- in the capital area.
Antenatal care
There are 17 primary health care centres in the capital area. At these centres midwives and family doctors (GP) offer a series of antenatal appointments to check on the health of the mother and her baby and they refer to appropriate specialists as needed.
As a part of the antenatal care women are offered a number of screening tests. The purpose of these tests is to check whether they have any conditions or infections that could affect their health or their baby´s health. An ultrasound scan is offered around 20 weeks of the pregnancy to check for physical abnormalities in the baby.
Women who have valid Icelandic health insurances have access to antenatal care at their nearest primary health care center free of charge. Other women have to pay for each visit and for the screening tests.
Prenatal classes in English and Polish are offered at The Department of Antenatal Care and Centre of Prevention, Education, Research and Development, at Þönglabakki 1, 109 Reykjavik, the telephone number is 585 1400. Breastfeeding classes are only offered in Icelandic but if they could be of use please welcome and register at 585 1400. Landspítali/fósturgreiningadeild offers screening test for some chromosomal abnormalities. The test is a combined test (an ultrasound test and a blood test) and is done from 11 to 14 weeks. The test is not offered as a part of the routine antenatal care, but is offered for everyone.
The birth
There are two labour wards at Landspítali. One where all women can give birth regardless of the birth method (Fæðingardeild, 23-A) and another where only women who plan to have a natural birth after normal singleton pregnancy for 37 to 42 weeks can stay (Hreiðrið: The Nest)
At www.landspitali.is there are videos that show the labor wards. It can be seen here. It is only in icelandic yet, but english and polish versions are in preparation.
Women who want to give birth at home can contact the Icelandic Midwives Association, telephone number 564 6099 for information about midwives who attend home-births or ask at your antenatal care. For other options ask your midwife.
Postnatal care
After normal birth of a healthy baby women/parents can stay at the hospital for up to 36 hours and then get midwifery care at their home for the first week. Usually parents go home around 24 hours after their baby is born.
After difficult births or cesarean section women can stay at the hospital longer and as can women whose child is hospitalized after birth and women with health problems or social difficulties.
After 36 hours in hospital, home visiting midwifery services are no longer available. The decision for the length of the hospital stay is always made for the best interest of the mother, baby and family.
After the hospital stay and/or midwifery care, a health care nurse/midwife from the family’s nearest primary health care centre offer visits to the family at home 3 to 4 times, or as needed until the baby is 6 weeks old.
Then the baby is scheduled to meet a doctor and the health care nurse at the primary health care centre and routine checks are done there for the baby’s health and development and from that time at regular intervals for the first years of life.
When the family is at home after the birth it is good to let the primary health care centre know
The antenatal care, birth services and infant services is free of charge for all women and families who have valid Icelandic health insurances.