Kätilö

Kätilö is the Finnish term for a midwife, a health professional who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Kätilöt provide care before, during, and after birth, including prenatal screening, guidance on pregnancy and parenting, assistance during labor, and postnatal support for families and newborns.

In Finland, midwives work as part of the maternity care system and often collaborate with obstetricians, nurses, and other healthcare providers. They may practice in hospitals, maternity clinics, or community health centers, and in some cases perform home visits. The goal of the profession is to support normal, low-risk pregnancies and births while identifying complications that require medical intervention. Beyond clinical care, kätilöt counsel families on topics such as childbirth options, breastfeeding, infant care, and early parenting practices.

Training and professional regulation aim to ensure safe, evidence-based care. Becoming a kätilö requires completing a formal education program in midwifery and obtaining professional eligibility or licensure to practice. The education typically covers anatomy and physiology, fetal monitoring, pain management, emergency procedures, and the psychosocial aspects of childbirth, with an emphasis on patient-centered care and informed choice.

The term Kätilö is widely used in everyday Finnish to denote the midwifery profession. It reflects the important historical and ongoing role of midwives in supporting mothers and babies within Finland’s healthcare system.