If you trawl expat forums, you are likely to come across some heavy criticism of the Dutch maternity system. And yes, I agree, having a baby in the Netherlands may not be the same as having a baby back in your home country but there are worse things you can do. Here’s what I’ve learnt through two pregnancies and births in the Netherlands.
Who Ya Gonna Call?First things first. When you know you are pregnant, make an appointment with a midwife (verloskundige). Finding a midwife is easy, but the best way is to talk to people you know. Your midwife is a main player in your pregnancy and labour (and in most cases your delivery too). The second thing you need to do (preferably before 12 weeks) is to register with a kraamzorg service provider; this is your postnatal maternity nurse who will look after you and your baby during the first week after the birth. Kraamzorg, as far as I am concerned, is like a fairy godmother for expats.
Planning the BirthAt your first appointment your midwife will go through your medical history, as well as your partner’s and your extended family to assess any medical risks. If there are any medical indications you will be told you must give birth in a hospital. If there is no medical reason for a hospital birth you have a choice.
The Dutch are keen advocates of home births (thuisbevalling) and the key word when it comes to childbirth here is natural. It is the reason why a third of babies are born at home in the Netherlands, compared to fewer than two percent in the UK and US.
So if you want a natural birth, you have the option to deliver at home - if you want pain relief a home birth is automatically ruled out.
You are however free to choose a hospital birth even if there is no medical indication (poliklinische bevalling) but check which costs your health insurer will cover as they normally only offer complete coverage if there is a medical reason for giving birth in hospital. You are also free to ask for pain relief - research hospital options and plan in advance to ensure that your wishes can be met.
A birthing plan (geboorteplan) is a good idea, so that it is clear to your midwife and hospital staff what your wishes are and how you picture the birth.
Remember that you have lots of time to make up your mind and that plans can change. I had a home birth planned the first time around but there was meconium in the amniotic fluid so it was straight off to the hospital. Don’t fixate on planning the perfect delivery.
Your Baby on the Little ScreenYour first echo is around eight weeks to check all is well and establishes the due date (uitgerekende datum). You will have a second scan around twelve weeks and a third around twenty weeks (at which you may also ask about gender if you wish). In the last stage of pregnancy, as you are nearing the finish line, it’s nice to go for a 3D scan – it’s been a while since you have seen your baby but you’ll need to dip into your own wallet for this one.
Pre-Natal ChecksMeanwhile, your midwife will see you on a monthly basis to check your blood pressure, the growth and heartbeat of your baby and its position. You will also need to go for blood tests at various intervals. As your belly grows so does the frequency of midwife appointments.
Pregnancy CourseThink about attending a pregnancy class - there are many options out there from dealing with breathing techniques to pregnancy yoga or fitness and swimming. In larger Dutch cities there are often maternity courses especially for expats. If your Dutch is reasonable you also have the choice to attend Samen Bevallen, which stands out because both you and your partner attend every session.
Guests in the Delivery RoomOne day, usually around your due date give or take a week or two, you’ll suddenly have a strange feeling in your stomach. You’ve either eaten something bad, or your baby is telling you to get geared up for his or her arrival. At this point, if your mum, sister or best friend can’t be there you’ll wish you’d thought about a doula. And I can highly recommend going down that route. My first delivery was sans doula but I didn’t make that mistake for my second experience of childbirth. And it made all the difference.
KraamzorgIn the week after the birth your hormones are a little crazy and you suddenly have a little person to look after that cries a lot and feeds every two hours or so. It’s a big change at a time when you feel like you have been catapulted in to a wall a hundred times or so (trust me, wait until the drugs wear off). In walks kraamzorg. The best Dutch thing EVER.
The first time around I thought the last thing I needed after giving birth was a stranger in my home. I opted for a few hours of kraamzorg help a day. The second time around I grabbed my maximum amount of hours and begged for more. When some of your nearest and dearest are many miles away in another country, you quickly realise you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. I was extremely lucky both times and had amazing help – if you don’t feel the same way then call your provider and get a replacement as it can make or break the first week at home with your newborn.
Expect to cry when your kraamzorg leaves. You’ll think you won’t cope, your kraamzorg tells you you will. You’ll try to bribe her to stay, she’ll say no and the next day you’re on your own. And you’ll be fine.
Useful Links:
- Parenting in Holland
- Maternity Matters – What to Expect in Holland
- Kraamzorg – Postnatal Care in the Netherlands
- Access Childbirth and Baby Courses in The Hague and Amsterdam
- Delft MaMa – For expats in Delft and surrounding areas
The opinions and content within this post are solely those of the guest poster and in no way reflect the views of the Clogs and Tulips blog or its blogger.
