Choosing a Place of Birth

Birth in a birthing room where midwives work.

Access to the maternity services of Landspítali (National University Hospital).

You can choose to give birth at the Reykjavik Birth Centre if:

• You want personalized care from midwives who know you and your preferences.
• You are healthy, and the pregnancy has been without risk factors.
• Labor begins when the pregnancy is between 37-42 weeks.
• You are carrying one baby that is in the head-down position.

Things to consider regarding birth at the Reykjavik Birth Centre

• Parents planning to give birth at the Birth Centre are offered prenatal care with a midwife starting at 34 weeks of pregnancy.
• Your partner can be with you the entire time, even after the birth.
• It may be necessary to transfer you to a hospital if complications arise during labor or if more support is needed during or after delivery for you or the baby.
• You can use comfort measures such as a bath, birthing pool, massage, acupuncture, TENS, hot and cold compresses, and any relaxation methods you like and are familiar with.
• Epidural anesthesia is not used at the Reykjavik Birth Centre.
• Home care is offered during the first 10 days after birth.
• Courses are offered to prepare for birth and the first days after birth in Icelandic, English, and Polish.

Website of Fæðingarheimili Reykjavíkur.

Birth in a birthing room where midwives work.

Access to the maternity services of Landspítali.

You can choose to give birth at the Bjork Midwifery Birth Centre if:

• You are healthy, and the pregnancy has been without risk factors.
• Pregnancy length is between 37-42 weeks.
• You are carrying one baby that is in the head-down position.

Things to consider regarding birth at the Bjork Midwifery Birth Centre

• You will receive care from the same midwives during labor who have followed you and your partner/family from 34 weeks of pregnancy.
• Your partner can be with you the entire time, even after the birth.
• You are less likely to need interventions such as vacuum or forceps assistance.
• It may be necessary to transfer you to a hospital if complications arise during labor or if more support is needed during or after delivery for you or the baby.
• You can use comfort measures such as a bath, birthing pool, massage, TENS, hot and cold compresses, and any relaxation methods you like and are familiar with.
• Epidural anesthesia is not used at the Bjork Midwifery Birth Centre.
• It is expected that the family will go home 4-6 hours after birth.
• The midwives who assisted with the birth will continue to follow you at home in the first days after birth.

Website of fæðingarstofa hjá Björkinni.

Specialized maternity ward where midwives, obstetricians, and gynecologists work.

Access to an operating room 24/7.

Specialized services from neonatologists and nurses are available for newborns around the clock.

All women can choose to give birth at Landspítali’s maternity ward.

In the following cases, it is strongly recommended to give birth at Landspítali’s maternity ward:

• If labor starts before 34 weeks.
• If you are carrying multiple babies. If the baby is in a breech position.
• If you have certain health problems.
• Complications or risk factors have arisen during pregnancy that could affect the birth, your health, or the baby's health.

Things to consider regarding birth at Landspítali

• Midwives lead the care of women in normal labor.
• You can expect that more than one midwife may be involved in your care during labor.
• Women stay at the maternity ward during labor and for about two hours after delivery.
• You can use comfort measures such as a bath, massage, TENS, hot and cold compresses, and any relaxation methods you like and are familiar with.
• Epidural anesthesia is available if you wish.
• After the stay at the maternity ward, you will move to the maternity and postpartum unit where you will stay for 4-72 hours.
• It cannot be guaranteed that your partner can stay with you the entire time in the postpartum unit.
• After the stay at the maternity and postpartum unit, most families can be discharged to home midwifery services.
• Visits from children and others are limited.

Website of Landspítali Maternity Ward.

Maternity ward where midwives and obstetricians and gynecologists work.

Access to an operating room 24/7.

Access to the maternity services of Landspítali.

You can choose to give birth at the HVE Akranes Maternity Ward if:

• You are healthy, and the pregnancy has been without serious risk factors.
• Pregnancy length is at least 37 weeks.
• You are carrying one baby that is in the head-down position.

Things to consider regarding birth at HVE Akranes

• Midwives lead the care of women in normal labor.
• You can expect that more than one midwife may be involved in your care during labor.
• Women stay in the maternity ward during labor, and the length of stay after delivery varies.
• You can use comfort measures such as a bath, birthing pool, massage, hot and cold compresses, and any relaxation methods you like and are familiar with.
• Epidural anesthesia is available if you wish.
• Your partner can stay with you the entire time, including the first 24 hours after birth.
• After delivery, the family moves to a postpartum room where they stay during the postpartum period.
• After the stay in the postpartum room, most families can be discharged to home midwifery services.

Website of the HVE Akranes Maternity Ward.

Maternity ward where midwives work.

Access to an operating room 24/7.

Access to the maternity services of Landspítali.

You can choose to give birth at the HVEST Ísafjörður Maternity Ward if:

• You are healthy, and the pregnancy has been without serious risk factors.
• Pregnancy length is at least 37 weeks.
• You are carrying one baby that is in the head-down position.

Things to consider regarding birth at HVEST Ísafjörður

• You will receive care from the same midwives during labor who have followed you and your partner during pregnancy.
• You can use comfort measures such as a bath, birthing pool, massage, acupuncture, hot and cold compresses, and any relaxation methods you like and are familiar with.
• Epidural anesthesia is not performed at HVEST Ísafjörður Maternity Ward.
• Your partner can be with you the entire time, even after the birth.
• After delivery, the family often moves to a postpartum room where they can stay as long as they wish or receive midwife services at home.

