With 426 minutes – a little over seven hours – the island municipality of Træna in Nordland has the longest journey for births in Norway. And Træna is not alone. The 13 municipalities with the longest travel distance in Norway are all in Northern Norway. But for Mimmi Hyttan from Træna, the journey to the hospital where she will give birth in January is even longer. Because she is expecting twins, the birth is considered a high-risk birth. Therefore, she has to go to Nordlandssjukehuset in Bodø to give birth. But because of the long journey, she has been advised to be in Bodø from week 32 of the pregnancy. It is a month and a half before the due date. – I have an appointment for a check-up on Christmas Eve and am recommended to stay in Bodø from then on. It is because of the travel route and risk, says Hyttan when news meets her at Træna. But where she will live for the month and a half in Bodø, no one can answer. She only got the recommendation verbally, and she hasn’t replied to anything. Have to cover your stay yourself Hyttan says one and a half months is a long time to stay in Bodø. – I would like us to get help with accommodation. There is no agreement with the municipality or the hospital hotel in Bodø, she says and adds. – Either we have to take the financial burden on our shoulders, or we stay at Træna and risk our own health. Mimmi Hyttan has to pack a bigger bag than most mothers before they go to the hospital. She has been told to come two and a half months before the birth. Photo: Frank Nygård / news – Is this the price one has to pay to live at Træna? – That is probably part of the price, yes. We ourselves have chosen to live here and are happy. But when it comes to such situations that are not completely planned, it becomes difficult to carry everything yourself. We wish we were met halfway. In the worst case, they have to stay in a hotel for a month and a half. Mimmi and André Hyttan thrive on Træna, but think that part of the price of settling in the island community is the long journey to the hospital. It will be expensive if they have to pay themselves. Photo: Frank Nygård / news – We can handle it, but it is not certain that others who find themselves in a similar situation can. It’s frustrating and they hurt me, says Hyttan. Here you can see how long the journey is for children in your municipality: The municipality will not cover the bill Mayor Jan Helge Andersen (Ap) shakes his head in frustration at the situation at Hyttan. – I think that is reprehensible. Only 450 people live in the island municipality. In the course of a year, the island community expects only 7–8 births. Twin births are even rarer. Jan Helge Andersen, mayor, Træna municipality is upset about Mimmi Hyttan’s situation from the municipality, but cannot pay for her stay. Photo: Frank Nygård / news – I have found out that it has been 27 years since the last birth of twins. Then I don’t think they should bear that cost, says Andersen. Nevertheless, the municipality cannot cover the cost of bringing two new residents to Træna. – We would like to do that. But if we say yes to this birth, we may have to say yes to the other eight as well. Then it quickly becomes a lot of money. Therefore, he believes that the state should foot the bill for the host parents. – When it comes to a twin birth, the state should cough up the few funds needed to ensure a safe and good birth. Nordlandssjukehuset: – Should have his stay covered But after news has been in contact with the hospital, it still seems that they will cover the costs of Hyttan’s stay in Bodø. Nordlandssjukehuset tells news that they do not comment on individual cases. But the regulations state that women who have been selected to give birth in Bodø will have their costs for accommodation and accommodation covered while they wait for birth at current rates. If for medical reasons they have to stay for a longer period of time while they wait for birth, the same regulations apply. Nordlandssjukehuset wrote in an e-mail to news that women who are selected to give birth in Bodø will, on a general basis, have accommodation costs covered, also if they have to stay for a longer period of time while they are waiting to give birth. Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news But since Hyttan does not have the encouragement to come early to Bodø in writing, Nordlandsshjukehuset cannot answer whether they will pay for her stay. Namely, a doctor or midwife must arrange that for her. The cabin does not have a midwife and her GP will not answer questions from news. news has not been able to get in touch with the doctor who encouraged Hyttan to come to Bodø a month and a half before the birth. Therefore, Hyttan still fears that she will have to pay the bill herself. – Knows me about trouble The expectant mother of twins has heard from relatives and friends in Bodø. Maybe she could live there for a month and a half before the birth? But they find it difficult to say yes to a pregnant family member living with them for such a long time before the birth. Then they become responsible for mother and child. Hyttan understands that well. – I feel a bit of a nuisance, at the same time this means a lot to me, says Hyttan. Because the time before the due date has become messy. Nevertheless, she has hope that there will be a solution. Despite everything, it is about three lives. – It’s about feeling taken care of. Having children is good for the whole of society, not just us who are in labor and pregnancy. – I am a fairly calm person, but I feel that the maternity services in Norway should have been better, says Hyttan.
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Have to give birth to twins at Nordlandshospital in Bodø – was asked to show up 1.5 months before the due date – news Nordland