19 comments:
Very nice article!
I wish I had read this post before getting pregnant. For example, I went to the huisarts when I knew I was pregnant. :) Then the huisarts told me I should go to the midwife. I learnt. :)
To complement the article with more information, the 3 ultrassounds (8, 12 and 20 weeks) are not always done. I think it depends on your midwife. I did an ultrassound around 9 weeks (to confirm the pregnancy and determine the due date) and another one with 20 weeks. Just this 2 ultrassounds. And I don't intend to do the 3D. When I will be almost there, I will prefer to wait a little bit more and see straight away my baby. But it's an option and lots of parents choose to go for it.
And, one more information, something that I discovered through a friend here and I think is really nice. Besides giving birth at home or at the hospital, there is a 3rd option here in The Netherlands that is something between both worlds. There are places here called "geboortecentrum". They are birth houses that works 24x7, with nice rooms for the delivery. They are usually located very close to the hospital (neighbour or sometimes inside the hospital). So, its an option to delivery in a comfort place like "home" but having the facility of being very close to the hospital in case any medical support is required.
So, that's it for while. :)
Thank you for publishing an article with so valuable information.
Carla (Daniel Duclos's wife from Ducs Amsterdam)
Hi Carla! Great to have the other half of Ducs Amsterdam on the blog! Thanks so much for your comment and the extra information. It's all extremely helpful and does make life easier for the next person :) Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy! Perhaps you can add some thoughts in another post once the baby comes :)
Great post! As a Dutch male living in the US without childeren (yet) I feel reluctant on posting..but, and this is towards those expats that you mention, it baffles me when people look strange at delivering at home. Isn't it weird that something that is such a natural thing is almost being forced to happen in the hospital? A delivery is not surgery. In my opinion a home delivery is the thing to strive for, hospitals are for the sick.
I feel very lucky to have had two births in hospitals in my home town Amsterdam and there for was experienced the third time around when I delivered in a UK hospital! Guess they thought I was crazy preferring the natural way with only a Tens and a hot shower/bath as pain relief! They wanted to send me home 2 hours before my son was born because they thought it could take a while (I was sure it would not!).I agree you can say a lot about the Netherlands, but as Amanda's describes, the care of midwifes and also the Kraamzorg afterwards are golden! It's so great to be coached by a doula or midwife in your worst hour of need!
But having had a healthy son I always have a funny story to share when I tell people he was born on the maternity ward instead of in the delivery suit!
Hi Nynke! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. So interesting to hear the perspective of a Dutch woman having given birth in both her home and a foreign country. My mom keeps telling me that I'll want to come home to have/raise a baby there. I keep telling her that she's nuts if she thinks I'm not going to take advantage of the midwife/kraamzorg opportunity here in the Netherlands. So happy to hear that you had such positive experiences and wonderful outcomes!!
Hi Gerrit! I'm so glad you did decide to post in the end! It's always great to hear feedback on posts and other people's thoughts. I agree that in many other countries there is a strange attitude toward birth. Speaking as an American, I think the attitude in the US stems mostly from the fear of lawsuits. Statistics show that fewer infant deaths are attributed to hospital births, so they do those automatically as a precaution against lawsuits. And it seems like American hospitals turn more frequently to c-sections. I think THAT's abnormal! Thanks for your poignant comment!
Hi Tiffany,
Thank you! :) It will be a pleasure to share some thoughts once the baby comes. :)
Nynke told about the hospital wanting to send her home because they though it was not on time for the delivery. In the geboortecentrum, there is no rule about time to be there. If you want you can go when the process starts and stay as long as your kramzorg is available.
And Tiffany, you told about the American hospitals turning more frequent to the c-sections. In Brazil, we have a very sad scenario in the private health system. There, the c-section is an option, a woman can choose to have a c-section instead of a natural birth. And I am not glad to say that, but 85% of the births are from a c-section in the private health system in Brazil. Not only the women choose that, but the doctors turn to that for any stupid reason. It is more convenient and more profitable for them.
I am happy to be here and be able to go for a natural birth.
Great comments - thanks everyone.
The home birth culture in the Netherlands is under fire - the last report I read stated that midwives haven't been referring enough through to hospitals so there are unnecessary risks taken with some home births so rules are definitely more stringent now. Saw that dramatically during my second pregnancy.
I do love the way the Dutch see it as a natural process - as Gerrit says- and anything that avoids it being a medical procedure is good, so long as the safety of the mother and baby is not jeopardised of course.
Carladuc - are you planning on using a geboortecentrum? I read a lot about them but have no actual experience - am curious how that is.
