UPDATED: The Swedish Sambo Visa in 2015/2016 Part 15: I'm Pregnant - Now What?! (An exhaustive guide to everything you need to know about pregnancy while waiting and moving to Sweden)

Here's a summary of this post (because it is a behemoth!) if you want to skip to a certain section:

1. General Intro
• Just me blabbing like I always do.
2. Pregnancy while waiting for your residence permit: What are your options?
• Notes about requesting priority
• Attempting an "Inifrån Ansökan" (doing your wait within Sweden)
• Giving birth in Sweden without a residence permit
• Other birth alternatives and options
3. Pregnancy in Sweden: After you relocate to Sweden
• How to get set up with proper appointments
4. The Swedish Pre-Natal process (terminology, Sweden's approach to pregnancy, what to expect, etc.)
• Terminology, abbreviations, and how the process works
• Things you need to know about ultrasounds, medical tests, childbirth classes, etc.
• Maternity leave, parternity leave, and barnbidrag
5. Tips and Advice: Joining Support Groups
• Oh god... from one support group to another! No but seriously, baby groups (especially Swedish ones) are a godsend in order to get you connected with people who are going through the process alongside you.
6. Tips and Advice: The Holy Grail of Buying Everything Baby-Related in Sweden
• An exhaustive guide of where to buy shit, online retailers (and what they are good or bad for) and my own product reviews of things I bought after obsessive research.  You know how I am.  
7. Product Reviews
• This is a list of a few key (mostly big-ticket) items I bought after months of research, and why I chose them over other competitors (which i will also list, along with links to certain product review sites which I found helpful).
8. Movies Streaming on Youtube (for free!) about the amazingness of fetal development
• It's random, but I'm a science nerd and I want to save these links somewhere!

Intro
Pregnancy is almost always a time for wonderful celebration and the unbelievable experience of bringing a new life - part of yourself, and part of the person you love most! - into the world.

But it is also a time of great challenges.  Our bodies and patience will be tested to the max - physically, emotionally, financially, and even our relationships will have to evolve and adapt.

So it is no wonder that falling pregnant before or during the application process for a Swedish sambo visa puts an added layer of crushing stress on the expectant couple.

I am here to write a guide of sorts for what your options are, how to approach this situation, and what to expect after you move.  I am writing this from the perspective of a pregnant female who is immigrating to Sweden, although I know it might be helpful to include some information if you are a male moving to Sweden, and it is your Swedish partner who is pregnant.  Given that I am only 7 months pregnant (and I spent only 3 of those months outside of Sweden before my decision came) I am by no means an expert; but I have learned a lot from my own experiences and in talking to others, so I felt that sharing any kind of info would be a good start.  If you have any feedback, please leave a comment!

Pregnancy while waiting for your permit: What are your options?

This is the first and most obvious question on people's minds.

Back in October 2015, Migrationsverket discontinued applicants' ability to apply for priority to have the processing of their case hastened.  What had happened was, the queue waiting times were getting longer and longer since 2013, and it got to the point where everyone was applying for priority (people were trying to find any way possible to make the wait shorter for themselves). Some of these requests were legitimate - children, pregnancy, health problems - and some were not.  Migrationsverket was obligated to treat each request equally, however, and the amount of time being spent analyzing cases to see if they qualified for priority was significantly hindering them from processing their caseload.  This, compounded by the fact that the majority of cases didn't qualify for priority, and MV made the decision to eliminate the possibility for priority altogether.  People who applied for priority in 2015 before this option was taken away, waited on average 6-9 months before getting their decision, as opposed to the standard 12-14 months.
MV no longer offers expedited case processing for pregnancies - and we have indeed seen plenty of women give birth abroad (or even worse, Swedish partners giving birth within Sweden without being able to secure a visit visa for their partner in time to witness the event.  Utterly tragic.)

With this in mind, there are still some options to tackle this scenario while you wait.  I will start with the basics:

1.  Notify MV.
If you knew you were pregnant before you applied, you are required to submit the certificate proving the pregnancy as part of your application package (likely because the child will have been born by the time you get your decision, and will need a permit too).  If you found out you were pregnant after you applied, notify MV.  They will tell you it's not necessary to provide paperwork and blah blah blah no priority, but pay no heed.  Get a certificate of pregnancy from your doctor (which clearly verifies your pregnancy), have it translated into English or Swedish and notarized if necessary, and email it to MV at migrationsverket@migrationsverket.se.  In the subject of the email, include your case number, and in the body of the email, request that they include the document(s) to your case file.  This serves several purposes - it gives undeniable proof to your case officer that you are in need of a decision as soon as possible because you are waiting on more than just a reunion with your love - a child is now involved.  Many airlines will not let you travel after your 7th month of pregnancy, so it's critical that MV doesn't accidentally miss this detail of your condition when reviewing your case and determining what to do with it.  Secondly, it forces MV to touch your case file, which we have sometimes seen to trigger a "mercy decision"; someone reviews your file, sees your updated info, and decides the case is easy enough to render a quick decision.  It happens, we know it happens, we've seen it several times - it's just a matter of luck.  You can't rely on this to be successful, but it's a shot in the dark and it's better than nothing.  Lastly, it provides compelling evidence of an ongoing relationship and intention to remain in that relationship, which adds a little flavor to the strength of your case.

Please note I am in NO WAY advocating "visa fetuses".  I'll keep my opinions to myself about this, but I have heard of way too many instances of couples purposefully getting pregnant thinking it can speed up their case.  It's a major gamble and SO unfair to the unborn baby, especially if it is born separated from it's father and that bonding time is lost.

