Pregnancy and babies in Norway
Some women seem to lose their sensitivity gauge when they are years away from having babies. Thankfully I haven’t been made to hear any “horror stories” but some have just said the dumbest things. Today a co-worker mentioned I look radiant. I shared with her that after a recent photo with my mom, Mom commented on the same, that I looked so healthy. We both wondered why she seemed so surprised. When I mentioned this to my co-worker today she said, “oh, just wait. It won’t be the same in a couple months.” Why would she say that? Sheesh. She (near 40) has also commented during a casual “baby chat” with me and another co-worker (L.J.my age) that I would be “dealing” with child for “the rest of [my] life.” That particular chat included talk about clingy kids and us younger ladies hoping we didn’t have them. Our co-worker T.H., then mentioned that hers were clingy (which made my peer feel bad later for mentioning it) but said so with a smile on her face. She’s such a strange lady. L.J. and I are both daughters of stay-at-home mothers. I suppose some might call me, my bro and sis clingy kids. Mom was home for us, making us feel secure and giving us what we needed. Sometimes that meant holding or staying with us to keep us happy and not teary. And yet, we’ve each grown up to be independently-minded, mature, caring individuals. Isn’t that the purpose of staying home with your kids, to grow them into such people?
There are many ways to compare and contrast the US and Norway. I’m not sure how maternity-leave is given in the US. I think it’s arranged by the individual with her employer. New dads get no time off I don’t think. In Norway if a mom-to-be has been working for at least for something like 10 months, she is given something like a year off with a percentage of her pay or a lump sum. Even dads get time off, a couple weeks I think. Healthcare is government funded by the high taxes paid here. You don’t pay small taxes in numerous ways like in the US but a percentage is taken out of everyone’s paycheck. It’s a large tax but as benefits are open to everyone, it often seems like the best way to operate. There are always pros and cons. While it is free to see a doctor or midwife and hospitals referrals are also free, it often takes some time to actually see the person. I really appreciate the care I have received. The manner of procedure has suited my own relaxed demeanor. I’m curious and almost wary of how different pregnancy in American may be.
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