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This paper alms to identify similarities and differences between the Finnish and UK systems of maternity care, issues relating to maternity care policy emerge as crucial. Topics for comparison were identified during visits to Finnish hospital and community settings. These topics formed the basis of a selective review of the literature. Qualitative research by the co-author served to Inform the comparison. The authors found that Finnish women are clear in their expectations of labour pain and the role of professional personnel. Because of these expectations the women adopt one of three coping styles. There is found to be a strong link between pain coping style and choice of place of birth. There may, however, be some dissonance between health care providers' and women's thinking about the place of birth. Midwives' positions are variable, but their thinking may not correspond with the woman's. It becomes clear that midwives' nonacceptance of women's knowledge base has serious implications. The conclusion is drawn that midwives should seek to understand women's thought processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]