2.  Attempt an "inifrån ansökan"

There is a clause on MV's website which states that if you have children or are expecting them, you
could conceivably apply from within Sweden.  The website seems to only mention the initial application - that you would need to apply for your sambo visa for the first time from within Sweden, with verified proof of pregnancy.  Not everyone is accepted when they apply this way; we have seen MV take a lot into account when making the decision.

Of course, this doesn't help the applicants who fall pregnant during their wait after they already submitted the original application.  However, we have seen some people be successful in "switching" their application to an inifrån ansökan.  It is rare that we see a pregnant couple successful in this endeavor - but it is still worth a shot.

The Process: Travel to Sweden (as a tourist) and go into an MV office.  Notify them that you wish to finish the application process from within Sweden based on the pregnancy (make sure to have all your doctors reports, and make sure they are in English or Swedish and preferably notarized!!). Migrationsverket will then make an assessment based on 1) if the person in question has been here illegally in the past or if he/she has a criminal history 2) analysis in light of the Children’s Convention (risk of family separation) 3) how difficult it would be for the applicant to return to his/her country based on Chapter 5 §18 point 5 in the Swedish Alien's Act. When children are involved an ‘inside application’ is generally approved, which means that the person can stay in Sweden during the rest of the processing time as well as when the decision is made - but this is almost always only the case if the child has already been born. We see the most success for this type of request with people who give birth outside of Sweden, and then travel to Sweden as a tourist with the child and try to switch the application to an inside one thereafter.

It is important to time this attempt appropriately.  Remember that many airlines will not let a woman travel while late in the pregnancy.  It also can take upwards of a month for MV to come to a decision of whether to allow the candidate to stay in Sweden.  So, make sure to travel to Sweden well before your 6th month of pregnancy, try to schedule the visit for at least a month, and be ready to either stay permanently or have to return home.

The waiting time to a decision then varies in length (many couples end up waiting the full 14 months, although we have also seen some only wait 10-11 months).  Regardless, another consideration to bear in mind: without a residence permit, the pregnant mother (if she is non-Swedish) will have to pay cash for all of her doctors appointments and labor/delivery, which can be exorbitantly expensive.  I have seen estimates online that a birth without complication can cost between 50,000-80,000 SEK depending on the hospital.  I am in the process of actually verifying that though.  Travel insurance does not cover "pre-existing / non-emergency conditions", but you could look into other international health insurance options to help cover the costs.

3. Prepare for alternative birthing options
As mentioned before, many airlines will not let a pregnant woman travel in or after 7 months of pregnancy.  So, do your research, read the fine print, and figure out when it is safe for you to travel.

1) Consider giving birth in Sweden anyway
One option that is, in my opinion, rather risky (but still an option!) is to give birth in Sweden intentionally.  If one has a 3 month (90 day) tourist visa to use in Europe, a pregnant woman could conceivably attempt to travel to Sweden around the end of her 6th month of pregnancy for her full 90-day tourist allotment.  90 days would get her to the very end of her pregnancy.  The procedure would be to immediately apply for an inifrån ansökan (see #2, above) on the basis of being pregnant.  If you are awarded it, then perfect! If not, then you would apply for a tourist visa extension during those 90 days, in the hopes of getting the permit extended to 4-6 months.  Then, you would give birth to the child, and after it is born and the father is listed on the birth certificate, apply for an inifrån ansökan again in order to complete your wait within Sweden without your tourist visa situation putting a hold on the processing of your case.

Bear in mind, again, that there are things to take into consideration: 1) You would need to pay for the
healthcare expenses out of pocket (assuming the mother is the non-Swedish partner); 2) If for some unknown reason you are rejected from an inifrån ansökan AND a tourist visa extension, and you have not given birth before your scheduled flight home, you are in some serious trouble.  Airlines won't let a 9-months pregnant woman on board and you will end up overstaying your tourist visa.  I highly doubt MV would deny extending the tourist visa though, since you would legally have a "compelling health reason" to stay longer (see image to the right).

2. Give birth in your home country, and then plan a tourist visit to Sweden
By going this route, you could safely give birth in your own home country (hopefully covered by your own health insurance) and even plan for your partner to be with you around the time of delivery.  And then you can travel to Sweden as a tourist thereafter and try to apply for an inifrån ansökan to complete the rest of your wait from within Sweden, now that the child is born and can clearly suffer the effects of being separated from one of it's parents.

Pregnancy in Sweden: After You Relocate

If you move to Sweden and are still pregnant, what are all the steps??

This can be an unbelievably overwhelming time of dealing with a pregnancy while moving to a foreign country.  It is physically, emotionally, and psychologically exhausting.

I can only speak from one perspective when it comes to this segment:  That you got your decision and were able to move to Sweden while still pregnant.  If you are doing an inifrån ansökan and are in Sweden while pregnant but without an approved residence permit, you can follow most of this advice although it may differ here and there.

Here is what Johan and I did:

1) We found out we were pregnant on January 16, 2016 - exactly 1 year after we applied for my residence permit.  I had been visiting for a month for the holidays, and had to go home on the 17th. Immediately once I got home, I notified MV that I had left the country, and then later sent them the certificate of pregnancy to complete my case.

2) We received our decision 1.5 months later, on 29 February 2016 (exactly 13.5 months after applying - the running average at the time).  We booked my flight to move to Sweden for 22 March 2016.

