Pregnancy in Finland

[MagicJ]

Our Neuvola didn't have a copy of this in English, if they didn't give you a copy i suggest you print it out as it gives you some useful info about KELA benefits, emergency numbers, clinics and some good general info on pregnancy.

We're having a baby

[Rip]

Almost all fresh salmon on sale is Norwegian (country of origin is typically also explicitly stated in supermarkets) so the restrictions related to the polluted state of the Baltic sea would not apply.

[LottaP]

Please note that Evira now recommends that pregnant women avoid ginger all together...

[Amandine.K]

Cost of delivery : if you are registered with Kela, the delivery itself + the few night stay is a few hundred € (I can't remember exactly but not too bad)

Pregnancy diabetes: they will test you for diabetes (using the O'Sullivan test) only if they have a suspicion. It's not automatic as far as I know. Only a small percentage of pregnant women get the real diabetes but they'll keep an eye on any symptom at Neuvola

Morning sickness: I tried everything, nothing work. You just have to wait for it to wear off. Try to eat small amounts regularly rather than 3 big meals in the day.

[Heather_Kuusamo]

hi there,

I'm new around here but have been living in Kuusamo for coming up to 6 years now and have had 2 children whilst here. The youngest is just coming up to 2 so I may be able to help from memory if you have any specific questions. I'm from the UK by the way.

Heather

[Torrin]

Hey

Im fromt he UK, my partner is Finnish and heavily pregnant

She advised that you should talk again to the midwife or doctors and ask if there is another midwife available (yes maybe not in your town but a nearby one) that can speak english.

It really a good idea to ask this, because the midwife is the BEST person to talk to about your and the Babies health, and whilst people here can help etc, the midwife is the professional.

Good luck, hope everything goes well for you

[help73]

im from the US and have a baby under 1. the neuvola should have given you a pamphlet containing all the safe foods and recommendations. i don't know how much it costs to give birth here when registered with kela. i was 27+0 when i left finland and ended up giving birth in the US.

as for gestational diabetes, i was tested at 20 weeks. im not sure if that is standard or not. i have pcos and am on metformin to control it so that may be why i was tested. women with pcos tend to develop gd.

[Misku]

Hi Shinlan,

I can answer at least a few of your questions based on procedure in Helsinki, but I really agree that you should request an English-speaking nurse if you're not able to approach your current one with basic questions.

Fish: You basically want to avoid all predator fish (like pike) since mercury levels become more concentrated as you go up the food chain. As others mentioned, smoked and raw fish are also risky, but my understanding is that vacuum packed fish (i.e. the sort that doesn't have to be refrigerated) is just fine. I found these guidelines on the Swedish national health service site that might be helpful for you: http://www.slv.se/en-gb/Group1/Food-and ... -pregnant/

Ginger: I think the Evira warnings re: ginger relate to concentrated ginger supplements, not fresh ginger or tea made from fresh ginger, but it's probably not good to overdo it. My neuvola hands out a list of food to avoid and herbal teas were included. More info here: http://www.evira.fi/portal/en/food/cont ... k_powders/

What else? At least in Helsinki, all first-time mothers 25 and over go for a diabetes test between weeks 24 and 28. Your midwife will let you know when it's time. You can ask about pregnancy vitamins at your local apteekki--I don't think there are more than a few brands available here anyway. And cottage cheese is really high in protein (and low in fat) if you're looking for sources other than fish. The only thing that helped with my morning sickness was constantly snacking. I kept crackers and juice or soy milk by my bedside table and always had a nibble before getting out of bed, which made a big difference.

Hope that's some help. If you can't find answers or forums in English elsewhere, just keep asking your questions here!

[Upphew]

but my understanding is that vacuum packed fish (i.e. the sort that doesn't have to be refrigerated) is just fine.

