In 2015, Daniela Trifiletti from Colombia gave birth to her daughter in Denmark. This is her story about expectations and experiences with the Danish healthcare system.
this point the most important thing will be the bond between the baby and the family. Once this has happened all the other procedures will take place.
Prior to giving birth in Denmark, what expectations did you have of the Danish healthcare system? My expectations towards the health system of this country were closely related to what I knew about the one in Colombia, which is mostly based on the American standpoint, and basically things in my imagination of how developed countries would deal with this event. However, later on when I faced the Danish healthcare system during my pregnancy, birth and post birth stages, I realized it was a completely different scenario. How would you describe your encounter with the Danish healthcare system during and after your pregnancy? In Denmark, holistic approaches to this natural process are prioritized and many of the normal routines found in countries abroad are skipped in order to give room to a deeper bonding and attachment among all the family members. As the main example, if birth was without complications and mother and child are well, the newborn is placed on the mother's chest right away - meaning the umbilical cord will still be attached. Recurring practices like cleaning the baby, measuring and weighting, aspirating the fluids and antibiotics on the eyes are postponed. At
What are your recommendations for internationals planning to give birth in Denmark? I recommend internationals who are planning on growing their families while living in Denmark to document yourself as much as possible during the entire process. May it be through participating in groups, approaching organizations or finding the right information online. This way you have less probabilities of encountering cultural shocks along the way while it prepares you to enjoy every single stage with the resources that are provided.
Thank you for sharing, Daniela! You can read more about family life in Denmark, practical tools, information and recommendations on usual situations you might face while living in Denmark on Daniela Trifiletti’s website: www.mydanishfamily.dk