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Having a baby in the Netherlands The Netherlands has a good record in prenatal care and safe childbirth. A quarter of babies are born at home. Your insurance company will supply you with a special package for giving birth at home. A midwife, an independent medical practitioner, will generally be your sole care provider during your pregnancy and delivery. Also, there are more and more doulas available these days, an experienced woman who can give continuity of care, complementary to the midwife or obstetrician. They are (not yet) covered by insurance though. Should you prefer to give birth in a hospital, just let your midwife know. However, you should also check that your insurer will cover a poliklinische hospital birth. Some hospitals have birth centres, where the environment is made more ‘homely’. If you do deliver your baby in a hospital you can often be back at home the same day for postnatal care. Regular check-ups take place with the midwife. Prenatal testing and genetic screening are not routine for women under 36 unless there is some medical history that puts her or the baby into a higher risk category. But if you need further tests, your midwife will refer you. There are many types of birth preparation classes, some of which are offered through a local homecare (thuiszorg) organisation.
One of the best things about taking a class is meeting other parents-to-be and sharing experiences, information and concerns. Finding a midwife The majority of Dutch women are usually cared for by a midwife (verloskundige or vroedvrouw) during pregnancy and childbirth. Gynaecologists/obstetricians are generally only part of the care process for women who have (or expect to have) complications. You can choose to have your baby at home (thuisbevalling) or at a hospital with a midwife (poliklinische bevalling). When locating a midwife, word of mouth is best but your huisarts might be able to make a recommendation. You can also visit the website of the Royal Dutch Association of Midwives (www.knov.nl). It is important to let your midwife know your feelings about pain relief. While some women complain that the Dutch childbirth system is becoming too medicalised, and others that it is not medicalised enough, everyone loves the postnatal care (kraamzorg). Once your baby has arrived, you will be given assistance at home by a maternity nurse (kraamverzorgster). She will monitor you and your baby’s health, teach some general childcare and set up a daily routine. Best of all, it may include household help. The amount of kraamzorg varies (from a few hours a day for eight days to full-time care) and a representative will come round to discuss what is appropriate. The insurance generally covers the costs. (Updated with the help of pregnancy yoga teacher Joyce Pula.)
There is a wide choice of prenatal classes for you and your partner. Advice centre ACCESS runs a number of popular ones, from the general workshop ‘Having a Baby in the Netherlands’ to childbirth preparation and breastfeeding classes. Pregnancy yoga is extremely popular, offering a variety of approaches, from gentle breathing and relaxation exercises to more energetic stretching.
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