Website of the HVEST Ísafjörður Maternity Ward.

Specialized maternity ward where midwives and obstetricians and gynecologists work.

Access to an operating room 24/7.

Pediatric services and nursing care are available around the clock.

Access to the maternity services of Landspítali.

All women can choose to give birth at Akureyri Hospital, but the pregnancy must have reached 34 weeks.

In the following cases, it is strongly recommended to give birth at Akureyri Hospital:

• If labor starts after 34 weeks of pregnancy.
• If you are carrying multiple babies.
• If the baby is in a breech position.
• Certain health problems are present.
• Complications or risk factors have arisen during pregnancy that could affect the birth, your health, or the baby's health.

Things to consider regarding birth at Akureyri Hospital

• Midwives lead the care of women in normal labor. 
• You can expect that more than one midwife may be involved in your care during labor.
• Women stay in the maternity ward during labor, and the length of stay after delivery varies.
• You can use comfort measures such as a bath, birthing pool, massage, hot and cold compresses, and any relaxation methods you like and are familiar with.
• Epidural anesthesia is available if you wish.
• After the stay in the maternity ward, the family often moves to the maternity and postpartum unit where they stay for 4-72 hours.
• It cannot be guaranteed that your partner can stay with you the entire time in the postpartum unit.
• After the stay in the maternity and postpartum unit, most families can be discharged to home midwifery services.

Website of Akureyri Hospital Maternity Ward.

Maternity ward where midwives work.

Access to an operating room 24/7.

Access to services at Akureyri Hospital Maternity Ward.

Access to the maternity services of Landspítali.

You can choose to give birth at the HSA Neskaupstaður Maternity Ward if:

• You are healthy, and the pregnancy has been without serious risk factors.
• Pregnancy length is at least 37 weeks.
• You are carrying one baby that is in the head-down position.

Things to consider regarding birth at HSA Neskaupstaður

• You will receive care from the same midwives during labor who have followed you and your partner during pregnancy.
• You can use comfort measures such as a bath, birthing pool, massage, hot and cold compresses, and any relaxation methods you like and are familiar with.
• Epidural anesthesia is available if you wish.
• Your partner can be with you the entire time, even after the birth.
• After delivery, the family often moves to a postpartum room where they can stay as long as they wish or receive midwife services at home.

Website of the HSA Neskaupstaður Maternity Ward.

Maternity ward where midwives work.

Access to the maternity services of Landspítali (National University Hospital).

You can choose to give birth at the Selfoss Hospital Maternity Ward if:

• You are healthy, and the pregnancy has been without serious risk factors.
• Pregnancy length is at least 37 weeks.
• You are carrying one baby that is in the head-down position.

Things to consider regarding birth at HSU Selfoss

• You can expect that more than one midwife may be involved in your care during labor.
• A general practitioner is available if needed.
• You can use comfort measures such as a bath, birthing pool, massage, hot and cold compresses, and any relaxation methods you like and are familiar with.
• Epidural anesthesia is not performed at the HSU Selfoss Maternity Ward.
• Your partner can be with you the entire time, even after the birth.
• After delivery, the family usually moves to a postpartum room where they stay during the postpartum period.
• After the stay in the postpartum room, most families can be discharged to home midwifery services.

Website of the HSU Selfoss Maternity Ward.

Maternity ward where midwives work.

Access to the maternity services of Landspítali.

You can choose to give birth at the HSS Reykjanesbær Maternity Ward if:

• You are healthy, and the pregnancy has been without serious risk factors.
• Pregnancy length is at least 37 weeks.
• You are carrying one baby that is in the head-down position.

Things to consider regarding birth at HSS Reykjanesbær

• You can expect that more than one midwife may be involved in your care during labor.
• You can use comfort measures such as a bath, birthing pool, massage, hot and cold compresses, and any relaxation methods you like and are familiar with.
• Epidural anesthesia is not performed at the HSS Reykjanesbær Maternity Ward.
• Your partner can be with you the entire time, even after the birth.
• After delivery, the family usually moves to a postpartum room where they stay during the postpartum period.
• After the stay in the postpartum room, most families can be discharged to home midwifery services.

Website of the HSS Reykjanesbær Maternity Ward.

Midwives attend home births.

Access to maternity services at a nearby hospital and/or Landspítali.

You can choose to give birth at home if:

• You are healthy, and the pregnancy has been without risk factors.
• Pregnancy length is between 37-42 weeks.
• You are carrying one baby that is in the head-down position.

Things to consider regarding home birth

• You are in a familiar environment where you may relax better, making it more likely for you to manage contractions effectively.
• You receive care from the same midwives during labor who have followed you and your partner from 34 weeks of pregnancy.
• Your partner can be with you the entire time, even after the birth.
• You do not need to leave your older children if you have any.
• You are less likely to need interventions such as vacuum or forceps assistance.
• It may be necessary to transfer you to a hospital if complications arise during labor or if more support is needed during or after delivery for you or the baby.
• You can use comfort measures such as a bath, birthing pool, massage, TENS, hot and cold compresses, and any relaxation methods you like and are familiar with.
• Epidural anesthesia is not used at home.
• The midwives who assisted with the birth will continue to follow you at home in the first days after birth.

On the website of the Icelandic Midwives Association, you can find a list of midwives who undertake home births. The list may not be exhaustive, but a midwife in prenatal care can also help find a midwife to attend a home birth.