Pregnancy and life with a baby

Pregnancy

When the pregnancy is confirmed, please book an appointment at a maternity clinic. The maternity clinic will monitor your pregnancy and give your family advice on your new life situation. 

Your partner or another family member is always welcome to join the maternity clinic visits. It is good if the partner of the expecting mother can come along. 

During your pregnancy, you will meet the maternity clinic’s nurse or doctor once a month on average. 

If you have visited a doctor or a maternity clinic in the first four months of pregnancy, you are eligible for a maternity grant. 

The service is free of charge. If necessary, you can ask for an interpreter to be present at the maternity clinic appointments. 

• Visit the Western Uusimaa Well-being Services County website to learn more about maternity clinics.(external link, opens in a new window)

Childbirth

In Finland, childbirth usually takes place in a hospital. The maternity clinic will give you more information about the hospital where you will give birth. If you have a municipality of residence in Finland, childbirth does not cost very much. The baby’s other parent may be present for the birth. You can also bring another friend or relative with you. 

Please tell the nurse at the maternity clinic if you are afraid of giving birth. There is help available for fear. Please also tell the nurse if you have undergone female genital mutilation. In this case, deinfibulation (reopening surgery) can be performed. It will make pregnancy check-ups and giving birth easier. 

• Learn more about pregnancy and childbirth on the InfoFinland.fi website in several languages.(external link, opens in a new window) 

When a child is born to a family in Finland, the hospital registers them in the Population Information System. The parents must report the child’s name and mother tongue to the Digital and Population Data Services Agency within three months of the birth. 

The citizenship of the child depends on the citizenship of the parents. If the child does not have Finnish citizenship, the parents must apply for a residence permit for the child from the Finnish Immigration Service within three months of the birth. 

If you need advice on a child’s registration, residence permit or citizenship, please contact Hello Espoo Info. 

• Learn more about the registration, residence permit and citizenship of a newborn child on the InfoFinland.fi website in several languages.(external link, opens in a new window)
• See the contact information for Hello Espoo Info in several languages. 

The purpose of child health clinics is to monitor and promote the physical, psychological and social growth and development of children. 

At the child health clinic, you can discuss 

• the wellbeing of the family and parenthood
• raising children
• nutrition
• your mood
• substance use.

The goal is for families to receive support and advice as early as possible, before small concerns become bigger problems. 

During the child’s first year, the family typically visits the clinic once a month. After that, there will be appointments approximately once a year until the child turns seven. There may be additional appointments if necessary. 

At the child health clinic, the public health nurse and doctor carry out regular health examinations of the child. You will also receive information on how to promote the health of your child and your family’s wellbeing. The child health clinic offers the child vaccinations in accordance with the Finnish vaccination programme. Vaccinations are important because they prevent serious diseases and deaths. 

If you have questions about your child’s health or family life, you can always ask the child health clinic for advice! 

The service is free of charge. If necessary, you can ask for an interpreter to be present at the appointments. 

• Learn more about child health clinics on the website of the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.(external link, opens in a new window)  

An employer does not have the right to dismiss an employee because of pregnancy or because they take family leave. 

If you have a child during your studies, ask your educational institution for advice. You can take maternity, paternity or parental leave between your studies. Kela will pay student financial aid during studies. Having a child is usually an acceptable reason for delaying studies. 

Having a child may affect the length of your integration period. 

Koto-Espoo offers integration services for immigrants on family leave. Koto-Espoo organises Finnish language courses, Tervetuloa Suomeen (Welcome to Finland) courses in different languages, as well as guidance and counselling. In most courses, childcare is provided. You can use Koto-Espoo’s services with the help of an interpreter. 

If you were an unemployed jobseeker before taking family leave, Employment Services may extend your integration period and offer you services that support your integration even after the child is born. Contact Employment Services when you are ready to continue as their client. 

• Learn more about Koto-Espoo’s services in several languages.
• What is an integration period? Read more 

A pregnant parent is entitled to pregnancy leave. When a child is born, their parents have the right to take parental leave. In Finland, both parents take parental leave. 

When parental leave ends, a parent has the right to take childcare leave to care for a child under the age of 3. Either one of the child’s parents or guardians may take childcare leave. 

Benefits related to pregnancy and child care include: 

• maternity grant
• pregnancy allowance
• parental allowance
• child benefit
• home care allowance

You can apply for benefits related to pregnancy and having a child from Kela. Your eligibility for benefits depends on whether you are living in Finland permanently or temporarily. Check the criteria for permanent residence from Kela. 

• Learn more about benefits related to having and caring for a child on Kela's website.(external link, opens in a new window)
• Learn more about the right to Finnish social security on Kela’s website.(external link, opens in a new window)
• Learn more about benefits for families on the InfoFinland.fi website in several languages.(external link, opens in a new window)  

The child can be enrolled in a day care centre (early childhood education) at the age of nine months at the earliest. 

Espoo offers free Finnish early childhood education clubs for children aged 2 to 5 who are being cared for at home. In the clubs, children make friends and have the opportunity to practice social skills in a group setting. Clubs offer high-quality and meaningful activities. Club activities last for a few hours at a time on several days per week. Children participate in club activities without their parents. 

Various businesses also provide short-term childcare assistance for a fee. You can search online for more information about them. 

• Learn more about day care centres in Espoo.
• Learn more about early childhood education clubs organised by the City of Espoo.
• Learn more about services for families with children on the Omaperhe.fi website.(external link, opens in a new window)    

Residents’ parks are free-of-charge meeting places where children and families can spend time, get to know each other and enjoy a variety of activities. The parks have staff and guided activities both indoors and outdoors. Playing in the yard area is allowed outside opening hours too. 

You can also get to know other families at family centres’ meeting places. The family centres in Espoo are located in Niittykumpu and Espoon keskus. Many family services are located in family centres. 

Espoo has various organisations that arrange fun activities for families with children. Such organisations include Nicehearts ry, Espoon monikulttuuriset lapset ja nuoret ry, MLL Uudenmaan piiri and Familia ry. Libraries and parishes also organise a lot of activities for families with children. 

The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL) has a friendship programme for immigrant mothers. Through the programme, you can take part in fun activities and get support in learning the Finnish language.  

Koto-Espoo helps parents on family leave find suitable peer activities. 

• Learn more about residents’ parks in Espoo.
• Learn more about activities at family centres’ meeting places on the website of the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County.(external link, opens in a new window)
• Learn more about the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare’s friendship programme and apply for a friend on the MLL.fi website. (external link, opens in a new window)