Maternity grant – protection for mothers and children

The poor health and high mortality rates of mothers and newborns in Finland were a cause for concern in the first decades of the 20th century. It was hoped that they could be improved by means of legislation. The Maternity Grants Act was enacted in 1937. The distribution of grants to families of limited means started in the following year.

The war years 1939–1945 and the post-war shortages accelerated the distribution of the grant in the form of goods, and the maternity package contained several paper products. Since 1949, all women who have undergone a medical examination during their early pregnancy have been entitled to the maternity grant. Getting mothers and newborns into health care and maternity and child health clinics started a rapid decline in infant mortality rates in the 1950s.

The social situation and fashion trends of the time have been reflected in the maternity package. In 1993–1994, the contents were characterised by bold colours, soft cotton fabrics and reusable nappies. Attempts were also made to take paternity and the sharing of parenting duties into account in the contents.

The name of the maternity grant, which leaves out the father, has occasionally given rise to discussion, but no changes have yet been seen by the early 2020s. The annually changing designs and colour choices of the maternity package are also a topic of discussion. However, its popularity is guaranteed: approximately 70% of those entitled to the maternity grant take it in the form of the package.

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