Home birth is a safe option for mother and child if the decision is made after careful consideration and adequate assessment of the risks, and if the birth is assisted by a competent midwife who is licensed to perform home births. It must also be possible to transfer the mother and baby to a hospital during a home birth.

If you are considering a home birth, read more about what you need to take into account when planning a home birth, which midwives are licensed to provide home birth assistance, and how to register the birth of your child in this case.

A planned home birth is a birth that is planned at the request of the pregnant woman during routine prenatal care, agreed upon in advance during visits, and performed by a midwife outside of a hospital in a home setting. Home births have been officially permitted in Estonia since 1 August 2014. You can find the entire process and more detailed information in the home birth guide. To start the home birth planning process, you must first fill out a declaration of intent.

After receiving your application, a midwife or doctor will fill out a birth risk assessment table with you. Before submitting your application, you can read the guide to find out in which situations home births are not permitted. Home birth is also not planned if your home is located more than 30 km from the nearest hospital that provides obstetric care. You can find the risk assessment table here.

Once the initial risk assessment has been carried out with your midwife or gynaecologist, we recommend that you contact a suitable home birth midwife. This will allow you to plan ahead, carry out a repeat risk assessment and, if the pregnancy and birth risks are low, sign a contract.

You can give birth either in a hospital or maternity hospital or in your own home, if the decision is made carefully and with an adequate assessment of the risks. You are free to choose where you want to give birth, for example, you do not necessarily have to give birth in the same hospital where you are registered (except in the case of a premature or higher risk birth or in other exceptional cases).

If you have health insurance, the health insurance fund will pay for your maternity care. Please note that the health insurance fund does not pay for additional services such as family room, private midwife during childbirth, etc. The health insurance fund does not pay for maternity services. In the case of a planned home birth, the obstetrician will pay for the obstetric care according to the price list of the home birth service provider.

All hospitals in Estonia will allow you to give birth with a support person - the father, another family member or a close relative. In emergency situations (e.g. COVID-19 emergency), hospitals may have to make changes to their working arrangements, so please check the website of the hospital for up-to-date information.

If this is your first birth and you are unsure when the right time to go to the maternity ward is, it is best to call your midwife or the maternity ward staff for advice. There are several signs that can help you recognize the right time to go.

How can you tell the difference between false labor and the onset of real labor?
Most women experience so-called false labor, or Braxton-Hicks contractions, during pregnancy. These usually begin in the second trimester and become increasingly noticeable towards the end of pregnancy. In this case, the uterine contractions usually last a few seconds to a few minutes, may occur every few hours, and then disappear for a week. A few weeks or days before delivery, these contractions may become more frequent, regular, and quite painful, making them difficult to distinguish from true labor. Unlike real labor, however, Braxton Hicks contractions do not become stronger, longer, or more frequent, and they eventually disappear.

Mucus plug discharge and rupture of the amniotic sac
During pregnancy, a thick mucus plug closes the cervix. Immediately before labor, the mucus plug is discharged, which may be accompanied by a reddish to blackish jelly-like discharge from the vagina. Labor may follow the discharge of the mucus plug quickly, but it may also take several days. Some women do not even notice the discharge of the mucus plug.

The amniotic fluid usually breaks during labor, but it can also happen before labor begins. If you feel something dripping or flowing from your vagina and you cannot control it, it is likely that your water has broken. Amniotic fluid is usually colored, but if it is bloody or greenish, your baby may need urgent care. If your water breaks before labor begins, the best thing to do is to call your midwife or go to the maternity ward.

If the amniotic fluid is clear, the baby is moving normally, and you feel well, you can stay at home and go to the hospital in 6-8 hours, regardless of whether you are having contractions or not.

If your amniotic fluid stains your underwear and is brown or green, go to the hospital as soon as possible. Heavy bloody amniotic fluid requires immediate attention.

If your water has not broken but you are experiencing painful uterine contractions, it is time to go to the maternity ward when the uterine contractions:

• have become regular,
• have become painful,
• occur approximately every three to five minutes,
• last approximately 60 seconds.
  Keep in mind that your second and third children may be born much faster than your first, so you may need to contact your midwife or go to the maternity ward earlier if necessary.

You can use your own car, a taxi, or an ambulance by calling 112 to go to the maternity ward. Your partner or a support person accompanying you should be the driver, as it is not reasonable for you to drive yourself in such a situation.

When preparing for childbirth, it is a good idea to get a few things ready a couple of weeks before your due date. These things may include:

• Light and comfortable clothing to wear during and/or after childbirth. If you wish, the hospital will provide you with a nightgown and gown. Clothes get dirty during childbirth, which is why many women prefer to wear the gown provided by the hospital.
• A dressing gown and slippers.
• Two or three pairs of supportive, comfortable bras. Front-opening bras are ideal as they make breastfeeding easier.
• Breast pads.
• A large pack of absorbent sanitary pads.
• Personal hygiene items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, etc.
• If desired, a personal towel or a large bath towel.
• Items that help you relax, such as a good book, magazine, or your favorite music.
• Several pairs of underwear (just in case you have to stay in the hospital for more than a few days).
• Diapers, clothes (appropriate for the season), and a blanket or sleeping bag for your child to take home.
• Be sure to bring your pregnancy card and ID card or passport.

