There are options for different types of support during pregnancy. The normal route is through your local MVC (mödravårdcentral) or midwife clinic (barnmorskamottagning) – you can find out who they are through your doctor. You don’t have to attend your local clinic – you are entitled to choose any clinic you like so if you have friends who recommend another clinic highly, feel free to contact that clinic directly. If you have specific medical needs, you may be directed to a specialist unit. Public pre-natal care is totally funded by the government so you will not have to pay for your visits or for any of the tests.

You can also opt for care that better meets your own requirements– there are a growing number of private clinics, particularly in the big cities. Personal recommendations are helpful, otherwise you could look under Mödravård in the Yellow Pages. Private pre-natal care is often but not always free, some of the larger companies do have charges. They will also ask you to sign a form stating that you have chosen to use their services.  They vary according to the services they offer and it is worth having a look around and comparing clinics.

Generally speaking, you will be cared for primarily by a midwife. You may see a doctor at some point during your pregnancy but, unless you have complications, this is likely to be only once – probably in the first trimester (and sometimes not even then if you have already had at least one problem free pregnancy). Do not be alarmed by the lack of doctor involvement – the midwives are well trained and Sweden has an excellent record of prenatal care. If you don’t speak Swedish, check in advance that the midwife you’re assigned to is a confident English speaker or that you can always have a translator available (preferably the former). It’s important you feel confident in understanding everything that is happening and they will understand this.  It is also important to know that the midwife you see during your pregnancy will not be at the hospital. So despite building a rapport and her knowing your history it is only her records that get passed on. She will most likely give these to you for you to take to the hospital with you.

You may also find the lack of early care disconcerting – most midwives will not routinely see you until somewhere between week 8 and week 12 – but the frequency of visits steps up throughout the pregnancy. If you do want to see somebody earlier, just ask – especially if you have concerns. The attitude to early stage miscarriage can also be a pragmatic ‘these things happen’ but, again, insist on more support and counselling if you need it.

At your first visit, you will be asked a number of questions about your own health and that of your partner. You will also be given guidelines on food and drink to avoid (alcohol is a no-no), tests available and an overview of your further visits. Most of the written information should be available in English and your partner will be encouraged to attend all appointments with the midwife

Thereafter if you have a trouble free pregnancy, visits should be brief with a quick check of weight gain, blood pressure, blood and urine tests and, at a later stage, uterus height and foetal heart rate. On the whole you may find that a lot fewer tests and checks are done than you might expect or be used to. Again, the Swedes have a pretty laid back attitude compared to many other systems.  An ultrasound is routinely done around weeks 16 to 18 and there tends to be a reluctance to do any more than one unless the midwife deems it necessary. If you will be over 35 when the baby is born, you are also entitled to a nuchal fold scan between weeks 10 and 14. It is, however, possible to do earlier or additional ultra-sounds if you’re prepared to pay for them, charges can vary but may just be the cost of an extra consultation. So if you have a feeling something is wrong, have had problems in the past or just want the security of knowing, do be prepared to insist on additional scans. Your midwife should provide you with a list of all the checks and scans available at your first meeting so that you can be sure you opt for those most appropriate for you. If you know of scans or tests that are not included on the list, ask – she may not have thought to mention anything you need to pay for.

If you have concerns and want to spend more time talking things through with your midwife, don’t feel guilty about taking up her time – as with so many Swedish situations, it is important to ask because information will probably not be volunteered unless you do.

Your MVC may also put you in a group of expected parents as part of a birth preparation course and it is a great chance to talk to those expecting around the same time. Some of these groups continue to meet after the babies are all born which can become really valuable both for company and to have others to share experiences with. However, most will be held in Swedish (unless the clinic has a big group of English speakers due at similar times) and the due dates of those in the group can vary enormously.