I like how author shows us little details of routine, for example, the drums on boat, so people can row at the same time and the same speed, otherwise boat won’t go straight.
As I know, when a child was born, the child had to be accepted into the family by important rituals which must be performed by mother and father in viking culture. If I’m not mistaken, fathers part included giving the name, it seems because of that Helga was concerned, because an infant that was not accepted for one reason or another can be put to death by “exposure”.