Differences between giving birth in Sweden and the USA
- Sweden has higher taxes than the United States, but with that comes a more standardized healthcare.
- In Sweden, pre- and post-care is covered by the state, as is your hospital stay.
- While my friend in Sweden only paid for hospital food, I paid over $ 13,000 for my care last year.
Scandinavian countries are known for world-class healthcare services – and higher taxes to pay for it. While Sweden has a higher tax rate than the United States, our healthcare is much more standardized.
A friend from high school, Lindsay, who asked not to use her full name for privacy reasons, fell in love with Sweden and a Swedish man and moved to a small village in the western part of the country. She and I gave birth to both children during the pandemic, and our experiences were very different.
The level and cost of maternity care differed
In Sweden, most maternity care begins with a midwife, who acts as your channel to your obstetrician.
Lindsay has a small son and a newborn son. She was pregnant between having her sons, but her children had serious genetic abnormalities and the pregnancy ended. Because of that, she received more medical care when she was pregnant with her second son. She had genetic tests done early for her third pregnancy, and it was paid for by the state.
In America, I am considered to be in high maternal age because I gave birth to children over 35 years. I met a perinatal specialist at the same time as my regular obstetrician because of this and did many tests and ultrasounds. I had genetic tests done at the request of my doctor, but I had to pay the $ 600 fee with my deductible.
Sweden offers maternity care
“During the two weeks after you give birth, you will receive maternity care under the care of the maternity ward. You can call them 24 hours a day and you can go in at any time,” Lindsay told me. There is also a national nurse emergency room that you can call at any time.
Lindsay thought her cesarean section would come loose, so her midwife called an ambulance. The ambulance staff came and said that she did not look like she had to go to the emergency room, but they booked an appointment with a doctor the next day.
My maternity care in the US consisted of a follow-up visit with my doctor, six weeks after the birth, where we discussed postpartum anxiety and she checked my caesarean section. I also rented a doula privately to practically give myself advice on taking care of my daughter for the first 12 weeks.
My friend did not have to pay for anything other than hospital food
“The only thing you pay for is food, and that’s about $ 10 a day,” she said. Everything that has to do with infants, children or prenatal or postpartum is taken care of by the government. Private health care is available, but no one she knows has it.
Just last year, I received an impressive number of medical bills. My deductible would have been $ 146,000, but I had insurance through my employer. Between my deductible and co-insurance, I still paid $ 13,500.
Swedish hospitals will not kick you out
Many hospitals in the United States allow you to stay for two nights after a vaginal birth and for four nights after a cesarean section. I did not feel ready to leave my child at NICU after four nights, but I had to leave.
While many Swedish women go home the same day they give birth, the hospital does not force you to leave until you feel emotionally and physically ready, Lindsay said.
We both had many questions when we discussed the two care models – and we were frankly shocked by the care and choices the other had.