3) Between 1 March - 21 March, Johan made all the appropriate calls to get appointments set up for me for when I arrive in Sweden.  He called our local kommun's vårdcentral and scheduled our first couple appointments with the barnmorska (Swedish midwife - I will write more about the prenatal process in Sweden later in this post) we were assigned.  My first appointment was only 4 or 5 days after I arrived in Sweden.  I did not need a personnummer or even my MV uppehållstillstand card to go to these appointments.  We simply showed them my MV decision paperwork, told them I was in the process of doing my biometrics and getting my residence card so that I could get a personnummer issued, and our barnmorska ("BM") took copies of my passport at my first doctor's appointment just to log me in the system.  We supplied her with my personnummer later on when we had it.  I never had to pay any expense out of pocket (except for 100kr for my thyroid blood tests, which is the normal fee regardless.)

That was pretty much it!  The BM helps you determine what hospital you will be delivering at, and they also get you registered for parent classes (labor/delivery classes, etc) for the appropriate time in your pregnancy, which are free of charge.  There are also private options, like the Aurora Klinik.

The Swedish Pre-Natal Process

Sweden has a very beautiful and hands-off approach to pregnancy.  I love their philosophy.  I moved to Sweden at the beginning of my 4th month of pregnancy (about 14 weeks) and had already had 4 ultrasounds and a billion genetic tests - which, don't get me wrong, I truly appreciated! But Sweden views pregnancy as a normal and natural occurrence in life, not a medical condition.  You can read more about their philosophy in this wonderful article (in English).  They are pretty chill and lowkey about it all (and have one of the lowest infant mortality rates in all the world, to boot!)

This is an excellent resource to define all the abbreviations and terminology and whatnot during pregnancy.  It is in Swedish, but between your own knowledge, google translate and your partner, you should be able to figure it out: http://www.gravid.se/kub-bf-ul-vad-betyder-alla-forkortningar/http://www.gravid.se/kub-bf-ul-vad-betyder-alla-forkortningar/

You do not see a traditional "doctor", persay, during your pregnancy in Sweden.  You are rather assigned a midwife (called a Barnmorska - pronounced "barn-MORSH-ka, and abbreviated as "BM"), who is a licensed specialist nurse who requires a sjuksköterske degree plus 18 months of training, plus 1.5 years of specialist university training, plus additional licenses. They are highly qualified!

Bear in mind I am only just beginning my 8th month of pregnancy and have only lived in Sweden now for 4 months, so - I'm still figuring all of this out myself. And care also varies a little depending on your kommun. But here we go:

It appears as though you have regular appointments with your BM every 3-6 weeks after your 9th or 10th week of pregnancy, sometimes longer depending on their availability, and of course sometimes shorter if you have complications or whatnot.  I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis which needs to be monitored closely, so I go in for a blood test every 2-3 weeks in addition to my regular BM appointments.

For almost all kommuns, you get only one [free] ultrasound during your pregnancy, which is the ~week 20 anatomy scan, and it is usually combined with your "KUB" - which is a combo appointment of standard blood tests and ultrasounds done mid-way through pregnancy.  The ultrasounds are called "Ultraljud" and are often abbreviated as "RUL", which translates to a "routine ultrasound".  This is to check for healthy and normal fetal/placenta development, and to confirm your due date.  You can of course be sent for additional [free] ULs (ultrasounds) if the doctors feel more monitoring is needed or things need to be checked again.  In addition, you have the right to pay for additional elective ULs (including 3D), which I think are about 850kr or something.

All of your appointments will include a very solid Q&A portion where you are asked certain questions, you are advised on certain things, and you can ask all the questions you want under the sun.  It's perfectly fine to have your partner accompany you, but they like to see mothers alone at least once to ensure there aren't any private or difficult questions or conversations you'd like to have that you can't let your partner know about.  Things like previous abortions, health/medical conditions or embarrassing questions... they want to make sure you have had a chance to ask your questions without putting on a brave face and saying there is nothing additional you want to say or add to your paperwork.  Your medical records are confidential, so you don't need to worry about your partner finding anything out.  In most of the appointments (especially after the 1st trimester), you do a blood test to check your glucose and iron levels, you have your blood pressure checked, you listen to the heart beat of the baby, and later on your uterus is measured along the Symfys-Fundus måttet scale, which is basically a manual way of measuring your uterus and fetal growth.  If you don't fit the path your body has set for itself, it might indicate growth problems that might require an additional UL or diagnostics.  (Think of it as a connect-the-dots diagram that you start at your Week 25 appointment and measure every 3-4 weeks at your continuing doctor's appointments).

One random side note: I bought all of my prenatal vitamins, probiotics, omega-3 supplements, etc. in the states and loaded them up in my suitcases before I moved.  I bought enough to last me my entire pregnancy. Technically you are only allowed to bring a 3 month supply of medications with you when you travel, but these are just vitamins.  I wanted to stick with the brands that I had been using in my early pregnancy (and I knew it would be cheaper to do this, too).  I personally used Vitamin Code RAW Pre-Natal by Garden of Life, Renew Life Ultimate Flora Probiotics 30 Billion, and Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA.  I bought them all at Whole Foods and stocked up when they had their occasional "25%-off all vitamins/supplements" sales.  But if you need to purchase prenatals upon arrival to Sweden, have your BM recommend some brands which you can buy at Apoteket (or more cheaply on Apotea.se), or you can also buy things on ClearLife.se (excellent resource for eko or imported brands), and also iHerb.com ships to Sweden, and you can buy lots of things "from home" on there too!

