Mother First: Scandinavian Policies to Revolutionize Maternal Care

Maternal Care

When it comes to world happiness and human development ranking Scandinavian countries are ranked at the top due to their strong social safety nets. Hence their maternal health policies are effective and efficient. From a global perspective, Nordic countries stand out in maternal and parental care. Their emphasis on midwifery-led care practices, strong comprehensive public health systems, and parental leave policies resulted in its consistent top ranking in global maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Lessons from the Scandinavian model provide inspiration and practical solutions in terms of  Maternal Care, especially for India where Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) was 97 deaths per 100,000 live births. In this Article we have discussed important lessons that we can learn from Nordic countries in terms of maternal care.

Lessons from Scandinavia: How Nordic Countries Prioritize Maternal Care

Nordic countries like Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland have efficient maternal and new-born health care systems, and as a result, they are the best places in the world to give birth. Their success is not just due to their wealth but also policy implementation that prioritizes holistic, equitable, and respectful care for mothers and infants. Here are four important lessons that policymakers can take to provide the best maternal care in India.

Lesson 1: Implement Universal Access to Midwife-Led Maternal Care

Scandinavian countries have realized the importance of Midwife-led Maternal care. Hence several Nordic countries like Finland, Sweden, and Norway have implemented the Integration of Midwifery into Public Healthcare. Finland in 1944 implemented the law of municipal maternity and child health clinics. As a result, pregnant women got access to free, midwife-led care. Almost 99.5% of pregnant women utilize the services provided by midwives experts. In 2001, the Norwegian parliament recognized the importance of decentralized and differentiated maternity care as a result midwife-led units were established in rural areas. Whereas Sweden's commitment to midwife-led maternal care dates back to the 18th century. They have the longest and most respected traditions of midwife-led maternal care in the world. Their first formal midwifery training program was established in 1757. In Sweden Midwives are the primary caregivers throughout pregnancy and childbirth for low-risk pregnancies. All these efforts lead to the lowest maternal mortality rates and infant mortality rates with minimal medical intervention C-section rates.

Lesson2: Introduce a Generous, Equitable Parental Leave Policy

By introducing a Generous, Equitable Parental Leave Policy Scandinavian countries have not only helped mothers in maternal recovery but also promoted gender equality in caregiving. Sweden was the first country in the world to introduce paid parental leave in 1974. As a result, Swedish parents share 480 days of paid parental leave per child. Finland reformed the Family Leave policy in 2022 now each parent receives 160 days of paid leave. In Norway, there is the provision of paid paternity leave where Parents can choose between 49 weeks at full pay or 59 weeks at 80% pay. Hence there is Improved work-life balance and healthier family dynamics. With High levels of child well-being and maternal satisfaction, Mothers experience lower postpartum stress. These policies in Nordic countries have resulted in increased women’s workforce participation and reduced gender pay gaps. Such policies matter because they support maternal recovery, Reduce the burden of working, encourage shared responsibilities, and improve outcomes for child development and mental health.

Lesson 3: Launch Community-Based Maternal & Child Health Clinics

Another important aspect of Scandinavian countries' maternal care system is the inclusion of community-based Maternal and child health clinics as a result maternal and child health care is accessible, preventive, and personalized as they are public policy priorities. The advice center or Neuvola" of Finland which was introduced in the 1940s provides a public, community-based clinic network. They offer services related to Regular prenatal check-ups, Vaccinations, Parenting Education, Mental health support and Postnatal care up to the child’s school age. Nearly 100 % of pregnant women and families with children use Neuvola services. The same is prevalent in Norway where Public Health Nurse Clinics or (Helsestasjon) were established they provide Antenatal counseling, Breastfeeding guidance, Developmental screenings, and Parenting support groups. On the other side Sweden – Barnavårdscentral (Child Health Centers) which was developed as a result of Sweden’s Health and Medical Services Act provides midwife-led clinics. Hence these community-based clinics promotes increased maternal well-being and necessary support for postpartum depression, child nutrition, and strong early detection and prevention of health issues. It shows that investing in local, accessible maternal and child health clinics, staffed with trained midwives and public health nurses is beneficial for mothers and children.

Lesson 4: Add Micronutrient-Rich Fortification to Public Food Programs

Another important aspect of Scandinavian maternal care policy is to add Micronutrient-Rich Fortification to Public Food Programs. In the early 2000s, it was found that there was widespread vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women and children in Sweden. As a result, Sweden strengthened its existing Vitamin D Fortification Program—originally started in the 1930s—by increasing vitamin D levels in fortified foods like fluid milk products and margarine. Later on, in 2018, Sweden’s government expanded this to include plant-based milk alternatives like oat and soy milk as part of a nationwide strategy, not just limited to pregnant women but children's also . This helped to reduce the risk of rickets and vitamin D deficiency in children. Norway also focused on adding iodine, which is important for brain development. In 2018, they introduced a National Iodine Strategy, which included measures like iodine fortification through animal feed (to enrich milk and eggs) and encouraging the voluntary use of iodized table salt. Across all three countries, pregnant women often receive free nutrition advice and access to vitamin supplements to ensure both mother and baby stay healthy. These public food programs are simple but powerful ways to support mothers and children through everyday meals.

What Future holds for developing countries

Countries like Sweden, Norway, and Finland have shown that investing in universal access to midwife-led care, generous parental leave for both mothers and fathers, community-based health clinics, and micronutrient-rich food programs can significantly improve health outcomes. If developing countries adapts these lessons to its local context, it could reduce maternal and infant mortality, improve childhood nutrition, and support working parents more effectively. With its growing healthcare system and expanding social welfare programs, developing countries has the potential to build a more equitable, healthier future for its mothers and children—just as the Nordic countries