English/Spanish Speakers?

[Ladypau]

My name is Paula and I am from Argentina.

Me and my husband (Norwegian) moved back to Norway only two months ago and we are having our first child in February!

I feel a bit clueless about the medical service in Norway and I could use any help I could get!

We saw a Jordmor near our place but she wasn't very helpful.

At the hospital (The A-Hus) they can't provide a birth course cus we didn't apply in time and being my first child I've got loads of questions!

What are the important things I should have ready and checked before the due date? My Fastlegge seemed to have done most of the blood tests and be on top of my health but is it normal I dont get to meet anyone at the hospital itself before the day I show up to give birth?

I would like to try a water birth, but they told me that will depend upon availability. Shouldn't I get some sort of "training" on it just in case?

What about language? I am just starting to work on my Norwegian. Do you think that I will be able to find a jordmor that spoke english at the Hospital?

Thanks a lot for your time and help!

 

[Pluttiplutt]

I would think that you should be able to find several that can speak english

My husband is spanish/english speaking too, and everytime we are going to check ups they speak english so that he can follow the conversation and get as much information as me.

 

Good luck to you:)

[Ladypau]

Well, to be honest, I called and the jordmor that sent us the letter didn't speak any English.

They weren't very helpful at all to be honest.

They are not able to fit me in a pre delivery course (we were living abrad so we only came back to Norway a few months ago and apparently we are too late to sign up for any of these courses) and they were not able to offer us a Hospital tour either. "Just come on the day of the delivery" as if as a first time mom I could even know when that is going to be! They will "figure everything out" that day, and if no english speakers are available at that time, well, who knows!

Anyways, thanks for your reply...I'm sorry, but I'm a bit frustrated with the Norwegian health system!

 

[Anonym bruker]

I understand how you feel, its difficult enough for first time moms, worrying about language at the delivery room should not have to be one of the problems.

 

I'm norwegian, and my husband is english, and we attended a birth class at rikshospitalet, with an english midwife. She doesn't work there anymore, but at asker/bærum hospital. Maybe you can call there and ask. There was another midwife who offered to give classes, but i don't know if anything came out of it:-) Visit the link at the english forum; http://www.barnimagen.com/forum/thread/10049516

 

The forum is probably useful for you anyway:-)

 

Where do you live and what midwife are you using?

 

 

[Anonym bruker]

i wrote about the other forum, but i see you have other questions:-) I'll provide what i can:-)

 

It is not normal to meet with the hospital before the birth. Some hospitals do a "journal" check a few weeks before, but ahus is not one of them. Myself, i was listed to give birth at ullevål, but transferred to ahus 6 hours before the baby was out:-) as ullevål was full when i called... According to the oslo birth system, it is required to stay at home as long as possible, but ahus lists the situations on when to call the hospital when you are going into labour. Maybe your husband can translate for you: http://www.ahus.no/modules/module_123/proxy.asp?D=2&C=788&I=13331

 

I think ahus has two water birth rooms, and it's correct that it depends upon availability. the midwife will guide you, and it's not customary with training before the delivery, but i would read on the subject on internet before the birth.

 

The language problem i'm more unsure of. As i remember, the midwife spoke a little english with my husband, and i would think that they'll try to provide you with an english speaking one.

 

Other than this, i had a wonderful stay at ahus. I shared room with one mother that didn't speak much english, and i guess she got through it ok;-)

 

Good luck! Write here again if you have more questions:-)

[Anonym bruker]

hehe, the other mother didn't speak much norwegian of course, haha.

[Ladypau]

Hi girls! Thank you so much for your replies! I didn't know there was a forum in English...that's just great!!!!! Thanks for the link!

I will ask my husband to help me read the Ahus' website too.

I did get a bunch of books about birth and I've been reading all around the internet, so I do feel a tiny little bit more confident and I am looking forward to the special day!

I heard Ahus doesn't have famiy rooms, and that puts me off a bit, but other than that it sounds like the hospital is OK.

Thanks again!

Paula