It is calmer and more personal to give birth in Åland

Lina Karlsson is from Åland and has since returned to her home region. After studying to become a nurse, she worked for almost 8 years in orthopedics in Uppsala before choosing to further her education as a midwife.

– After that, I worked for two years at the women's clinic at Akademiska Hospital. First a year in labor and delivery, then a year in the maternity ward. These are experiences I'm glad to have with me.

Lina maintains her contacts in Sweden. Even though she is employed at ÅHS, she still has the opportunity to occasionally step in and work at Akademiska, which is a larger hospital with more deliveries. She enjoys the variety and thinks it's a great way to keep her skills sharp.

– I'm glad that I can go over to Sweden sometimes and work. You need to practice to stay up to date.

More time for deliveries

At ÅHS, approximately 15–18 midwives work in the maternity ward, gynecology, and antenatal care. Compared to larger locations, the number of births per year is lower in Åland, which gives midwives more time for each delivery. New mothers also have the option to stay longer in the maternity ward. Lina explains that most stay 3–5 days, regardless of whether they are first-time or experienced mothers.

– That means there is time to settle in afterwards, and there is an opportunity to talk through the birth with your midwife. The midwives also perform the postnatal examination if the delivery was uncomplicated, and most people appreciate that continuity. Otherwise, it is the doctor who performs the postnatal examination.

Calm and secure

Lina moved back to Åland after her second pregnancy. She now lives in Mariehamn together with her husband, three children, and a dog.

– My husband is also from Åland and we have probably always thought that we would move back at some point. Living away without family nearby was fine with the first child, but when we had our twins, everyday life became more challenging.

As a midwife, Lina has been asked several times whether she herself could imagine giving birth to her children in Åland.
– I absolutely would, even if I had a twin pregnancy again. Since we are on an island, we plan our deliveries differently than at larger hospitals, where a neonatal unit and various specialists are always available. Instead, we have good collaborations with the university hospitals in Turku and Uppsala. 

In addition to ÅHS's own pediatricians and gynecologists, specialists from other hospitals are also present on site during certain weeks.

More personalized care 

A major advantage of going through pregnancy and childbirth in Åland is that families often have the chance to get acquainted with the midwives before the delivery. Lina explains that the delivery midwives handle one of the visits at the antenatal clinic towards the end of the pregnancy.
– We then go through the ward's routines, and those who wish can get a guided tour of the maternity ward and the delivery room.

Most people who give birth in Åland have therefore already met their midwife before the delivery. Either through antenatal care or in connection with other visits to the maternity ward, for example to receive acupuncture.

– At a larger hospital like Akademiska in Uppsala, I might meet 3–4 families and attend 1–2 deliveries during a night shift, and then I won't see them again. In Åland, you instead have plenty of opportunities to meet your midwife in the days after the delivery if you want to discuss it. You can also schedule a birth review when you feel ready.

Otherwise, the care is similar – essentially the same procedures and medications in Åland as in Sweden. As in the rest of the Nordic countries, the number of deliveries is decreasing here as well.

– We would love to have more deliveries with us, and we are pleased when Ålanders living abroad or others with ties to Åland choose to give birth here. It is usually not a problem to obtain a payment guarantee from your hospital.

A great choice for families

On a personal level, Lina is happy with the family's move to Åland, even though they also enjoyed life in Uppsala.

– For the children, it doesn't matter whether they live in Åland or Uppsala, but for us as parents it feels very good that they have grown up in Åland. When we compare with friends in Sweden, we notice that their children don't have nearly the same freedom as our children have.

She also appreciates that most things are close by and that it is possible for the children to have many hobbies, from football to dance.

– Instead of everything becoming a project and time being spent on commuting and other tedious things, we are rich in free time. The range of activities is also extensive and you don't have to queue for a spot – whether for leisure activities or the best schools.

– Åland is perfect for everyone who enjoys living the simple life!