Being pregnant in Finland - experiences

[blackdragone]

Hello,
I think your situation is very peculiar and the best thing to do is getting a safe and sure advice (i.e. not here )... just not to have surprises!
First of all, this is Kela website's section for pregnancyand there you'll find all information about maternal and parental leave. There's also a way of calculating the allowance but it's only in Finnish/Swedish.
About your contract, I think it depends. I have a fixed term contract as well and by asking around I heard different stories: some told me that my employee had to "move" the end of the contract by law, some other people told it wasn't true... I am currently waiting for a sure reply by the human resources office of my workplace. I suggest you to ask to yours as well or, if there isn't any, you may take a copy of your contract and exploit thefree-of-charge legal advice available in many places in Finland. In alternative, go to Kela bringing a copy of your contract and ask them.

Another suggestion: I think you could do everything through Neuvola, you do not need any extra ultrasound or visit from private doctors. Finland has an excellent public health service especially for pregnancy. You'll get 2 free-of-charge ultrasound examinations during pregnancy and a midwife will visit you regularly.
I'm now 7 month pregnant, so if you need help or suggestions feel free to contact me on private message.
Good luck for your pregnancy!

Paola

[belita_]

Paola thank you for your help!

I have already contacted Kela asking about my benefits but they didnt want to answer my questions before they will see the new contract (I will have the new contract in my hands at the end of this month). Of course I will visit them again when I have the contract. In my work we dont have human resourses office. Regarding the legal advice, it is a very good idea and thank you for the site you send me, but I stay at kuopio and they dont give any advice via telephone. Maybe I should arrange a travel to Joensuu.
Any other idea (exept Kela of course)?
Regarding the doctors, I just arrange the appointement with the general doctor, provided free of charge by my work! If the general doctor confirm that you need a specialist then you dont have to pay extra money when you visit the specialist (in this case gynekoloogist). So I have all blood tests (general doctor) and the ultra-sound (gynekologis) and examinations without paying anything!! When the girl in neuvola asked me: 'Why did you visit a doctor?' I didnt understand it, but reading the answers in this forum I realized that it is not common...I dont know if this general the case in Finland, but at least to my work everything was really easy (it was strange for me that I had to askfor blood tests and ultra-sound, both doctors were very polite and didnt refuse the exams. I really dont know if they would have done the tests in case I didnt ask).

I hope to have a good delivery and in two months from now that you will be the happiest mother!!

Belita

[blackdragone]

Thank you Belita! I wish you a happy pregnancy as well!
About other suggestions for legal advice... Well, the only other thing that comes into my mind is the following. I don't know if you belong to some labor union, if yes you can have a look if they offer legal advice. For example, my union gives free telephone legal advice, also on private matters. It depends on the union.
If you do not belong to one, I suggest you to get information about such thing (maybe from you colleagues, since usually they're divided by "working categories": for instance I belong to a researchers union) because it's very useful in Finland. They usually provide nice insurances, nice services and good benefits for unemployment (for a small year fee!).
Otherwise I have no other ideas but at least Kela said they'll give you information when you have the new contract, this is good.
About seeing a doctor I must say it's not usual in Finland. Here people go to the doctor just when things are weird or serious... everything "normal" is taken care of by (specialized) nurses.
Of course one can ask additional examinations and services from private health care. For instance, you usually get 2 ultrasound examinations in all pregnancy (if there are no problems, of course), but some people want to see the baby few times more and go and get private ultrasound. This depends on you !
Good luck!

Paola

[albisatya]

We just had our second baby in Finland, and I wanted to share something that made it pretty special: the 3D/4D ultrasound. It was something that we had to cover out of pocket (180e), but it was really worth it -- both for the (relative) peace of mind and also the vivid experience of seeing the baby in more detail than the normal ultrasound. We also got a cool DVD, to show the little guy when he's grown up.

The place we went (why not give some props) was in Kaarina: http://www.vslaakaripalvelu.fi/www.vsla ... kimus.html.

[clarissa]

The 3D/4D ultrasound. It was something that we had to cover out of pocket (180e), but it was really worth it .

