Having a child

To get the best help for your situation, first answer the questions on the guide's start page.

Checklist for expecting families

Good to remember when you are dreaming of having a child or expecting a child:

Seek support and peer support if you suspect that you may be infertile

Involuntary infertility is a scenario that often involves physical, psychological, and social impacts in different areas of your life, such as your relationship. Never think that you should suffer alone with your thoughts and feelings.

You can ask for someone to talk to from social welfare and health care services or from your occupational health care, student health care, parish, or other organisations, such as Simpukka ry, Parisuhdekeskus Kataja ry, the Family Federation of Finland, or Mieli ry. Many infertility clinics also provide psychological support.

Seek infertility evaluation and treatment

You can seek infertility evaluation through public health care or by making an appointment directly with a private infertility clinic. There are certain conditions for access to infertility treatments in public health care. For example, the birthing parent must be under the age of 40 at the time treatment begins.

There are different types of infertility treatments, and the choice of treatment will depend on the situation and the results of the infertility evaluation. Your treatment options may include stimulation of egg development and release through hormone therapy, artificial insemination, or fertilisation in vitro.

Seek support and peer support for single parenting by choice

Becoming a single parent by choice is a big decision. It is important to consider e.g. the safety nets you have at your disposal. You should never hesitate to discuss your thoughts and wishes with your loved ones or a professional.

Familiarise yourself with the various support groups and other forms of peer support provided by, for example, Simpukka ry, Rainbow Families Finland – Sateenkaariperheet ry, the Finnish Federation of Single Parent Organisations YVPL, and the Single Parents’ Association Pienperheyhdistys ry to hear and share experiences with other single parents by choice or those who are considering it.

Learn more about donor conception

The donor conception process involves various decisions and emotional aspects that you should ponder alone and with your partner before making a decision.

Various organisations provide counselling, discussion help, and peer support in matters related to starting a family. Read more about the services provided by Simpukka ry's Helminauha project and Sateenkaariperheet ry, for example.

Do this when you want to begin the donor conception process

Schedule your first visit with a nurse or physician at your local health centre, occupational health care, or student health care. You can also discuss the topic with a gynaecologist.

You can apply for donor conception through public health care or by making an appointment directly with a private fertility clinic. There are certain conditions for access to donor conception treatments in public health care. For example, the birthing parent must be under the age of 40 at the time treatment begins.

Donor conception treatment is always preceded by donor conception counselling to provide information on donor conception and support the weighing of options.

If you get a positive pregnancy test, contact the maternity and child health clinic

You can contact the maternity and child health clinic as soon as you have taken a positive pregnancy test. You will make 9–12 visits to the maternity and child health clinic during your pregnancy. The maternity and child health clinic offers advice on parenting and lifestyle choices, for example, and refers the birthing parent to prenatal screening tests. You can also turn to the maternity and child health clinic if you are worried about, for example, your coping, childbirth or breastfeeding.

Familiarise yourself with nutrition recommendations for pregnancy. If you have used alcohol, stop as soon as you find out that you are pregnant.

Sign up for adoption counselling if you wish to adopt

The adoption process always starts with adoption counselling, which you can sign up for through your wellbeing services county's social counselling services. If you wish to adopt a child, sign up for adoption counselling through your wellbeing services county's social counselling services.

Adoption is a child welfare measure that seeks to find the best possible home for a child without a family. The duration of the adoption process cannot be determined in advance, as it is influenced by various factors.

Seek peer support during the adoption process waiting period

As the duration of the adoption process can vary greatly, it can naturally test your resolve and mental well-being. This is why it is vital that you have someone to turn to, such as a family member, as well as peer support from other adoptive parents in waiting. Read more about the work of the association for adoptive families Adoptioperheet ry, for example.

Inform your employer about taking pregnancy leave

If you are employed, you must inform your employer of your having a child at least two months before your start your pregnancy leave.

In certain situations, it may be necessary to inform your employer earlier than that. This is the case, for example, if you are pregnant and your job may pose a risk to your pregnancy or the development of the foetus. You can consult occupational health care if needed.

The two months' notice requirement for pregnancy leave applies to both pregnancy and adoption. The adoption trip may come at short notice, however. If this is the case, the employer must be informed as soon as possible.

Apply to Kela for family benefits

Apply to KelaOpens in a new window. for

maternity grant, i.e. the maternity package or a sum of money
pregnancy allowance (for the pregnant parent)
special pregnancy allowance if you are pregnant and are exposed to factors in your work that could endanger the foetus
child benefit
adoption grant if you are adopting a child from abroad
parental allowance
child maintenance allowance if the child does not have another parent or if the child does not receive child support from the parent liable to provide maintenance for the child.

To apply for maternity grant and pregnancy allowance, you will need a pregnancy certificate, which you can get from the maternity and child health clinic.

Prepare for childbirth, for example in family guidance

Parents who are expecting a child can access family guidance through their maternity and child health clinic, where they receive information about pregnancy, childbirth, caring for a baby, and parenthood. The family guidance also includes childbirth guidance. For more information about family guidance, get in touch with your maternity and child health clinic. You can also seek support for preparing for childbirth from e.g. various organisations, peer groups, private health service providers, and doulas, i.e. trained childbirth support persons.

Remember that there's support available for parenthood

Having a child will change your daily life. It will bring you joy, but it also requires accommodation and resiliency. Sometimes you may feel like asking for help and guidance for navigating your new life. Wellbeing services counties and organisations offer various types of support and help to families with children.

A child can strengthen the relationship between their parents, but the child’s presence will also introduce new types of demands and challenges to the parents’ relationship. These can also have an impact on the parents’ mutual interaction and level of intimacy. While it is important to look after your household and your child’s everyday needs, you and your partner should also remember to work together and take care of your personal needs, to maintain the balance between your relationship and caring for your baby.

The maternity and child health clinic supports and follows the child's development

The child's development is followed at child health clinics. You can contact your child health clinic in all matters related to your child’s care and upbringing, your parenthood, and the well-being of your family. The child health clinic also follows and supports the well-being of the mother and the whole family.

Seek support if you feel depressed or anxious

People may experience strong mood swings during pregnancy and after giving birth. You can discuss these mood swings and your thoughts and feelings with your family and friends. If the symptoms persist, worsen, or return at a later date, you may be experiencing depression. Remember that professional help is always available. You can bring up the matter at your maternity and child health clinic, for example.

Acknowledge parenthood if needed

In certain situations, a person’s parenthood must be officially confirmed to make the relationship between the parent and the child official. If the mother has a husband when the child is born, the husband is the child’s father. In other cases, the parenthood of the other parent must be acknowledged and confirmed.

You can acknowledge your parenthood

at a maternity and child health clinic or child welfare supervisor’s office before the child is born
at the child welfare supervisor’s office after the child is born.

Report the child's name and mother tongue

After the child's birth, you will be sent a form at home that you will use to report your child's name and mother tongue to the Population Information System. The form must be submitted within three months of the birth of the child.

Apply for a place in early childhood education and care

You must apply for a place in early childhood education and care at least four months in advance. However, you can apply for a place at an even earlier point in time. Your child is entitled to early childhood education and care even if you are unemployed or a student.