Having Babies in Norway

Monday 2 March 2015

Prior to moving abroad, everyone I knew gave birth in Canada and while I personally hadn't gone through the process, I had a general idea of what pre and postnatal care looked like there.  Once I stepped into the expat lane, I was fascinated by all of the countries my new friends had given birth in, regardless of where they're originally from.  From South Korea to France to Dubai, it was interesting to me (even pre-pregnancy) as to how it all went down.  Sure, giving birth is giving birth no matter where you are but each culture brings it's own set of methods.  Norway is no different.  While there are similarities to what I might be familiar with, there are also differences.


On Prenatal Care…
+Midwifery is alive and well in Norway.  In fact, the majority of all babies are delivered by midwives in hospitals without a physician present.  Pregnant women have the choice to use their regular GP (fastlege,) a midwife or a combination of the two for their prenatal care but most doctors will strongly recommend you visit the midwife at least once as they are considered the experts on labour and delivery.

+Pregnancy is treated much less like a medical condition and much more like a normal part of life.  Like many aspects in the Norwegian healthcare system, common sense prevails.  Many tests that are routinely run in North America aren't even mentioned here.  I didn't have a glucose test and strep b was never brought up.  My iron levels were checked with a finger prick a couple of times and I was required to bring a urine sample to every appointment.  I had blood drawn once.  Despite this, maternal mortality rates are one third of the United States and nearly half of Canada.  The same goes for infant mortality rates.  Medical intervention during labour is also much less common.

+There are also private midwives and private physicians that you may choose to go to for care.  Of course, there is cost involved as they are not part of the regular healthcare scheme.  Also, at the hospital, the person that delivers your baby is the person on call regardless of who you've seen for your entire pregnancy.

On Labour…
+Almost all women give birth in hospitals in Norway.  (Home births, at least in this region, are quite rare. I've also never heard of any birthing centres.)  In the Stavanger hospital, there are two places in which one may give birth.  The first is the 'birthing loft' which is for uncomplicated, normal pregnancies and is completely run by midwives and baby nurses.  It is recommended that all women start there unless their situation requires closer medical attention.  Should a situation arise, or should the labouring woman want an epidural, they would be transferred to the first floor.  There really isn't much difference between the two other than the fact that the first floor is outfitted with more medical equipment and there is a physician consulting with the midwives regularly.  My midwife explains that both the doctors and the midwives work very well together and rely on each other and their expertise to assist the labouring women.

+In Stavanger, mothers and babies stay in the hospital for 3 nights after a normal delivery.  There is a hotel within the hospital with an entire floor dedicated to maternity.  Depending on room availability, fathers and other family members may also check in.  The rooms are exactly like a hotel room except they include a large changing table in the washroom and a nursing station is located at the end of the hallway.  Midwives and baby nurses will check on you several times daily and are a phone call away should you need anything.  There was also a standard itinerary for each day including learning to bathe your baby and other health tests for the infant.  The stay is cost-free for mothers but other family members pay for their stay and food.

On Cost…
+The government literally pays you to have children.  Every baby born in Norway is entitled to a Lump-Sum Benefit (including mine!)  In 2014, the sum totalled over 38 000 kroner or over $6000 CAD.  This is to help take care of the extra costs associated with having a child.  The payouts don't stop there.  One also receives 970 kroner per month ($160) until the child turns 18.

+Speaking of money, prenatal care is also completely covered under the national healthcare scheme.  As soon as you are officially pregnant in the eyes of the system, you don't even have to pay the nominal fee per appointment.

On Parental Leave…
+Norway has a very generous parental leave.  One chooses between taking 49 weeks at 100% pay or 59 weeks at 80% coverage.  There are some regulations as to how the leave can be used (read about it here) but essentially, both the mother and the father are entitled to some time off after the arrival of a new family member.

+It is quite common for Dads to take a substantial amount of paternity leave.  During the day, I see many men pushing prams and collecting groceries.

