We support the health and well-being of pregnant mothers, foetuses and newborn babies. We help parents prepare for childbirth and parenthood and support the overall health and well-being of the family.
During your pregnancy, we offer you about 10 appointments with a public health nurse, and two with a doctor. The number of visits may vary depending on your individual needs. You can decide among the family who is to accompany you to the appointments.
The nurse will carry out health examinations to monitor and examine your blood pressure, haemoglobin level, weight, any swelling or presence of sugar and protein in the urine. The nurse will also check the position, heartbeat and movement of the foetus. We will discuss your well-being and that of the family and any concerns you may have.
We carry out a medical examination to determine illnesses, medications or other factors that may affect the course of the pregnancy. Additional medical examinations may be carried out if you have a long-term illness, for example.
The service is free of charge.
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The centralised maternity and child health clinic telephone service (The call-back service is available 8.00-16.00)
Public health nurse appointments during pregnancy
You can book an appointment to a maternity and child health clinic as soon as you get a positive pregnancy test result. During the first visit, you will discuss your health and matters related to the pregnancy with a nurse.
Extensive health examination, including a medical examination.
We will discuss topics related to the health of the baby and the well-being of the family based on the preliminary information and a resource form. You can fill in the necessary forms in Maisa or on site at the clinic.
We will direct you to book an appointment for family coaching and a physiotherapy group.
We will examine the health of you and the foetus, as well as the well-being of the whole family.
We will direct you to a glucose tolerance test performed between weeks 24 and 26 of pregnancy. We will measure your haemoglobin level.
After a health examination at a maternity and child health clinic before the end of the 18th week of pregnancy, you get a certificate of pregnancy. You need the certificate to apply for maternity grant from Kela. We will create a certificate of pregnancy in the Apotti system and, with your permission, forward it to Kela.
If you are not married to the father of the child at the time of the birth or if the child is born from fertility treatment to a female couple, we will ask about your willingness to acknowledge paternity or maternity. Acknowledgement is possible during pregnancy weeks 30–32, provided that both parents are present at the clinic.
We will discuss your life situation, mood and any concerns you may have.
This appointment is intended for first-time mothers.
Among other things, we will discuss breastfeeding, baby care and care supplies, as well as various services for families with children.
If necessary, we will provide you with Rho(D) immune globulin. Read more in Finnish (Health Village) (Link leads to external service)
At this appointment, we accept the acknowledgement of paternity or maternity. For confirmation, we need the identity documents of both parents. Read more in the Pregnancy weeks 22–24 section.
At 37–41 weeks of pregnancy, we will perform a health examination every two weeks unless otherwise agreed with you or the childbirth does not start earlier.
We will discuss your health and matters related to childbirth. We will measure your haemoglobin level.
When the pregnancy has lasted for about 10 days over the due date, you can book an appointment at the maternity outpatient clinic or for an overdue check-up.
Doctor’s appointments during pregnancy
We will discuss with you how the early stage of the pregnancy has progressed and whether you have chronic illnesses or medications that may affect the course of the pregnancy.
We will look into matters related to childbirth.
The doctor may perform a gynaecological examination if you have had contractions, for example.
Ultrasound examinations and screening for chromosomal aberrations
You will receive a referral for the examinations on the first maternity and child health clinic appointment. The examinations are voluntary and free of charge.
Ultrasound examination in early pregnancy is carried out to determine foetal heart rate, the number of foetuses and the duration of the pregnancy.
Structural ultrasound examination is carried out to determine the structure and size of the foetus, the volume of amniotic fluid and the location of the placenta.
Chromosomal aberrations (Down syndrome and Edwards syndrome) are screened by way of a blood sample and ultrasound examination.
After childbirth and postpartum check-up
If you are a first-time mother, a public health nurse will visit you at home within a week of you being discharged from the maternity hospital. We meet with mothers with previous births at a maternity and child health clinic or, if necessary, at home.
We will discuss your health and that of the baby and the experiences related to pregnancy and childbirth. We will check uterine contraction and breast health to determine your physical recovery. We will remove any caesarean stitches or staples.
We will examine the baby. We will provide instructions for breastfeeding and baby care. You will receive guidance and advice appropriate for your family.
You will also get the first appointment to the child health clinic for the baby.
The postpartum check-up is 5–12 weeks after giving birth.
We will discuss the well-being of you and the family. We will examine your physical recovery from childbirth. We will also help you decide on a suitable contraceptive method for you.
Postpartum check-ups are carried out at the Ruoholahti Postpartum Assessment Unit by public health nurses and midwives specialised in postpartum care.
If you need a medical examination, the postpartum check-up is carried out at your maternity and child health clinic. The need for a medical examination is assessed by a public health nurse.
