baby hand 560x302 Having a Baby in Norway Part 9 After Your Delivery

Congratulations on the safe arrival of your baby! What next after you return home from the hospital/hotel?

Getting a Personal Number for Your Baby
The hospital that you delivered your baby in will send notification of your baby’s birth to the people’s register at the tax office (Skatteetaten). The tax office will then send you a form (Forespørsel om navnevalg) where you fill in your baby’s name and send the form back to the tax office. (You have up to a maximum of 6 months to select a name for your baby). This same form contains your baby’s personal number. You should receive this form within 1 to 2 weeks after the birth of your baby. If you do not receive the form or if you require your baby’s personal number urgently, call the tax office and they can give it to you over the phone (this was what I did). Once the tax office receives your form, they will send you a birth certificate (fødselsattest) for your baby. You can ask for the birth certificate to be in Norwegian only or in Norwegian, English, German, French and Spanish (it is one form with all 5 languages).

Depending on when your baby was born, you may be thinking about applying for childcare/kindergartens (barnehager) for your child. Note that there can be a long waiting list for a vacancy in the childcare facilities. Check out our article Kindergartens (Barnehager) in the Stavanger Region for more information.

Visit of the Health Nurse (Helsesøster)/Visit to the Health Station (Helsestajon)
Within a week or two after your baby’s birth, you will receive a call from the Health Nurse. You can opt for either a home visit or to bring your baby to the health station. The purpose of this visit is for you to seek answers to any questions that you may have in relation to your baby or yourself.

The health sister will also give you information about your baby’s vaccination schedule and when your baby should visit the doctor and/or midwife for routine checks. (These usually take place when your baby is 6 weeks old, 3 months old, 4 months old, 5 months old, 6 months old, 8 months old, 1 year old, 15 months old, 2 years old, 4 years old and 5 years old).

In addition, she will inform you of baby group meetings (barselgruppe treff). These are voluntary.

Do you have any thoughts or more information to add? Please feel free to comment below.

Stavanger Expats ‘Having a Baby in Norway’ Series
Part 1 – Finding Out and The First Appointment
Part 2 – Private Ultrasound and the 2nd Doctor’s Appointment
Part 3 – Routine Ultrasound and Meeting the Midwife
Part 4 – Prenatal Courses, Exercise Classes and Massages
Part 5 – What You May Need and Where to Buy Them
Part 6 – Freebies Galore and Memories of Your Journey
Part 7 – Innskrivning Dag and What to Pack for the Hospital
Part 8 – Labour and Delivery
Part 9 – After Your Delivery
Part 10 – Activities for You and Your Baby in Stavanger
Part 11: Budgeting for a New Baby
Part 12 – Parental Leave and Your Job

Having a Baby in Norway Part 9 After Your Delivery

About Cynthia Myrnes

Cynthia is a Singaporean who has been living in Stavanger since Feb 2008 with her Norwegian husband. She works as a physiotherapist here and also owns her own petsitting service, Stavanger Petsitter, for the residents of Stavanger. In addition, she manages the Stavanger International Moms group. She loves hanging out with friends, spending time with animals, travelling and watersports such as scuba diving and wake boarding. Most of all, she is enjoying the experience of being a first time mom!