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FAMILY

Why Swedish mums are having children later in life

For Swedish mums, it is now more common to have a child after 45 years of age than as a teenager.

Why Swedish mums are having children later in life
Mother holds a newborn baby's hand. Photo: Christine Olsson/TT

In 2022, 410 children were born to mothers aged 19 or younger, according to number crunchers Statistics Sweden. Meanwhile, 537 children were born to mothers aged 45 or older – the first year in which older mothers outnumbered their teenaged counterparts.

This upward trend began with the introduction of birth control pills in the 1960s, which allowed women greater control over their fertility and family planning.

Access to abortion and Sweden’s shift from an agricultural society to an industrialised one also bolstered the upward demographic trend for maternal age. In 1968, nearly 9,000 babies were born to teen mums, a number that has shrunk significantly over the decades.

This trend is not limited to Sweden. Across the Nordics, parents are waiting longer to have children.

“The upper limit is not as ‘fixed’ anymore,” Gunnar Andersson, a professor of demography at Stockholm University, told Swedish news agency TT. “Previously, there was perhaps an occasional 49-year-old. But with the new treatment methods, children are born to mothers at ages where it was not biologically possible before.”

IVF treatments were introduced in Sweden in the late 1970s, with the first Nordic IVF baby born in 1982 in Gothenburg. Today, both childless couples and single women without children in Sweden can apply for up to three free rounds of IVF at public hospitals.

This publicly-funded treatment for single women and single transgender men who can still reproduce is only available to Swedish citizens or permanent residence holders, according to the Karolinska University Hospital.

And while there are health risks associated with pregnancy at higher ages, overall, it seems that having an older mum can pay off for the children, who tend to born into better socio-economic conditions.

Delaying starting a family allows parents to focus on their education and on establishing their careers and livelihoods, Andersson said.

But sometimes, life happens.

“It may be that you do not find a suitable partner until you are a little older, or have a new relationship,” Andersson said. “You don’t plan to wait to have children until you’re 45.”

But even if the choice to have a baby until later in life is not a deliberate choice, for the child, having an older mum can be a positive thing.

“Children born to slightly older mothers are often better prepared than children born to very young mothers,” Andersson says. “The mothers have better incomes, social resources with a larger network and greater personal maturity.”

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FAMILY

What’s the state of Sweden’s maternity wards this summer?

A difficult summer is on the cards for maternity wards across Sweden once again this year. Here's a rundown of the situation in each region in Sweden.

What's the state of Sweden's maternity wards this summer?

Sweden’s maternity wards have issues with midwife shortages all year round, with the situation worsening over the summer period as the staff are all entitled to four consecutive weeks of holiday during the summer under Swedish law.

More babies are usually born during summer, too, meaning that the busiest period on Swedish maternity wards is often the period where they have the least staff.

So, how is the situation in maternity wards across Sweden this summer? Newswire TT asked each of Sweden’s healthcare regions to fill in a questionnaire between May 10th and May 23rd, asking for information on the state of maternity care in the run-up to the summer months. Here are the results.

Blekinge

Situation: Same as last summer

Blekinge region described the situation this year as strained, adding that many shifts have still not been filled.

Staff on parental leave, one hired-in independent midwife, temporary staff on hourly contracts and managers are taking shifts to fill the gaps, and midwives are being offered 7,000 kronor to move a week of holiday.

The region added that there is a small risk that patients will have to give birth in another region, although this is uncommon, and that the biggest challenge is covering midwife shifts and possible absences.

Dalarna

Situation: Worse than last summer

In Dalarna, the region described the situation as “fragile” due to a very small number of staff and no stand-ins for sick cover.

Their greatest concern is that staff won’t be able to cope if they have to cover for each other, according to the survey.

However, it reports that there’s also a low number of births expected, so pressure is not that high. There are around four midwife positions left unfilled, and staffing issues are being resolved by hiring retirees and giving bonuses for extra shifts.

Gotland

Situation: Better than last summer

Gotland has enough midwives to cover maternity wards over the summer, and some temporary staff have been hired to cover the summer months. The region has not had to hire in any independent midwives and is not offering bonuses for staff to move their holidays.

Gävleborg

Situation: Worse in Hudiksvall hospital, same as last year in Gävle.

In Hudiksvall, the region is 3-4 midwives short of the level needed for summer cover. It is trying to cover this with overtime shifts and by offering bonuses of 20,000 kronor a week (up from 15,000) for moving weeks of holiday.

It has had difficulties in finding enough independent midwives to bring in for holiday cover in Hudiksvall, and in Gävle, some wards are running at a reduced capacity.

Halland

Situation: Worse than last year

In Halland, capacity has been reduced to around 75 percent of normal capacity, with around 15 midwife positions unfilled. The region is hiring in independent midwives, retirees, and offering bonuses for moving holidays and working overtime. The region says that this is the third year in a row with staffing issues and describes staff as “tired”. 

It says that the biggest challenge is in Halmstad, where the neonatal ward is located.

Jämtland Härjedalen

Situation: Better than last summer

Jämtland Härjedalen’s main challenge is ensuring there are enough senior midwives working when pressure on hospitals is at its highest. It has hired in three independent midwives in part-time positions, is hiring retirees and offering bonuses for moving holidays and extra shifts.