Other...
+Breastfeeding is highly encouraged and very common in Norway.  Breastfeeding in public is also very common and I've never seen a woman use a cape or cover.

+When mother and baby return home, a visit from a health sister will be set up.  She'll come to your home to check in with you and go over the schedule of appointments and wellness checks for your baby.  She'll speak to you about your labour and make sure that any concerns are addressed or will direct you to the appropriate venues.

+High-end strollers and prams are the average here.  Bugaboo, Emmaljunga and Stokke are the most popular on the streets.  More affordable car seat/stroller options aren't even really available here.  I assume with the cash benefits, people are more willing to spend greater amounts on baby gear.

…………………………………………...
I had nothing but a positive experience being pregnant and giving birth in Norway.  I have even joked that should we decide to expand our brood in the future, we might have to move back.

I'm curious - have you or someone you know given birth abroad? What was the experience like?  (IE, if Norway isn't in the cards, where should I move next?)

25 comments:

  1. Wow, I'm so impressed!!! It's so very different from the States.

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    1. So different! Have you watched "The Business of Being Born?" Fascinating look at the American system when it comes to having babies.

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  2. This was very interesting to read, and it sounds like Norway is quite similar to Sweden! I'm an American who lives here 9 months of the year, and know many women who have given birth here (Canadians, Americans, and of course Swedes). The experience sounds pretty similar, and definitely a positive one! I enjoyed reading this as my husband and I are starting to talk of starting a family, so it is possible that one day I could be in the boat of pregnant/giving birth in another country. Always good to know great experiences!

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    1. I think the Scandinavian countries have a lot of similarities in terms of having babies. I hear Sweden is pretty good too although I don't know the particulars!

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  3. As an expat, I love reading how different things can be from a country to another, especially for subjects as "basic" as having a baby. This was really interesting. I come from France, where pregnancy is treated, as you said, like a medical condition. I don't have children but many of my friends do and I heard them all say the same thing.

    I had already heard that Norway was a great place to have children (long parental leaves, etc.) but I didn't know about the details like the ones you shared. I'm really happy it went well for you! :)

    Charlotte | The Midnight Blog

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    1. Thanks Charlotte!

      I've heard a bit about the French system as I have some friends who have given birth there. It's definitely a lot different than Norway!

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    2. Jay, I have to confess that i calmed down my spirit after i read it. I have heard about the norwegian system but not from a expat that gave birth there. Really import text for me. Thank you so much. I am a brazilian, 26 years, pregnant of Samir, we are going soon to Trondheim since my husband got a pHD there. We are starting a brand new life! We gonna have our own house, our baby and this challenge to be parents. It is such a bless but at the same time make us very worried. Specially because we gonna have only eachother during the process. His family and mine and also our friends will not be able to be with us and this makes me feel very sad.Hopefully all this context will not help me to have a post birth depression. I will keep you uptade. Thank you so much. Be blessed.

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    3. So glad it was helpful, Juli! There are definitely challenges to having babies abroad but you're in a wonderful place! I wish you the best of luck & am sending positive thoughts your way for a great experience!

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  4. So freaking logical! Go Norway!

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  5. Wow. What a wonderful treatment of pregnancy and childbirth. I don't know much about practices in Gabon, but I think it's a fair guess that your experience in Norway was much better than it could have been there! Also, it makes me even more sad about how the American system seems to have gotten things so very, very wrong.

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    1. Ha. We weren't even allowed to have babies in Gabon (company policy.) You are medically 'evacuated' during the last trimester.

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  6. when i tell people anywhere that norwegians, or people living in norway, get paid to have babies they die and tell me im joking! glad you had a wonderful experience <3

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  7. Wow! As if I need another excuse to move to Europe
    I am mexican living in the States and i am afraid of all the medical system after watching "The Business of Being Born?".
    I know that in England you also got the post-natal care at home, which has sense!

