From Norway to Denmark

We are two Norwegian student midwives who recently came home from a three week stay in Copenhagen, Denmark. Applying for an exchange at Denmark’s largest maternity unit was a highlight of our education. We were warmly welcomed as Norwegian midwifery students at Hvidovre Hospital in Copenhagen. We had the opportunity to be inspired by Danish midwives’ practice in the delivery room, in maternity and emergency reception, during pregnancy consultations, and in home birth services. We learned a great deal about their approach to balancing care for both the healthy and the ill, in addition to observing similarities and differences in the practice of the profession.

We see the opportunity to exchange professional questions and procedures between two quite similar nations as an immensely important part of our journey in becoming midwives. We will bring with us new approaches to the profession, such as the use of the senses and clinical insight. It has also been interesting to reflect on and discuss the differences from Norwegian practice that we observed during our time at the Danish hospital. We would highly recommend that future students take the chance to gain exciting new knowledge for the midwifery student experience!

– Kristina and Stine (Western Norway University of Applied Sciences)

September 2024