Maternity Leave, Paternity Leave and Barnbidrag
I forgot to write about this important part when I first published this blog post.  In Sweden, the rule is that *if* you have been employed by a Swedish employer and have worked for at least 8 months prior to the birth of the child, you receive 80% of your salary for up to 8 months of parental leave.  However, these 8 months can be taken anytime within the child's first 12 YEARS of life - you don't have to take them all at once! And the same goes for your partner - they get the same time off and monetary benefits.

Now, here's the thing.  If you haven't worked 8 months (or haven't worked at all, ever, in your whole life!!!) you are still entitled to the 8 months of parent leave and pay.  The amount, however, is the minimum allowed.  Instead of trying to explain it all, I will simply link directly to the pages that explain it all.

1. Here is the general Parent's page of Försäkringskassen, which has the menu which will lead to the following pages I'm about to describe: Click Here for the Parent's Page
2. The non-pregnant partner is allowed to have 10 days of paid leave in connection to the birth, which are not subtracted from the 8 months parental leave.  Click here to read more about 10 Days Parental Leave.
3. Click here to determine what amount of money each parent will get awarded as part of the parental benefits package, and the rules governing how much time they can take off, and when.  Remember - even if you are unemployed, you are eligible for monthly support!
4. Click here to learn about "Barn Bidrag" - or the monthly income each child gets from the government just for being alive, from birth to age 16.  This money is completely independant from you and your spouse, and doesn't matter how much money you two make (or don't make!) in employment income.

****

This is all I can confidently write about in terms of the prenatal process at this time.  At the date of this UPDATED blog post (26 July 2016), I will be going into my "week 32 appointment" this friday.  My last appointment was week 29 where I did a couple quick finger-prick blood samples where my BM determined my glucose was good and my iron levels were responding well to the Duroferon järntabletter she put me on in week 25. She measured my SF mått, we listened to the heart beat to determine the heart rate, she took my blood pressure, answered all my questions (I asked about infant CPR classes available, prenatal massage therapist recommendations, we talked about parent education, I talked to her about sleeping positions and other minor symptoms I've been having, we scheduled my next couple appointments, etc. etc. etc.)  I also requested copies of my medical reports because I am a data geek and like to have them on hand :)

I will provide an update later when I have new info!

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Tips and Advice: Join support groups!
I don't know about anyone else, but being pregnant in a foreign country was beyond any of the challenges I really thought I would face.  Between general struggles (exhaustion, etc) while trying to juggle doctor's appointments, residence cards / personnummer registration, opening bank accounts, getting registered (and attending!) SFI classes, ordering driver's license books, etc.... there was the whole element of building a nursery and buying all the baby essentials in a country where I didn't even know what stores to get shit from no less what everything was called in Swedish!!

Bottom line: Support Groups are a LIFESAVER:

1. Join a Facebook group of expectant Swedish moms in Sweden.  This will help you familiarize yourself with the Swedish language (google translate may become your best friend!), the Swedish prenatal process, tips about what people are buying and from where, plus a general community of new friends.  Don't be afraid to announce you are new to the country and while you should make an attempt to write in Swedish, don't kill yourself over it! Swedes mostly always know English and can help guide you through the process.
• To find a Facebook group, search using keywords.  The term "due date" in Swedish is abbreviated to "BF" ("Beräknat förlossningsdatum").  Type in the month and year you are due and then include "BF" to pull up some options.  I am due in September 2016, and the two groups I belong to are called "Septemberbebis 2016" and "BF i September 2016" 
• Familjliv.se is also a universally excellent resource with forums and due date groups to choose from.  I hear there can be some drama up in there though (as can be expected, unfortunately, on an anonymous internet forum).
2. Join an English-speaking "moms in Sweden" group on Facebook.  Whilst this is a bit focused (meaning you won't likely land a group where all the women speak English and are due the same month as you), it is no less a fountain of salvation when it comes to figuring out information from experienced moms in your mother tongue.  
• I currently belong to English Speaking Mums in Sweden, they are amazing, end of story.  I also belong to the Gothenburg Parents group which is region-specific to where I live.  Makes it easy to attend meet-ups, sell/buy things, get local tips, etc.
3. Join an English-speaking general baby group for women due the same month as you. This will give you the benefits of socializing and communing with women around the world who speak your same language (yay!) even though they may not live in your same country to provide tips or advice on the process.  Support is always good, and it's a breath of fresh air to be able to vent, lament, or ask questions in a language that is comfortable to you.  
• I belong to groups called "Babies Due - September 2016" and "September 2016 Babies".  Very helpful!  They have members from the US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia... pretty much every English-speaking corner of the world :)
4. Join an English-speaking breastfeeding support group.  I joined Milky Mamas on facebook and it has been a great resource as I prepare for my own BF journey :)

Tips and Advice: The Holy Grail of Buying Everything Baby-Related in Sweden

My god... if there was ever a time in my life when I missed having a Target or Kohl's just around the corner.  Jesus H. Christ, shopping for baby things in Sweden has been a NIGHTMARE to do from scratch!!  Because of this, I am going to divulge every single thing I know.  Here it is; your holy grail of shopping for baby in Sweden:

1. All the essentials can be bought at ICA
• While a grocery store in America might not have been my desired place to buy baby things (Target or CVS are so much cheaper with such a better selection), ICA is a perfectly acceptable place to go.  What is important is that you go to the largest ICA you have near you.  The smaller ICAs (ICA Nära, ICA Kvantum, etc.) all have much smaller selections and significantly higher prices.  Look for an ICA Maxi Stormarknad near you, and don't feel like an idiot if you want to take pictures of prices for common items (diapers = blöjor, wet wipes = tvättservetter, etc.) and compare them to other ICAs. When it comes to things you will be buying a shit ton of, it's always good to lock down what store has the best prices so you know where to go.  
2. If you're willing to deal with the European version of an epic black friday shopping experience, go to Gekås Ullared at least once.
• Ullared is apparently Europe's biggest warehouse gongshow and claims to have more visitors per year than the goddamned Roman Colliseum itself.  There is a blog for Ullared where you can see current things they are showcasing, but no website or price comparison option; it is a total bonanza and the products they have (and prices) all depend on the shipments they receive.  Incidentally, we decided that going to Ullared was not worth the 3 hour drive, stress, and incredible pressure of feeling the need to buy shit just cuz it was on sale.  I had a full list of exactly what I wanted to prepare for baby, and even then I didn't feel comfortable I could stick to it.  I was told that most of the essential items there didn't really beat the prices that were at ICA, that they don't really carry diapers, and you mostly go there to purchase big stuff.... without knowing if it will actually be there the day you go.  AVOID GOING ON SWEDISH PAYDAY. Or Holidays.  Or tax return weekend!!!
3. Baby clothes are so expensive that you will want to just cry.
• I will preface this by saying that if you live in more metro-urban areas, you will likely get better prices than shopping for baby clothes in smaller kommuns.... but besides the two hospital bring-baby-home outfits we bought for our little one at KappAhl (you will find yourself desperate to also own your first "Newbie" outfit at some point!) and a couple outfits from H&M, I bought all of my baby clothes online from the Kohl's line of Carter's clothing (baby line here, and make sure to use the daily sale promotion code to save $$$ too!), had them shipped to my mom's house in the states, and she is shipping them to me.  I bought all of her snow clothes on summer clearance sales... in fact, I bought all of her outfits on clearance, and they are ADORABLE. And absurdly less expensive than buying things in Sweden.  And the selection is so much better!!
4. Online retailers in Sweden (or online retailers who ship to Sweden)
• Jollyroom.se
• My absolute FAVORITE.  They have EXCELLENT sales, and their shipments always come on time (and I've never had to pay shipping).  I bought my bärsele ("baby carrier") there (read my reviews later on in this blog postfor more info) as well as decor for my nursery, my nursing pillow ("amningskudde"), maternity bras ("amnings-bh") and nursing shawls ("amingskläder"), all my baby blankets ("babyfilt" or "bäddtextilier"), my baby bouncy chair ("babysitter" <--that's what they are called in Swedish!), my baby monitor ("babyvakt"), my baby sound maker (not common in Sweden - I got the Woodli Nattlampa that is a night light that makes sleep sounds, which I really love!), hooded towels, my diaper bag ("skötväska") and a bunch of other stuff.  Jollyroom has the best prices and best selection, in my opinion.
• I DID NOT use Jollyroom to buy carseats, strollers, etc.  Their product selection in that area is weak and on the cheap (quality) side; no real name brands (although if you want to buy something name brand, do a search there first because you never know!)
• Ikea.se
• I mean... duh ;) We used IKEA for our crib ("spjälsäng"), sheet sets, receiving blankets and burp clothes (you can't get burp clothes in Sweden, just receiving blankets, so we bought a shit ton of these adorable tvättlappar), high chair ("Barnstol"), changing table ("skötbord") and accessories, baby bath ("badbalja"), waterproof mattress covers ("madrasskydd"), hangers, rug, shelves, and other essentials.  After doing a lot of research, we are not putting pillows, comforters, or stuffed animals in the baby crib; all we bought were fitted sheets, and we will swaddle baby to keep her warm and cozy. 
• The downside to IKEA is that their color selection is so blah.  
• ICA
• Not an online retailer, but I bought my stash of diapers (I was going to stock pile but then it was recommended to me to only have a package or two of newborn 1 and newborn 2 diapers, and wait and see how big she is at birth, how quickly she grows, and if she is possibly allergic to them??? before we go stockpiling), wet wipes, pacifiers, nursing bra pads, baby shampoo and lotion, nipple guards, bottle rack, baby thermometer, hair brush, nail clipper set, and bathwater therometer there.  Best prices for the little things and it was just easy and convenient.
• NEXT
• Oh. My. God.  So, I discovered this UK-based clothing retailer too late.  If you don't buy stateside and ship to Sweden, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this website! They ship to Sweden, have adorable and classy clothing that is at great prices, and they have great reviews for the quality and service of their products.
• Bamba.se
• Kind of like Jollyroom - a Swedish online retailer that has great sales if you scour the site here and there.  I don't think I've made a Bamba purchase yet but it's one of the main websites; I've just already purchased everything I need, to be honest!
• Kopbarnvagn.se
• We bought an American stroller (the Bumbleride Indie 4 - will offer product review later!) from European retailers, and Kopbarnvagn was where we purchased the footmuff ("åkpase") for a great price!
• Babyland.se
• This is where we purchased our stroller from.  We got an amazing sale on it!!  Bumbleride won't ship to Sweden but this was one of their recommended Swedish retailers, and I am so happy I was patient and waited it out until my preferred model went on sale :)
• Blocket.se
• This is Sweden's version of craigslist, but safer and classier.  If you want to buy a used stroller (or any other kind of baby stuff second-hand), this is an awesome option.  We got both of our rocking chairs off of Blocket for the equivalent of only $50 USD!!  You have to be willing to search and be patient, but it definitely pays off :)
• Lekmer.se 
• Just like Jollyroom, although the sale prices aren't as stellar in my experience
• Bigbaby.se
• I haven't purchased from this website but they have some of the more pricier, name brand products.  Wait for their sales... they recently had a 20% off store-wide sale which would have been EXCELLENT for buying a car seat ("bilstol" or also "babyskydd") if we weren't borrowing from my sister in law!
• Apotea.se - (the Föräldrar och Barn section.  My link will direct you to this page)
• An online pharmacy type thing - basically the closest you'll get to a Target-sized collection of products.  Maybe you could see it as a large online CVS or Wallgreens, actually.  They have a much wider selection than Apoteket, and much better prices (and good sales!) You can't buy diaper rash cream or nipple lotion or stuff like that at ICA - you have to get it from a pharmaceutical-type company.  Apotea has Inotyol (diaper rash cream), Purelan (nipple cream), Paracetamol (aspirin, even for babies), Xyloproct rektalsalv (hemorrhoid cream - just saying!!), Bio oil stretchmark lotion, prenatal vitamins... plus the bigger stuff like breast pumps and accessories, etc.  Good shit!
• Amazon.co.uk
• American Amazon.com will not ship to Sweden, but many retailers who sell on the UK Amazon site, will.