Congratulations on your new baby!!!
I just wanted to ask a couple of things: Was that place a private clinic? Why did you had to pay the 180e? Was that the 20 weeks ultrasound?
I ask all this because I am currently 16 weeks and all my regular appointments have been in Neuvola (including the first ultrasound), but now they scheduled my 20 weeks ultrasound to be in the city hospital. I am aware that I have to pay for that one, but I am wondering if once I get there they would refuse to make it when they realize I don't have Kela. In the invitation they sent, they ask to bring the card, so I assume it should be obvious that I have to have one if I am supposed to go there. I am not sure if the nurse at neuvola (who made the appointment for the ultrasound) remembers I have no Kela, because I said it to her when I did the first appointment, and it seemed weird to her, but she still gave the appointment. Since she does not speak english and my finnish isn't so good I don't really know what she is trying to say some times because she has asked again for the Kela card a couple of times after that... Anyway I guess I have to wait one more month to find out what happens.

[tampere_gal]

Do they offer MaterniT21 testing here or similar highly accurate tests that are non-invasive to test for chromosomal problems?

[Rip]

Do they offer MaterniT21 testing here or similar highly accurate tests that are non-invasive to test for chromosomal problems?

Based on the online information, No.

[tampere_gal]

Ok, well back to the original topic. This is my third time being pregnant in Finland, and I've found the neuvola to be great.

[lorein]

Hello,

Is there any pregnant lady in Helsinki interested in meeting up for a chat, tea or walk? I'm currently in my 25th week, and since I don't have any friends currently pregnant, I would appreciate a lot meeting someone in the same situation as me. The summer is here, the maternity leave is close, so why not spend some time together while enjoying our pregnancies?

Hope to hear from you
loredana

[lakmehesse]

I am not sure, but i think you only pay clinic fees if you go through the public health care system. I tried fertility treatment about 8 years ago. I didn't get past the initial consultation. I ended up pregnant on my own...had 3 miscarriages in a year and then got pregnant again about 4 years later with my son who is now 3.5 and i'm currently 35 weeks 3 days pregnant with my 2nd child. I also have PCOS.

Call naistenklinikka and they will direct you to the right department...I can't remember what it is called right now.

Hmm...I have a few questions. Am not pregnant but I have been ttc for a year and half now with no success Ive been to a private gynecologist a few times now and ive been diagnosed with PCOS. Ive been on different meds but nothing :/ okay now my questions:

Ive read on this thread that a user has used Vitex agnus cactus, I also would like to try that but I havent been able to find it in the stores here, Ive checked Lifetime and pharmacies. Does it go by a different name??

Fertility treatments, how much? heheh I would think they are expensive but does Kela help with that?

Any information about fertility treatments and expenses, Vitex, anything anything would be great!!


** I do apologize if I went off topic but this seemed the right thread to post in

[AldenG]

I also have PCOS.

Do you know if anyone has ever looked at your levels of aldosterone (a hormone)? This is one of the most overlooked yet reasonably common hormonal elevations in all of medicine and it can have a variety of unfortunate effects.

[lakmehesse]

Honestly, I don't know.
I was diagnosed with PCOS in the US, but here in Finland they say while I have PCOS like symptoms, they do not consider it PCOS:

I also have PCOS.

Do you know if anyone has ever looked at your levels of aldosterone (a hormone)? This is one of the most overlooked yet reasonably common hormonal elevations in all of medicine and it can have a variety of unfortunate effects.

[aleutian19]

Hello. I am pregnant for 38 weeks. I am so called tiläpäine, i have henkilötunnus and adress in here but i do not have kela card. I was in maistraati in July 2013, so officially i have lived here since then. My partner works here for years, he is vakituine and also has a cela card. We are not married.
Where do i have to go in my case to have urin or blood tests done and also an ultra sound? (i have been to the local neuvola but they can not do anything for me because they do not find my in the computer) I have been once to a private hospital for the ultra sound but is there any cheaper oppourtunities?
Which hospital do i have to go for delivery? I live in Uusimaa, Vantaa.

[B&H]

Hi Guys,

Does anyone have experience on buying Baby Insurance, we are informed its much better to have it - it costs 500€ a year and covers everything very very quickly (as compared to state services) . Which of the companies are better to provide: Tapiola, Fenia etc?

Cheers

B & H

[Rip]

Well, you need to have baby that sick sufficiently often to make it worth while (insurance companies aren't charities after all). You could pay a few visits to a private doctor from your own pocket with the insurance fees every year and the public system isn't hopeless either. There also isn't "covers everything" insurance.

A comparison was published of the insurance offerings less than a year ago, but it is probably useless if you do not read Finnish fluently: http://www.fine.fi/media/julkaisut-2013 ... a-2013.pdf
I don't see there a glaringly obvious good or bad option. Get a couple offers and understand at least how the deductible you pay from your own pocket is counted.