And yes, why anyone would choose a c-section I just don't know. The idea of so much pain after the birth isn't something I would invite in....
Hi Amanda,
Yes, I am planning on using a geboortecentrum. I can share my experience after going through that. :)
It looks a very interesting option and I am going for that. :)
Hi Amanda,
I just read your blog on 'bevalling' and smiled a bit. I'm 100% Dutch and it's very nice to read our habits in Holland. I think you forgot one thing! In Holland we sent everyone birth announcements when a baby is born. A lovely card, printed, with or without beautiful pictures of the newborn baby. Nowadays, al lot of expats do so as well. Curious? Please take a look at my website www.mamamila.nl (in Dutch, sorry for that)
Amanda - Thanks again so much for doing this guest post. I know it's been tremendously helpful for me and, based on the discussion it's generated, it's been tremendously helpful for others as well.
Carla - I am also curious about the gebortecentrum! Sounds like a fabulous option! I'd love to read your take on that. If you're interested in doing aguest post, that would be a phenomenal follow-up to this one!
Jolette - Thanks for stopping by! Always great to have 100% Dutch on the blog to share their knowledge and opinion and just to get other perspective. I love the gebortekaart idea! I just got one earier this month from a friend. What a great way to share the good news!
Hello, Tiffany! Just found your blog through your comment on Jon Morrow's guest posting post. I knew I had to visit you 'cause I'm the daughter of a dutch immigrant who loves her heritage. Someday I want to visit Holland and I think following your blog will help me prepare (and get over my fears of visiting a foreign country!) I think that your blog has a wider potential audience than you think - 'cause I'm no expat, but I'll be coming back often...
Trina (Trintje! my dutch name!)
Hi Trintje :) Thanks for stopping by! I typically hear from expats in the Netherlands or Dutch expats elsewhere, so what a treat to hear from someone with straight off the tree Dutch roots! You most certainly must visit Holland - it's a great country and will really solidify your Dutch pride :) I hope you find the blog helpful and please don't hesitate to suggest topics or ask questions. We also have a pretty active Facebook community, so feel free to stop by there too (facebook.com/clogsandtulips)!
Hi Tiffany,
Sorry for the very late reply, but the last weeks from pregnancy have being very very busy.
About your invite for a guest post regarding the geboortecentrum, yes, it will be a pleasure to write about it.
Thank you!
@Carla - fantastic! I'm planning on running quite a few pregnancy/baby posts over the next few months as I am now expecting myself, so a guest post on geboortecentrums would be perfect! Just send the post to me at clogsandtulipsblog@gmail.com :) Thanks!
I'm planning to move to Arnhem soon to be with my love. We've been doing the long distance thing for over 2 years now and I'm ready to move! I'll be visiting this fall, but I'm currently working on getting my doula certification. I love and admire the way Dutch women give birth compared to Americans. I highly suggest watching "The Business of Being Born" by Ricki Lake, "Orgasmic Birth" by Debra Pascali Bonaro, and "Birth Into Being" by Elena Tonetti.
These documentaries changed my views on childbirth and put me on the path to becoming a doula! I can't wait to learn more about the Dutch system first-hand, and I aspire to be a resource for expats who give birth in the NL and need support.
Cass
Very informative and helpful. I find so much information on "birthing the Dutch way" reads scary and off-putting, but this is a very accurate account of what was for me a wonderful pregnancy/birthing experience. I had the same issue with my home birth and having to go to the hospital, but I'm now 16 weeks into my second pregnancy and am hoping again for a home birth.
Very helpful and sound piece on childbirth in the Netherlands. So much of what I read online about "the Dutch way" sounded scary and frankly careless, whereas my personal experience was absolutely wonderful. We forget as expats that our way isn't the best way, and as soon as I put away my pre-conceived, no pun intended, notions of how prenatal care was supposed to work or how labor was supposed to be managed, I felt completely safe and comfortable. With my son I ended up going to hospital at the last minute for the same reason you did, but I'm not in my second trimester of my second pregnancy and am hoping again for a home birth. Thanks for the informative post.
Be grateful for what you have in Holland - I am in American in Budapest - in the US the insurance companies have nearly killed midwifery as an option and no one I know (I have 7 aunts and dozens of friends who have given birth in the US) - none of them have had a midwife.
Further, in Hungary, they put midwives in jail for practicing because the medical establishment wants the money for themselves.
There are 3, yes, 3 midwives currently practicing in the whole country. Check out the story of Agnes Gereb.
Holland is utopia compared to these environments.
The reason I am on this page at all is because I am considering come to Holland to have a baby if at possible. I spent my early years there as an expat toddler and my mother absolutely loved it :0)
decadefour@gmail.com
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