Birth Experience

The birth experience refers to the personal experience of the birthing person or the family who has gone through childbirth. Most women who have given birth perceive the experience as positive. However, according to research, birth experiences in Finland have, on average, declined between the years 2012 and 2018.

A negative birth experience can have several adverse effects on birth rates. It decreases the likelihood of having another child and lengthens the interval between births. Processing a negative experience with a professional is especially important, as it can help prevent long-term harm. The birth experience is one of the factors influencing birth rates that can be affected.

By standardizing practices and collecting data, it is possible to demonstrate how comprehensively the birth experience is measured, how birthing individuals perceive their experience, and how negative experiences can be addressed. Through proper follow-up care, long-term harmful effects can be prevented. Measuring birth experience ratings also helps us understand how well childbirth care is being managed in Finland.

Research shows that the birth experience tends to take shape during the first few weeks after delivery, and the rating given at the time of discharge may still change later. In the future, assessing the birth experience during postnatal check-ups should be as comprehensive as in hospitals.

Data Collection

The birth experience rating takes place in the maternity ward before the family is discharged home, as part of the birth discussion. The rating is done on a VAS-1 scale (scale 0–10, 0 = extremely negative and 10 = extremely positive). The national goal is for 90% of those who have given birth to be asked for a birth experience rating. A second goal is that fewer than 5% of birthing individuals rate their experience as poor (VAS 0–5).

The first round of data collection was carried out as a pilot in five wellbeing services counties from April to September 2024 (quarters 2 and 3). Starting in early 2025, data collection expanded to include all 15 wellbeing services counties/groups within the Hoiverke network.

Results

The results are presented by quarter. The first figure shows the national coverage of the birth experience rating, and the second, the national distribution of the ratings.