Giving birth

In addition to family or childbirth guidance, you can receive support and advice for preparing for childbirth from e.g. various organisations, associations, peer groups, private health service providers, and doulas.

• The family coaching provided by Sateenkaariperheet – Rainbow Families Finland  (in Finnish)Opens in a new window. is intended for all rainbow families who are expecting or planning on having a child.
• Familia ry’s Duo Family Training for Intercultural CouplesOpens in a new window.
• The family guidance for families expecting multiple children (in Finnish)Opens in a new window. is intended for families who are expecting to have twins, triplets, or quadruplets.
• The Finnish Association for Breastfeeding Support’s breastfeeding webinars (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Simpukka ry’s online guidance for people who have opted for donor conception (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.

The Doulas of Finland ry’s lists available doulas on their websiteOpens in a new window.. If your family needs special support, you can obtain a doula in some larger municipalities through a Mother and Child Home and Shelter (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.. If you are expecting a child without a partner, you can also ask your local member association of the Association for Single-Parent Families (in Finnish)Opens in a new window. about the possibility of obtaining a doula’s services.

If giving birth feels scary to you, you can talk about your fears with your maternity and child health clinic. If necessary, you can receive a referral from the maternity and child health clinic to a Fear of Childbirth Outpatient Clinic, where you can discuss your fears. It is normal to experience different fears during pregnancy, but you should talk to a professional about any fears related to childbirth.

• Fear of childbirth - Terveyskylä (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Fears related to childbirth - Mentalhub.fi (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.

Many organisations also provide free counselling. Here are some additional resources:

• The Family Federation of Finland's Parisuhdekeskus Kataja’s chat services (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• The Perhepulma service – counselling for families with children – Family Federation of FinlandOpens in a new window.
• Äimä ry’s advisory chat serviceOpens in a new window.
• The Family Federation of Finland's Parisuhdekeskus Kataja's couples' helpline (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• The Family Federation of Finland's Parisuhdekeskus Kataja's Parivoima couples' counselling (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.

You can deliver your baby vaginally or through a caesarean section. At the final stages of your pregnancy, you will be examined medically to determine whether vaginal delivery is possible. If a vaginal delivery does not seem like a safe option, your delivery will be planned in a delivery method assessment. You can read more about these delivery methods on Terveyskylä’s Naistalo website (in Finnish)Opens in a new window..

A vaginal delivery may start spontaneously or it can be induced. The delivery starts with contractions or your water breaking. During your visit to the maternity and child health clinic, you will be given instructions on how to act when you go into labour.

• When should I leave for the hospital to give birth? – Omaperhe.fiOpens in a new window.
• Information on the stages and progress of childbirth at Terveyskylä.fi (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.

The symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety include the loss of joy in life, panic disorders, obsessive thoughts, low moods, and unusually strong fatigue. If you experience such symptoms, contact your maternity and child health clinic. In addition to your local maternity and child health clinic, help is available from different sources, such as physicians, psychologists, family counselling centres or, in more urgent cases, psychiatric emergency clinics. If the situation is extremely acute, you can call for help directly from the emergency number 112. Information on the treatment and symptoms of postpartum depression is available on Äimä ry’s websiteOpens in a new window..

Help is also available from the Baby Blues counsellors of the member associations of the Federation of Mother and Child Homes (in Finnish)Opens in a new window. and Shelters and Äimä ry’s peer supportOpens in a new window..

Depending on your situation, you can also use the following self-care guides to manage your feelings:

• Raskaus- ja vauva-ajan mielen hyvinvoinnin omahoito-ohjelma - Mentalhub.fi (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Self-management guides for anxiety and depression during pregnancy and infancy – Finnish Perinatal Mental Health Association (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.
• Support for mothers self-study course produced by Äimä ry in the Family Federation of Finland’s Hyvä kysymys service (in Finnish)Opens in a new window.

Postpartum psychosis is a serious mental illness that can appear after a person has given birth. It is a rare illness that affects approximately 1–2 in every 1,000 people who give birth. Postpartum psychosis requires inpatient care and medication. Postpartum psychosis is a severe illness, but the majority of patients are cured of it almost without exception. However, the patient may experience a depressive period after the psychosis. Read more about the symptoms and treatment of postpartum psychosis and the available peer support on Äimä ry’s websiteOpens in a new window.. Postpartum psychosis can also be referred to as puerperal psychosis.