International families
Having a baby in Denmark when the language, system or culture is different from what you know
Having a baby in a country that is not your own can add an extra layer to everything that already comes with pregnancy.
Perhaps one of you is Danish and the other has moved here from another country. Perhaps you have both made Denmark your home. You may speak English together, or simply want a shared language around pregnancy, birth and the first weeks with your baby.
At BirthVillage, your entire doula care can take place in English.
You meet all three of us during pregnancy, and we stay connected with you through preparation, birth and the first weeks of becoming a family.
Having a baby in Denmark
The Danish maternity system may be quite different from the one you know from home.
During pregnancy, you will meet different healthcare professionals, and the midwife attending your birth will usually not be someone you have had the opportunity to get to know beforehand.
There may also be differences in birth culture, expectations and the way choices and options are discussed. Even when you speak English confidently, navigating a healthcare system in another language can require extra energy at a time when you already have plenty to think about.
During pregnancy, we make space to talk about what you are meeting along the way. You can bring your questions, thoughts and concerns to us, and we can help you create an overview and prepare the questions you may want to discuss with your midwife or doctor.
We do not replace your midwife, doctor or other healthcare professionals. Our role is different. We are the continuous support beside your medical care.
From pregnancy to birth and the first weeks with your baby
Continuity is at the heart of BirthVillage.
During pregnancy, you have four meetings with us: one meeting with all three doulas together, followed by one individual meeting with each of us.
This gives us time to genuinely get to know you – not only your wishes for birth, but what makes you feel safe, what you are looking forward to and what may be worrying you.
From pregnancy week 37 to 42, we are on call for you around the clock. When labour begins, the doula on call joins you when you need her and stays with you throughout the birth and during the first hours afterwards.
After your baby is born, our support continues with three home visits during your baby's first eight weeks.
Between meetings and visits, you can reach us through your BirthVillage hotline.
More than a shared language
Being supported in English is about more than understanding the words being spoken.
During birth, you need to be able to express yourself, ask questions and communicate what matters to you. And if one of you is Danish, that person should not necessarily have to be both partner, support person, translator and guide to the Danish system at the same time.
You both deserve the space to simply be there as expectant parents.
For some international families, having a baby in Denmark also means being far away from family and old friends. The people you always imagined would be close during this part of your life may suddenly be hundreds or thousands of kilometres away.
In that situation, continuity and familiar faces can have a particular value.
You do not have to tell your story again every time.
We already know you.
Before your birth, you meet all three of us – together and individually.
So when labour begins, you know who may be coming. The doula walking through the door has already sat with you, heard your story and talked with you about your wishes, your concerns and what helps you feel safe.
We are there for your partner too.
A doula does not replace the partner's role during birth. Our presence can actually create more space for your partner to simply be your partner. We can support, explain, fetch what is needed, offer practical and physical support and be the extra person in the room who is not personally in the middle of this enormous life event.
That continuity can be valuable in any birth – and perhaps especially when parts of the system, language or culture around you still feel unfamiliar.
Three doulas who already know you
When your baby is here
Becoming a family does not end when the birth is over.
The first weeks can be beautiful, intense, physically demanding and full of questions. And when grandparents, siblings and close friends live in another country, the postpartum period may look very different from the one you had imagined.
This is why postpartum support is an integral part of BirthVillage.
We visit you at home three times during your baby's first eight weeks. We can provide specialised breastfeeding support, and as a team we pay attention to the whole picture: recovery after birth, feeding, your baby, your partner and how you are finding your feet as a new family.
Sometimes you need very practical support. At other times, what matters most is a familiar face, an extra pair of hands and somewhere to bring all the questions that have appeared since we last saw you.
Meet us before you decide
Who you invite into your birth space matters.
That is why BirthVillage begins with a no-obligation meeting. You can meet us, ask questions, tell us a little about yourselves and get a sense of whether we feel like the right people to have around you during this important time.
Naturally, the entire conversation can take place in English.