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    1. That film is quite eye-opening, isn't it?

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  8. My wife and I are expecting our second child in the middle of November. We are moving to Norway at the end of July. We have read that we must be in the country a certain number of weeks to receive the 'lump-sum benefit.' Is this the case? Do you know of any stipulations regarding this? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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  9. My wife and I are expecting our second child in the middle of November. We are moving to Norway at the end of July. We have read that we must be in the country a certain number of weeks to receive the 'lump-sum benefit.' Is this the case? Do you know of any stipulations regarding this? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

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    1. Hi Reuben,
      Congratulations :)
      I don't know the specific stipulations regarding how long you need to be in Norway in order to qualify for the benefit. If you check the link below, it says, "In order to be eligible for a lump-sum grant, you must be a member of the National Insurance Scheme at the time you give birth to or adopt a child." If you register legally in the country when you arrive in July, it seems you'd qualify by the time your wife gives birth in November. To be sure, I'd contact NAV for an answer.

      https://www.nav.no/en/Home/Benefits+and+services/Relatert+informasjon/Lump-sum+grant+on+birth+or+adoption.279065.cms#chapter-1

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  10. Hi Jay. I am originally from Trondheim but have lived in Sydney, Australia, since 2008. I gave birth here last year and had a great experience. Australia has a shared public/private health care system and pretty much will financially "force" you into the private sector when you earn more than a certain amount of annual income. Being Norwegian I am very much used to and have great trust in the public health care system. I went public throughout my pregnancy and birth and had a shared midwife/ GP prenatal care. Among my colleagues at work they thought I was a bit crazy not having an obstetrician following me through my pregnancy. It is very common to pay anything from 4000-6000 AUD for a private obstetrician here. I had great care through the entire pregnancy ( and they do all sorts of tests here, including glucose test) and a couple of amazing midwifes through a slightly challenging birth. Here you have birthing centres as well. I wanted to be in the birthing centre but it was full.
    Interesting read about Norway from the view of an expat. Me, my partner, who is Canadian, and our 1 year old are planning a move back to Norway this year. It is a bit nerve wracking.... Exciting too but worried what my partner will think of living there. Reading most things I can come across from expat blogs and such. Great blog! :-)

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  11. Hi jay thanks for this insight about Norway and their birth process and stuffs, i do really appreciate and enjoyed reading this.God bless you. But i have some questions to ask please help me through as it will be very essential and very important to me. i am from Nigeria and my fiancee too, she currently pregnant now and she is going to have our baby in Norway i can not make the trip with her as i am overseas now, and we are expecting to our baby by semptember but she is living in July, would there be any benefit for the child like having the Norwegian citizenship? and as i have read the lump-sum grant would they still get that? what do we need to do please? can you give me so more better insight please as to what to do. I wait for your response God bless and thanks.

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  12. Hi Jay, Thanks for your lovely blog. I am also pregnant and living in Norway. Unfortunately I haven't had such a good experience with my fastlege who can't find time to fit me in for an appointment for a week at a time, among other things, so I am just wondering if you or any other ladies reading this blog have had really positive experiences with their English speaking fastlege in the Akershus region? Any info or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. God bless

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    1. Good luck, Sarah! I hope you find someone more attentive.

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  13. Hi :),

    I'm from the states, but have moved to Norway 3 yrs ago. We are expecting our first baby girl this summer. Just wondering, did u qualify for the lump sum and parental leave or just one of them?

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    1. Parental leave depends on your work contract. My husband was on an expat contract which is sort of a grey area - his holiday & leave policy came from the company and not the Norwegian standard. But everyone gets the lump sum :)

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  14. Were you working too or just your husband? Cause I read that the lump sum is only for mother's that don't qualify for the parental leave with their jobs. But then I'm being told the opposite too so just trying to figure it out :).

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    1. Everyone gets it - working or not. I'm not an expert - contacting NAV is always best :)

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