But, when Reuben was born, I realized that maybe the taxes we pay are not so very bad afterall. Or, at least, in some ways, we get something back from the taxes, when it comes to the medical field.
Maggi is now on maternity leave, and she will receive full wages, the same she was earning at her teaching job, for eight full months. That amounts to quite a bit of money by the time all is said and done.
In addition, we walked out of the hospital in Hønefoss with not one single bill left to be paid. In fact, except for an unnecessary payment for using the silly internet terminal by the hospital bed, and the food I ate, we don´t have to pay a single thing for the birth and the five days we spent in the hospital! I was even able to spend the night every night except one, and that didn´t cost a thing!
So, money-wise, having a baby in Norway was the way to go, for sure.
But, much more than that, in my opinion, is the service we received in the hospital. All of the nurses, mid-wives and doctors were very kind and helpful. They came whenever we needed them, which was often, and they were so patient and helpful in telling us how to do what needed to be done and showing us the best way. Maggi struggled with the nursing in the beginning, and they were so gentle in showing her how to get it done, and helping her with the pumping and feeding.
Most of all, I believe that the way they took care of Reuben was top-rate and highly commendable.
My mom has told me that when I was born, I was immediately whisked off to another room for a couple of hours, and was then only returned for feeding. The old nurses in that hospital even took the liberty to smear mommy with alcohol wipes, so that nursing would be extra pleasant! Needless to say, I didn´t like nursing, I guess! The nurses would wait until I was done eating, or refusing to eat, and then haul me away to the "other, safer" room, where I would be changed and powdered and comforted. Dad was apparently an unwelcome bearer of germs, and wasn´t allowed much contact with me or mom. So, by the time we went home from the hospital, my mom had never changed a diaper in her life, and if not for the fact that my dad had learned how to change diapers somewhere along the way, I might still be wearing that first dirty diaper to this day!
In contrast to that, Reuben was essentially caught by the mid-wives on duty, had the worst of the blood patted off, and then put right onto his mommy, where he very soon stopped crying.
Daddy got to cut his umbilical cord, and after Mommy was sewn up, we were all left alone for a couple of hours, just together as a little family. We started getting to know each other at once, and I suppose that deep bonds have already formed between us that probably never formed between me and my parents.
When Reuben was finally taken away to be weighed and cleaned for the first time, it was after we were calmed down from the birth and had been well-informed on what was going to happen. I was allowed to follow him, and take pictures, and even got to help in changing his very first diaper!
When Mom and child were finally wheeled into the room where we would spend the night, a meal was waiting for the exhausted little mother who hadn´t eaten in like 36 hours, and we had a little special time together when Reuben folded his hands for his first prayer.
Over the next days, we received top service from all of the staff at Ringerike Hospital, and we are grateful to them all for doing what they could to make our first days as new parents, and Reuben´s first days as a new baby, the best possible. We dirtied several blankets, towels, and a couple dozen diapers, but that was all part of the service provided! His blood was tested, his bilirubin was checked for signs of jaundice, and he was given a thorough check-up by the doctor on the day of leaving, and through it all we were treated like royalty.
So, we might have lots to complain about in Norway, about the price of fuel, and the painfully high taxes, but we do get a lot back, and we thank God for that!