Registration of the birth of a child in the event of confinement in a health facility
The health care provider who provided the obstetric care will give the child a personal identification number to indicate the personal identification number on the medical birth certificate of the child born in Estonia. The personal identification number is given to the child when the health care provider has entered the data on the medical birth certificate in the population register.

In order to register a birth, the child's legal representative must submit an application within one month of the date of birth. The birth of the child is registered by the civil status records office within seven working days of receipt of the birth registration application. If, for good cause, it is not possible to lodge the application for registration of the birth of the child in time, the civil status records office where the birth is to be registered must be informed; the time limit may be extended up to two months from the date of birth of the child.

Children born at home can obtain a personal identification number from the civil registry office or the local authority at the time of naming the child, i.e. at the time of birth registration. The midwife for home births issues the child with a medical birth certificate without an identification number. When you go to register the birth, take the parents' documents (passports or ID cards) and the medical birth certificate from the midwife. If one of the married parents is registering the birth, the other parent must bring a signed declaration of consent.

A newborn is automatically assigned to the mother's family doctor, but you can also choose a different family doctor if you wish.

The newborn is automatically assigned to the mother's family doctor, but you can also choose a different family doctor if you wish.

All children are covered until the age of 19 (inclusive). Children under the age of 19 are registered with the Health Insurance Fund on the basis of the data in the population register. Children whose details are in order in the population register and whose main residence address is defined in Estonia are covered. It is therefore important to register the child's place of residence in the population register.

If a child is born abroad and the birth is registered there, the birth does not have to be re-registered in Estonia. However, you must submit the birth certificate of the foreign country to the local government of the county centre (in Tallinn, to the Civil Status Office) or to the Estonian Embassy Abroad for registration in the population register within 30 days of the birth being registered abroad. The original document must be submitted, legalised or certified by an apostille, unless otherwise provided by law. The documents must be in Estonian or, in the case of documents in a foreign language, translated into Estonian, Russian or English, unless the document is in Russian or English. The translation must be made by a sworn translator or, if there is no sworn translator in a particular country and there is no sworn translator in Estonia, the translation may be made by an official translator of a foreign country.

In a foreign country, the birth of a child must be registered with the relevant office in the foreign country (either a civil status office or other competent authority), where a birth certificate is issued on the basis of a medical birth certificate from a hospital. The certificate will state the name of the child and the details of the parents.

If you are an Estonian citizen and live in an EU country, you must apply for a passport or ID card for your child. With these documents, you can travel with your child, including coming to Estonia.

If you have had the Estonian embassy enter your child's birth certificate details in the Estonian population register (i.e. make a data extract), you can conveniently apply for a passport or ID card for your child at the self-service service of the Police and Border Guard Board.

You can also apply for an ID-card and passport at the Estonian embassy, where you can also submit an application for registration of your child's permanent residence abroad. The application must be signed by both custodial parents or you will need to bring the other parent's consent in writing. For more information on registration of permanent residence abroad, please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

From the age of 12, a child will need to be fingerprinted at the Estonian embassy when applying for both a passport and an ID card.

If the child's details have not been previously entered in the Estonian population register, this will be done after the passport and/or ID card application has been submitted, and is usually organised by the Police and Border Guard Board. The child will be given an Estonian personal identity number.

A child is considered an Estonian citizen if at least one of his or her parents is an Estonian citizen. If the child's other parent is a citizen of another country, the child may, depending on the laws of the other country, also acquire citizenship of the other country and the child will then have dual citizenship. There are countries that grant their citizenship to a child born on their territory whose parents may not themselves be citizens of the country of birth (e.g. the USA). In such cases, it is possible that the child will acquire multiple nationality at birth (that of the country of birth, that of the parent who is an Estonian citizen and that of the parent who is a citizen of another country). The parents of the child will be able to choose and decide which country's travel document or documents (passports) to apply for for the child.

It should be borne in mind that applying for a travel document confirms that the child is a national of one or another country and entails the usual rights and obligations of a citizen towards that country (e.g. the right to participate in elections, the obligation for young men to serve in the armed forces, etc.). It should also be noted that, in accordance with international practice, Estonia cannot provide consular protection to a dual national who resides in the country of his/her second nationality (e.g. an Estonian-US dual national residing in the US cannot obtain protection from the US authorities from the Estonian Embassy, the Honorary Consul or the Embassy of a Member State of the European Union).

If the child was born unexpectedly during a trip abroad and you wish to return to Estonia as soon as possible after the birth, you can apply for a return certificate for the child from the nearest Estonian embassy or consulate. To do this, one of the parents must go to the embassy or consulate (the document will not be issued by post) and present it:

• an application form, which you can fill in on the spot;
• The duly certified birth certificate of the child (with apostille or legalised in the country of residence) and, if necessary, a sworn translation (if the document itself is not in English or Russian);
• 2 colour documentary photographs of the child, 40×50 mm;
• the simple written consent of the other parent of the child to the issue of a return certificate to the child.

