Home birth in Finland

Niblet · Post by **Niblet** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 12:30 am

My family and I am moving to Helsinki next month and I am 7 months pregnant. We only found out last week, so I know I am cutting it short, but I will need to arrange my birth very quickly.

My original plan was to have a home birth in the UK and I would like to do this in Finland if possible.

Does anyone have any advice to go about this? Will a maternity centre be able to arrange this or do I need to find a private midwife?

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Lisa 15 · Post by **Lisa 15** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 11:22 am

Did you find out last month that you were pregnant or that yo were moving to Finland?
I don't know about home birth, I guess you could call a neuvola ans ask there

Rip · Post by **Rip** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 11:41 am

It is a rarity here. You could try to ask information from these people ("active childbirth society"):
http://www.aktiivinensynnytys.fi/ihmise ... yshenkilot

Niblet · Post by **Niblet** » Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:49 pm

Thanks, will check them out, found an email address for a 'home-birth request' as well, so contacted them. Not sure what any of that site says (Finnish is going to be tough to learn, methinks) but hopefully someone will be able to point me in the right direction.

My partner only got offered the job in Finland last week, so we're desperately trying to get organised. I've known about the baby for 7 months now.

thanks for your help.

CH · Post by CH » Fri Apr 09, 2010 12:14 am

There are only a few home births in Finland, I would guess in the amount of about ten or so a year! So, it might not be quite so easily arranged, depending on where you are going to live. You need to find a midwife who will do a home birth, and as far as I have understood there aren't many (ask for contact information from Aktiiviset Synnyttäjät that Rip mentioned, they are the best resource for that here). If you really want a home birth I would suggest to do it in the UK as it would be much easier to arrange there, if it otherwise is possible for you.

Niblet · Post by **Niblet** » Fri Apr 09, 2010 5:55 pm

If it comes to a choice between having a homebirth in the UK and making my boys stay away from their father for an extra 6 or more weeks or going to Finland in a month and having a birth in a hospital or birth centre, I will go to Finland. It's going to be hard enough to explain to toddlers why they're only seeing their Daddy one day a week for 3 or 4 weeks, but over 2 months is a bit much.

If it can't be arranged, so be it. Thanks for the advice.

Misku · Post by **Misku** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 10:52 am

Yes, definitely contact Aktiivinen synnytys ry! They're currently putting together a home birth info package and also have useful information about doulas, midwives, etc. as well as a rental service for tubs, birthing stools, and other supplies.

I also saw the figure that only about ten women in Finland elect to give birth at home each year. Apparently, the public health care system won't foot the bill should anything go wrong, so I can understand why this is a prohibitive measure for many women here. But it is done, so don't be discouraged!

Here's a link to a documentary about a Canadian-Finnish couple who chose home birth:
http://yle.fi/akuutti/arkisto2003/270503.htm

Good luck!

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 12:55 pm

Misku wrote:information about doulas..

also known as 'husbands' in Finland

Misku · Post by **Misku** » Sat Apr 10, 2010 3:43 pm

Upphew wrote:
Misku wrote:information about doulas..
also known as 'husbands' in Finland

Actually, there's a non-profit doula service in the Helsinki area: http://doulat.vuodatus.net/page/Tietoa. Of course, there are ones who charge too.

CH · Post by CH » Sun Apr 11, 2010 1:55 pm

If you want a more low key hospital birth I would suggest Tammisaari hospital. They have a long track record of being one of the first to implement various alternative birth methods, and it is a small and intimate maternity ward. I haven't been there myself, but have seen many, many recommendations for it.

This page has a few pictures from there, and contact information: http://www.bebesinfo.fi/sivu.php?artikkeli_id=309

EP · Post by EP » Sun Apr 11, 2010 2:05 pm

Tammisaari hospital

They are closing that down In June.

Niblet · Post by **Niblet** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 10:57 pm

Thanks for all this info, Aktiivinen synnytys ry hasn't responded to my email, but the English could have put them off or delayed a response.

Guess we need to get a home to start with and then worry about the birth. My partner should have just arrived in Helsinki, so it's all go from here. Will keep you informed.

EFoppert · Post by **EFoppert** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 9:40 am

So what has happened? Home birth? Doula? I will be giving birth in the hospital in Joensuu in January. I still am trying to find a doula.

Upphew · Post by **Upphew** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 2:54 pm

EFoppert wrote:I still am trying to find a doula.

And I thought it was the job of the one who sowed the seed...

Renee · Post by **Renee** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 10:22 pm

Hi,

Know your situation very well. Had two home birth in the states and a hospital birth here in Finland. Homebirth is possible if you want to, just not very common. I used a doula. check out doula.fi. They are both very good and both fluent in English.
If you have any further questions find my contact under www.mygentleborn.com.
I was in the same situation just a year ago : )

R.

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