On the other hand EVIRA lists vacuum packed fish as high risk food (regarding listeria):
"Listerian suhteen riskielintarvikkeita ovat sellaisenaan syötävät tuotteet, joilla on pitkä säilyvyysaika ja joissa listeria pystyy lisääntymään. Tähän ryhmään kuuluvat erityisesti tyhjiöpakatut, kylmäsavustetut ja graavisuolatut kalastustuotteet ja mäti."
- http://www.evira.fi/portal/fi/elaimet_j ... /listeriat

[Misku]

but my understanding is that vacuum packed fish (i.e. the sort that doesn't have to be refrigerated) is just fine.

On the other hand EVIRA lists vacuum packed fish as high risk food (regarding listeria):
"Listerian suhteen riskielintarvikkeita ovat sellaisenaan syötävät tuotteet, joilla on pitkä säilyvyysaika ja joissa listeria pystyy lisääntymään. Tähän ryhmään kuuluvat erityisesti tyhjiöpakatut, kylmäsavustetut ja graavisuolatut kalastustuotteet ja mäti."
- http://www.evira.fi/portal/fi/elaimet_j ... /listeriat

Ok, thanks! I read on some English-language site that it was fine, but I suppose it's always safest to follow local recommendations. That said, I don't think I've ever even seen vacuum-packed fish in Finland. Or maybe I haven't looked hard enough?

[Upphew]

Ok, thanks! I read on some English-language site that it was fine, but I suppose it's always safest to follow local recommendations. That said, I don't think I've ever even seen vacuum-packed fish in Finland. Or maybe I haven't looked hard enough?

http://www.pirkka.fi/ruoka/pirkka_tuott ... 6449100005
But I think you are right and shielding gas is used more than vacuum package.

[Rip]

That said, I don't think I've ever even seen vacuum-packed fish in Finland. Or maybe I haven't looked hard enough?

You haven't looked hard enough. I think it is found in almost any supermarket, in larger ones as an option, in smaller as the only non-canned, non-frozen alternative.

(Ok, some use also protective gas, but I do not think makes difference here (risk is the same))

[nonyvs]

Hi. I had my baby 8 months ago so maybe I could help you

What can you do against morning sickness (suggested a lot of places ginger tea but I havent seen any in Finland)?

I was recommended to take a small snack in the bed, before standing and it worked. I used to eat one rice cookie.

When are they checking for pregnancy diabetes?

To me, never. I was told that they only make it if you are in a "risk group", the midwife took my blood every time but it was always ok so I never had that checking.

How much does it cost to deliver?

I think was something around 200 (the room at the hospital included)

What vitamins are suggested and so on.

You can buy them at any farmacy, they are with the rest of the vitamins, and quite easy to find because they have a picture of a pregnant woman on the box

[Shinlan2]

Thank you for all your replies. I tried to ask for an English speaking midwife but nothing really happened, there is a student there who is trying to translate but sometimes I have the feeling she doesn't understand me .
My morning sickness is still with me nothing helps and I am loosing weight, will it ever go away? I am almost in the 16th weeks now.
Do you have AFP examination in Finland at any point? Can I ask for a blood sugar level test if i am worried?
I heard that there is a course preparing for the labor and visiting the hospital but are there any courses on taking care of a new born?

Thank you,

Shinlan

[RA]

but my understanding is that vacuum packed fish (i.e. the sort that doesn't have to be refrigerated) is just fine.

On the other hand EVIRA lists vacuum packed fish as high risk food (regarding listeria):
"Listerian suhteen riskielintarvikkeita ovat sellaisenaan syötävät tuotteet, joilla on pitkä säilyvyysaika ja joissa listeria pystyy lisääntymään. Tähän ryhmään kuuluvat erityisesti tyhjiöpakatut, kylmäsavustetut ja graavisuolatut kalastustuotteet ja mäti."
- http://www.evira.fi/portal/fi/elaimet_j ... /listeriat

Upphew is right vaccuum packed fish is high risk food as concerns listeria and should be avoided by pregnant women.

I lost weight at the beginning of my pregnancy 'coz of the morning sickness, but once it subsided I gained weight again and now I'm desperately trying to shed it. The AFP test is given if you're at risk for gestational diabetes e.g. weight, prior gestational diabetes, diabetes in the family