• The trick is to do this: Go to Amazon, search for whatever you're looking for, and then select the filter option in the left hand column that says "International Shipping", and check off the box that says "AmazonGlobal Eligible". (See image)
• This will provide a list of products that 1) Can legally be sold and shipped to Sweden, and 2) Retailers who are willing to do so - not all will.
• I bought so much shit from Amazon.uk - I got all my belly bands there (because maternity clothes in Sweden is a disaster - more on that later!) plus all my breastfeeding equipment - reference the Product Reviews section for more info on that!
• Babyproffsen.se
• This is another heavy hitter.  I never bought from this place, but they also have Brick-&-Mortar retail locations, and is a superstore with a big selection of products.  Prices tend to be higher than my more preferred websites, but this is a can't-go-wrong location.
• Babyshop.se
• I'll confess, I haven't spent any time on this site but I know it's another main option and they have outlet sales on their site!
• Beginners.se
• I discovered this retailer because they used Blocket as their online sales platform.  They have really good prices on strollers, but I will confess I never ended up visiting either of their stores in the end.  I had planned to, though! If that counts :)
• ClearLife.se
• Here you are able to buy a crap ton of things you wouldn't be able to at ICA, Apotea or Apotek.  Things like Red Raspberry Leaf tea or supplements (to help with labor), a diverse assortment of vitamins/prenatals, and skin products like Witch Hazel ("trollhassel") and Aloe Vera spray that help heal your lady parts after birth.
• iHerb.com
• So - this is an American website but it ships to Sweden, hurray! I haven't tried it out yet, but shipping prices are very decent.  The one thing that worries me is that it says "duties and taxes may be payable upon delivery".  I was told by someone who uses this company that as long as you keep the order under 500kr, there are no duties or taxes.  But the thing I love about this website is that you can buy the products and brands you are used to at home, like Dickenson's Aloe Vera, Tucks medicated pads / Preparation H, vitamins/prenatals/etc, Earth Mama Angel Baby products, stretch mark creams and oils you may be used to, and all the other items you think you may need or want during pregnancy or to care for your body postpartum.  It's a resource that I was glad to learn about in case I need something in a pinch!
• Other Swedish Baby Clothes Retailers (with physical stores as well as website links included):
• H&M
• Polarn & Pyren
• Lindex
• KappAhl (Newbie!!)
• Ellos
• La Redoute
• Villervalla  (They have some funky stuff.  I dig it!)

Product Reviews: Shit that I bought after months of obsessive research

If you're still reading this, you know by now that I do obsessive research.  Like I said, I want the best shit and for the absolute lowest prices... all from reputable sources that have legit shipping and return policies.  Do I ask for too much?

1. The Baby Stroller ("Barnvagn") // What I chose in the end: The Bumbleride Indie 4 (total price paid including tax/shipping and accessories: 5716kr)

This was never on my radar of "big decisions to make" until I saw the prices in Sweden.  Good god! 12 000kr ($1500) for a stroller!?  But then I realized all the considerations that need to be accounted for - namely, weather and terrain.  I live in the countryside so I have to deal with both... but I also needed something urban that could conceivably travel with me, or at least do days in the city without bowling over helpless pedestrians!

The main brands promoted in my Swedish baby group were Emmaljunga, Stokke and Bugaboo.  The Emmaljunga Viking seemed to be the most-often purchased stroller (with good reviews for both city folk and those who walk on trails), but Bugaboo Buffalo and Stokke Trailz were the ones promoted most by people who lived in rural / remote areas or had country roads they navigated daily.  Among these, was also the Urban Jungle Mountain Buggy which is a "more than just your average pram" hearty option.  We had our eyes on this one originally, but it would have been well over 10,000 SEK after buying the footmuff ("åkpase" - a warm sack you put your baby in during the winter so that you can dress them in regular clothes and not have to deal with constantly putting on / taking off snowsuits), rain shield ("regnskydd"), mosquito netting (mygskydd), and other accessories.  So we were going to buy used on Blocket, but even that would have been closer to 8000SEK and Johan detested the idea of a used stroller from a stranger.

