Did you know that you can stay at a hotel during your postpartum period right after giving birth in Helsinki? If you’re delivering at Naistenklinikka, the postpartum hotel in Helsinki could be a great option for you. Here’s everything you need to know.
Where is the Postpartum Hotel in Helsinki?
The Postpartum Hotel is conveniently located near Naistenklinikka. A mini-bus service is available to take families there, or you can use your own car (though parking can be challenging). The hotel is part of the Scandic chain, renowned in the Nordics for its affordability and quality.
The dedicated postpartum area is on the second floor of the Scandic Meilahti, located at Tukholmankatu 2. You can find more details on their website.
What is included in the Postpartum Hotel?
At the postpartum hotel, you’ll have a private room equipped with a baby crib, changing table, diapers, sanitary napkins, and towels. It’s important to note that you will need more clothes for you and the baby if you prefer to go to the postpartum hotel in Helsinki.
Daily visits from hospital nurses are included, plus a tablet where you can check video and other materials about baby care or breastfeeding.
The hotel breakfast and other meals are included for the birthing parent. Meals for partners need to be paid for separately, and meals can be enjoyed in the hotel dining area or taken to your room. There is also a burger restaurant and a grocery store in the building.
Many of my clients with older siblings prefer the postpartum hotel because you can have the older siblings with you in the room and have less separation. And, of course, being a Finnish hotel, a sauna is in the facilities, although the general recommendation in postpartum is to wait until lochia is over.
Criteria for Staying at the Postpartum Hotel in Helsinki
It’s essential to understand the criteria for staying at the postpartum hotel, especially if this influences your choice of birthing hospital.
Criteria for birthing parent:
- The birthing parent does not have any condition that will affect postpartum recovery or monitoring
- There is no substance abuse issues or psychosocial issues in the family
- The mother speaks and understands any of this languages fluently: Finnish, Swedish or English.
- The pregnancy was normal and healthy.
- What about gestational diabetes? Only pregnant people that were able to control it without medication are allowed to go to the hotel.
- Only vaginal deliveries are moved to the postpartum hotel. So, for those of you with cesarean birth in Helsinki, the option is not available.
- Some birth complications will prevent you to enjoy the postpartum hotel: inflammation (for example fever higher than 38ºC, hemorrhage bigger than 1,000 ml).
- Birthing person needs to urinate well during and after birth, without any need of catheter (even intermittent).
Criteria for the baby:
- No abnormalities during monitoring
- Babies born during or after week 38+0. Even babies born at week 37 are normal babies, and normal births, you will not qualify for the postpartum hotel in Helsinki.
- “Normal” birth weight (in other words, for the Finnish healthcare system this is same or over 2,8 kg and same or less than 4,5 kg).
- The APGAR score after the first minute needs to be more than 6 and umbilical artery pH needs to be 7.10 or more.
- Of course, no fever and normal temperature.
- Heart rate 100–160/min, respiration < 60/min, oxygen saturation > 95%. The child’s respiratory rate, pulse, temperature and oxygen saturation are normal when measured at least twice. Also the glucose needs to be normal in the baby (same or over 2.8 mmol/l)
- If you prefer that your kid does not receive vitamin K after birth, you can’t qualify for the hotel.
- The baby needs to be eating already, human milk or formula
- An unfair criteria, to my humble point of view: none of your previous babies had any neonatal issues (like GBS infection, jaundice, respiratory problems). Again: not the baby that was just born, but the previous siblings.
If these criteria are met, you can move to the postpartum hotel as soon as six hours after birth. A pediatrician will check your overall condition before you are discharged.
Is the Postpartum Hotel Worth It?
Clients often ask if the postpartum hotel is worth it. The desire for privacy and safety in early postpartum is strong, but sometimes other factors must be considered.
While Naistenklinikka is a good hospital, other birth units like Espoo or Hyvinkää may offer a more peaceful experience. Shared rooms in postpartum wards can be a downside, but weighing all options can help make the best choice for your family.If you’d like assistance with this decision, I’m here to help.
As a birth doula, I offer various packages and can also provide birth plan preparation sessions at your home. Feel free to get in touch to schedule a visit.
You can read more about the postpartum hotel in this news articles by Yle: