "like, totally natural birth", and then the serious labour pains begin and they scream for medication/epidural.

Of course you should be able to have imput etc., but actually having the baby is quite different to reading about it in books like "what to expect when you're expecting etc.,...), and the staff is there to help you, and they will help you every way they can. Finland is probably the safest place in Europe to have a baby, so relax, you will be in good hands. The language thing is not even important. Whether they say "push" in greek, russian or cree, you'll get the point, you'll be there for 2 days and then home again with your new baby, and then the real hassle begins........................