The consul's decision on the issue of the return certificate is usually taken within three working days, exceptionally it may take up to 15 working days. If possible, the embassy will also immediately register the child's birth in the Estonian population register and create a personal identification number for the child.

A return certificate can be issued as the primary travel document for a child up to 1 year of age, but if the child is to live abroad for some time after birth, it is advisable to apply for a passport or ID card immediately. These documents can be used to apply for a residence permit or to register the child's right of residence in the EU country of stay, if necessary, while the return certificate cannot. A passport allows the child to travel worldwide, an ID card in the EU. The return certificate can only be used to travel directly back to Estonia; the document will be confiscated by the border guards when crossing the Estonian border.

If the child was born in a foreign country, the birth has not been registered in a foreign country and at least one of the parents is either an Estonian citizen or resident in Estonia, it is possible to register the birth in Estonia on the basis of a medical birth certificate issued by a foreign hospital. All the same requirements apply to the hospital document as to other foreign documents. Read more about the required documents here.

Please note, however, that the child and the other parent must remain in the foreign country until the parent who registered the birth in Estonia has applied for a passport or ID card for the child in Estonia and taken it to the foreign country or had it sent to the Estonian embassy or consulate abroad for issuance.

Alternatively, instead of having a passport or ID card issued, parents can apply for a return certificate for the child, which allows the child to travel to Estonia with the parent who was abroad. The child cannot hold two documents (passport or ID card and return certificate) at the same time, i.e. parents must choose one or the other. The child of an Estonian resident who is a citizen of a foreign country is not documented by Estonian diplomatic missions or consular posts. In order to obtain a travel document, if the parents who are Estonian residents wish to register the birth of their child in Estonia, they must apply to the embassy of their country of nationality.

Example: Russian or Indian citizens who are residents of Estonia and who have a child born in Finland must apply to the embassy of their country of nationality in Estonia or Finland for a travel document for the child in order to register the child's birth in Estonia. If there are no embassies of the person's country of nationality in Estonia or Finland, they must apply to the country where there is an embassy.

The birth of a child born abroad to parents of undetermined nationality residing in Estonia must also be registered with the relevant office (civil status office or other competent authority) in the foreign country, where a birth certificate with the child's name and parents' details will be issued.

In most countries, the birth certificate must be certified by an apostille or legalised (in countries that do not use apostille certification) and a sworn translation must be provided (if the document itself is not in English or Russian).

For children up to 1 year of age, the Estonian diplomatic mission or consular post in the country where the child is staying issues the return permit. For more information, call the 24/7 hotline of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' consular assistance (+372) 5301 9999 or write to the consul on Facebook.

When arriving in Estonia, parents must contact the Police and Border Guard Board to apply for Estonian citizenship documents for their child or by submitting a separate application for an alien's passport and residence permit. You can find the list of documents required for the application and how to apply on the website of the Police and Border Guard Board at

If the entry in the Estonian population register was not made for some reason (e.g. Estonian honorary consuls cannot make it), the child's duly certified birth certificate (with an apostille or legalised, e.g. the birth certificate must also be legalised either in the Estonian embassy or in the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and a translation of the birth certificate by a sworn translator (if the document itself is not in English or Russian) must be presented to the local authority upon arrival in Estonia. If there is no sworn translator in a particular country and there is no sworn translator in Estonia, the translation can be done by an official translator of a foreign country. The child's details will then be entered in the population register and the child will receive an Estonian personal identity number.

All parents are entitled to 10 working days of paid parental leave per child under the age of 14 for the whole period. Parents of disabled children can take one working day of paid parental leave per month for each disabled child up to the age of 18, in addition to the days of parental leave. The aim of parental leave and parental leave for disabled children is to give parents more flexibility and opportunities to take leave days independently of each other and to spend more time with the family. In addition, unpaid parental leave is available.

Parental leave is granted to each working parent separately and on a child-by-child basis: each parent is entitled to a total of 10 days of parental leave for each child aged 14 and under for the whole period (20 days for the two of them). The more children under the age of 14 in a family, the more days of parental leave a parent is entitled to. In the year in which the child reaches the age of 14, parental leave can be taken until the end of the calendar year.

You can apply for parental leave at the Social Insurance Self Service, where you can see the number of days of leave you can plan for up to two months in advance, if you wish. 

In the case of a child born prematurely, the rules on the payment of family benefits are largely the same as for a child born for a fixed term. Read more about maternity benefit, paternity benefit and shared parental benefit.

One favourable exception for a child born before the 34th week of pregnancy is the possibility for parents to take parental leave at the same time and receive parental benefit for up to 60 days. This does not reduce the total period of payment of parental benefit by more than 30 days.

Child who died prematurely: https://sotsiaalkindlustusamet.ee/perehuvitised-ja-muud-toetused/perekondlikud-olukorrad/varakult-lahkunud-laps