After being completely flustered by cost and not sure what would work best for our versatile needs, I made a facebook post in the "English Speaking Mums in Sweden" group I had just joined.  Therein the same strollers were recommended (emphasis on Bugaboo and Stokke Trailz), but then a new name surfaced - Bumbleride.  It is an American stroller, hence why it is not super well known in Sweden. the women in the English-speaking group obviously knew about it from their American mommy counterparts, and more and more and more people began to sing it's praises. It is made with eco-products, is all-terrain, has an SFP 45 protection built into the fabric, it is newborn ready without the need to buy a bassinet attachment (the seat reclines all the way to a horizontal angle) and come to find out it is considered a "luxury stroller".  For - wait for it - a DELICIOUS price.  

The Indie was recommended to me, but after I watched videos comparing the Indie (a 3-wheeled jogger style) to the Indie 4 (same as Indie but with 4 wheels), I opted for the Indie 4.  It was touted as all-terrain, and basically they said it is just as off-roady as the Indie but can navigate better in urban settings too (but can't be used as a jogger).  I don't foresee myself jogging with the stroller, and the 4th wheel provides better stability in winter weather anyway. Schwing!  Here are the two videos I watched on the product: 1) Review of Indie 4, and 2) A comparison of both Indie and Indie 4.

The one snafu - I was able to buy the Indie 4 plus bassinet ("liggdel") package on sale at Babyland.se, but I had to buy the footmuff (åkpase) separately on köpbarnvagn.se, and THEN I had to buy the rainshield (and a couple other crafty accessories) from Bumbleride's website.  And since they don't deliver to Sweden, they have to ship to my mom's place in California and she will forward to me (along with a lot of other stuff I have had sent to her, so it's not big deal in this instance) :)

2.  The Baby Carrier ("Bärsele") // What I chose in the end: The ErgoBaby 360 (total price paid including taxes/shipping: 1,344kr)

I wasn't even going to bother buying a baby carrier or baby wrap, to be honest.  It seemed like a modern convenience, and even borderline product overkill.  Plus they are expensive, and when I thought about it, would I feel safe carrying a baby strapped to me while walking on icy forest paths? What if I tripped and fell?!

All the girls in my Swedish baby group were buying carriers ("bärselar" or just "selar").  Most were opting for the minimalist shawl format, but those things make me look fat and hideous and I would never use them.  But it wasn't until that stroller post I made in the "English-Speaking Mums in Sweden" group that I begin to get countless recommendations to buy a carrier, that it is a must-have convenience (some women didn't even use their stroller for months and months in favor of the handsfree convenience of a baby carrier).

I went to my go-to (Jollyroom.se) and it just so happened that they had a sale on both BabyBjörn and ErgoBaby carriers!! I read all the specs.  I watched all the product use videos.  I read I read I read.  I was originally torn between the BabyBjörn Original Classic or the ErgoBaby Original (I was sticking with "original" models because they were both name brands but I was trying to save a dime and be practical).  My Swedish baby group just so happened to have an EXCELLENT thread going about which models were best, and I noticed a couple common denominators: 1) A lot of women did not like how the BabyBjörn felt, it gave them back pain and the shoulder straps cut into them.  2) Almost all women were agreed that the ErgoBaby 360 was the way to go - they have bought it already and/or used it with previous children.  3) Women who didn't like baby carriers at all and wanted something less rugged and more gentle were going with shawls. 4) Not one woman said they were going to buy the ErgoBaby Original.

It was then that I saw this goldmine: 2016 Baby Carrier Product Review.  Not only was ErgoBaby 360 ranked the #1 model best in test, but its features far surpassed those of the original model - or any other model on the market, for that matter.  And better yet, you are able to breastfeed with the baby in the carrier and there is a built-in privacy shield so you could conceivably be hiking through the woods or traipsing through the grocery store and no one would know what was going on in there :)

The ErgoBaby 360 was also on sale on Jollyroom, but there was something sneaky - you could buy the Startpaketet (which is the 360 carrier plus the newborn insert needed if you want to use this right away for young infants) for 1395kr, or you could buy the two products separately. I priced it out, and it was slightly cheaper to buy the two parts in the start paketet separately.  Just a tip!

I also bought the Baby K'Tan Organic (total price paid including taxes/shipping: 309kr - on sale from original 610kr)

I planned on being ok with "just" my ErgoBaby, but I intend to use my ErgoBaby for all my outdoors activities - in the rain / snow / sun, out in the woods, sweating on it and such.  Of course it's washable, but the more I learned about attachment parenting and the "fourth trimester", the more I liked the idea of having a soft carrier to wear baby around the house in for the first couple months - especially one in which I could have skin on skin contact with baby.  So, after doing some research, I decided I liked the Baby K'tan and waited for it to go on sale on Jollyroom, of course!

3.  The Breast Pump // What I chose in the end: Spectra S2 (total price paid for the pump plus shipping/taxes: 1362.82kr)

This has been something that has plagued me with worry since the very beginning.  I want so badly to breastfeed my baby - both for health reasons, bonding reasons, and also economic reasons!!

Thing is, I have a large tumor in my left breast.  No big deal, it is benign and deep in enough that I have been told it shouldn't affect breastfeeding (and even if I did, my right breast was perfectly fine!) but still.  What if I don't produce enough? What if baby doesn't latch?

There were so many things to consider and honestly, I was advised to just wait until baby was born before seeing what the circumstances were and going from there.  But I'm too much of an obsessive planner.  I wanted to at LEAST have a product and action plan picked out if I was going to wait.