It adds that some staff have moved their holidays and received bonuses which are offered as a certain percent of their salary.

Jönköping

Situation: Differs depending on maternity clinic

Jönköping has 14 empty midwife positions, and is struggling to have enough experienced staff working over the summer. It has hired independent midwives and retired staff, is offering bonuses for moved holiday weeks, but adds that there is still a risk that some patients will have to give birth in a different region.

Kalmar

Situation: Same as last summer

Västervik hospital has a few empty midwife positions and the biggest challenges are staff needing to take sick leave and peaks in workload. Independent midwives and retired staff have been hired, as well as bonuses offered for moving holidays and taking extra shifts. Midwives in other areas (gynaecology, postnatal care) have been moved to maternity wards over summer.

Kronoberg

Situation: Same as last summer

Tight situation, if any staff get sick there will be more pressure on others. Two rooms on Växjö maternity ward closed. Independent midwives have been hired in and bonus offered for moving holiday. There’s a risk some patients will have to give birth in other regions.

Norrbotten

Situation: Same as last summer

No expected staff shortages on maternity wards. Gaps in staffing have been covered by hourly workers, some new hires and staff hired through a summer recruitment initiative where the region offers to pay for travel and housing. Some staff have moved holiday weeks with a bonus of 25,000 kronor per week moved. Some staff are taking extra shifts, and independent midwives and retirees have been brought in for the summer.

Skåne

Situation: Same as last summer

Difficult to get enough staff on the maternity ward at Skåne University Hospital as well as neo-natal ward as Helsingborg hospital. In Kristianstad, there are 5 empty midwife positions and they will need to scale down services over summer.

Independent midwives have been hired for the summer as well as retirees. Skåne is also offering bonuses for moving holiday weeks and taking extra shifts, and Kristianstad have brought in assistant nurses and service workers to help lessen the load.

Stockholm

Situation: Better than last summer

Around 50 empty midwife positions, although the region says the situation better than previous years. Two hospitals might need help with referrals. A new maternity ward at S:t Görans hospital as well as fewer expected births means the region believes it has planned well.

Stockholm has also hired in independent midwives and retirees, offering bonuses for moved holidays and for taking extra shifts. It is offering 15,000 kronor for moving one week of holiday or 25,000 kronor for moving two weeks, and adds that there is a risk that patients will have to give birth in other regions.

Sörmland

Situation: Same as last summer

Sörmland doesn’t have enough midwives to cover all of the region’s maternity wards, stating that it’s not possible to say how many midwives it’s missing. Like many other regions, the region has hired in independent midwives and retirees and is offering bonuses for moved holidays and for taking extra shifts.

Uppsala

Situation: Same as last summer

Uppsala also said it had a midwife shortage, but also a shortage of experienced assistance nurses. Around 10 midwife positions are empty this summer, and it is offering 12,000 kronor to midwives for each moved week of holiday. It adds that there is a risk of women giving birth in other regions and is combatting this by hiring in independent midwives and pensioners. It has cut the number of hospital spots available for patients just after giving birth, is offering extra pay for senior midwives during summer and is prioritising treatment that can’t wait.

Värmland

Situation: Same as last summer

Värmland region said that its biggest problem is not enough experienced staff, as well as the logistics of making sure that there is a good balance of experienced staff working on each shift. It has hired independent midwives and retirees, and offering 20,000 kronor bonuses for moving holiday weeks, as well as bonuses for taking extra shifts. It is also working at minimum capacity.

Västmanland

Situation: Better than last summer

Despite the situation being better this year than last year, Västmanland region said that the situation was still fragile, as it has assistant nurses and midwives working during the summer who don’t work all year round.

Some midwives have been moved from other clinics to handle births, and independent midwives and retired midwives have been brought as extra cover over the summer. Midwives have been offered 15,000 kronor to move a week of holiday.

Västerbotten

Situation: Better than last summer

Västerbotten described its biggest challenge as providing safe maternity care with extremely low staff. It has hired independent midwives, midwives working hourly rates, is offering bonuses for moving holidays and taking extra shifts and has also hired midwives from Finland.

Västernorrland

Situation: Same as last summer

The region said that it had a shortage of around 12 midwives, which it is covering by hiring independent midwives and by asking employees to work overtime. It has also hired retired midwives, and is offering bonuses for moving holidays and taking extra shifts.

Västra Götaland

Situation: Better than last summer

Midwives, nurses and assistant nurses need to work extra shifts and move holiday weeks. Retired staff have been hired in, as well as staff working on hourly contracts. Midwives are being offered 10,000 kronor per moved week of holiday and bonuses for working overtime.

Örebro

Situation: Better than last summer

Around 30 midwife positions will be unfilled over the summer, and midwives have been offered 20,000 kronor per moved week of holiday, as well as bonuses for working overtime. The biggest issue is staffing extra shifts. It writes that there is a risk of patients having to give birth in other regions.

Östergötland

Situation: Better than last summer

Östergötland’s biggest issue is covering sick leave or other absences. It has hired independent midwives and retired midwives and is offering bonuses for moving holidays and taking extra shifts. It adds that there is a risk of patients having to give birth in another region.

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