I thought I had done sufficient research.  Even though I will be a stay at home mom, I decided that having a breast pump was important for these reasons:

1. If you don't produce enough milk in the beginning, using a pump frequently throughout the day will create a demand on milk production which will increase your volume.
2. If you produce TOO much milk, pumping even when baby isn't hungry is a great way to alleviate engorgement
3. If baby doesn't latch to human nipples properly, then I can still pump and bottle feed her my production.
4. If baby DOES latch to human nipples, I may still want to leave her with my in-laws or let Johan feed her; in which case, pumping will allow me to make bottles for her so others can feed her.
5. If I decide I want a night off so I can have some wine, or if I get sick and end up needing to take antibiotics, or god FORBID something happens to me and I end up in a hospital, it is always a good idea to have breast milk stored in the freezer for use when my own is no good.  Also, if I've had a drink or I'm on medication, pumping and throwing away the unusable stuff will ensure that I continue to place demand on the glands so that my boobies don't dry up too soon!

I thought the decision was just between manual hand pumps (super cheap, lightweight, portable and durable but slow and requiring a lot of effort) or the fancy electronic ones (heavier, much more expensive, but super quick and convenient and less of a pain in the ass to use).  Because I wasn't sure how much I would use it.... should I buy the super expensive one and hope I make use of it? Should I just buy a manual and pray it doesn't drive me mad?  That was my main problem.  

I basically decided it was worth it to get the electronic one.  I felt comfortable with the Avent brand, but I thought I had done proper research and elected to go with the Medela Double Swing Maxi.  It was a reputable product - not as highly recommended as the even more expensive Medela Pump In Style, but right within a comfortable feature-to-price ratio for me.

But then I read this article.  Not only was it a one-stop-shop for quick/clean/easy information on all things breast pump, but I had NO IDEA about open vs. closed systems and their health risks.  I decided after reading through the whole article and doing further research, that Spectra was the one for me!

I could only find the Spectra S2 for sale and shipping to Sweden (not the S1), but the only feature difference is that the S2 is plug-into-an-outlet-only whereas the S1 has a 3hour rechargeable battery. Spectras have made almost every single Best in Test list I have seen.  I read the following product reviews and I was pretty much sold:

1. ProductReview.com.au
2. Babygearlab.com
3. Amazon.com
4. The Bub Hub
5. Baby List: Best Breast Pumps of 2016
6. The Pumping Mommy
7. Best Cloth Diapers: Top Rated Breast Pumps for 2016
8. Hellobee Spectra2 Review

The best part of all of this was that it just so happened to be on sale on Amazon.co.uk by a retailer called Ana Wiz Ltd (great retailer reviews on Amazon) for only 109GBP (it normally MSRP'd for 200GBP, so like a 50% off sale!!).  The link to the product is here, although since there are only 2 products left for sale, I bet this link will go dead pretty soon.  Alongside it, I purchased the extra set of 5 Spectra bottles, the pack of 30 Spectra freezer bags (to start with, at least), PureLAN nipple cream, and some maternity bras.  Total cost for all items plus shipping and tax was 156.26GBP ($224.37, or 1,869.49kr) which I thought was a steal.  I got a 2-pack of nursing bras alone for only 14GBP (very well-rated on Amazon).  Nursing bras here in Sweden seem to run at around 300-800SEK each.

Free Movies on YouTube About Fetal Development!
I couldn't stop watching these :)

Must-see TV programs!

1. One Born Every Minute:  There are 10 seasons of this, but I could only access the first 5 streaming on YouTube.  I was/am OBSESSED! Here is the link to Season 1 Episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzvyNoa1p_U
2. The Midwives:  Just like One Born but also a little different.  I am also obsessed! Here is the link to Season 1 Episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPtn5-An-rs

Feature-length films:

1. Welcome to the World:  http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/welcome-world/
2. Labor of Love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_kPvtahaSA
3. Life Before Birth / In the Womb:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gAsdEUNUJY
4. The Business of Being Born: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr6F7aljxxI
5. More Business of Being Born: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXfIVs3fsTY
6. National Geographic - In the womb (multiples): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoMQrVBxa_w&oref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2F&has_verified=1
7. Inside the womb (pregnant with twins, triplets and quads): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jp_GbZtmXo
8. Discovery Channel: Guide to Pregnancy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgh7--1MVbo
9. Inside the living body (more about birth to death): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBIYwiktPsQ
10. Body Atlas #1: In the Womb - Breath of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyBFhjOu5p4
11. Greatest Miracle (PBS) - I'll warn you, this is old school! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA0xZ3K_0q8

Short films:

1. The Miracle of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZk4hT7ncv0&app=desktop

Child-birthing Classes

1. Part 1: Pre-natal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7YucfJuziU 
2. Part 2: Labor & Birth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVOP-ob4ZXA
3. Part 3: Postnatal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MidVzEeTmc0

Miscellaneous:

1. If you're as obsessed as I continue to find myself, jump onto YouTube and search for Birth Stories or L&D Vlog / Labor and Delivery Vlog.  You can watch real-time videos (or listen to first hand accounts) of women's experiences with childbirth.  Truly fascinating! You can also search for key words like "peaceful birth story" or "positive birth story" or "natural labor & delivery vlog" or water birth story, etc.  Anything you're interested in.  YouTube is full of them!

That's it for now, but here are some fun pregnancy pictures because I have nowhere else better to store them!