Pregnancy
As soon as you know that you are pregnant, you should make an appointment with the midwife or obstetrician. He or she will inform your GP.
In the Netherlands , maternity care is structured around a tiered system distiguishing between verloskundigen midwives and gynaecologen gynecologists.
Your midwife or obstetrician will monitor the course of your pregnancy at regular intervals. Usually, you will be invited for a check-up every four weeks during the first half of the pregnancy. The frequency then increases to weekly appointments as the due date approaches. However, this is only a general indication: more or fewer appointments may be scheduled depending on your personal situation.
If complications or risks arise the midwife refers to a gynecologist, a medical specialist working in hospitals who performs interventions like ceasareans or vacuum extractions. Which doesn't mean you should worry if you are referred to the gyneacologist. This can also be precautionary or for extra advice after which you return to the midwife.
You can find more information on rivm.nl the website of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
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It is very important for your baby to have the heel prick test. During the first week of life, some blood will be taken from your baby’s heel and sent to the laboratory. It is then tested for a number of rare, serious diseases. Your baby’s hearing will be tested shortly after birth, usually at home between four and seven days after birth.
If you are at home in the first few days after birth, the midwife and maternity nurse will provide the necessary care. After that, your local child healthcare centre will assume responsibility for providing all necessary care for your baby. No action is required on your part: someone from the centre will contact you for an introductory visit.
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In the Netherlands, low-risk woman can choose between two main birth settings:
Home birth: Around 30% of Dutch women opt to give birth at home with their own midwife. Using insurer-provided equipment.
If for some reason the midwife thinks, when labour starts, that it is better for the pregnant woman to give birth at a hospital anyway. It is possible to make use of the open verloskamer (Open Delivery Room) at the hospital. No appointment is required in this case.
- Hospital birth (Secondary Care): For high-risk pregnancies or complications, an obstetrician oversees the delivery in hospital. This is sometimes called Geboortecentrum (Birth Centre), with full medical support and costs covered by basic insurance.
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Regardless of birth location, families receive eight days of kraamzorg , in-home maternity care, to support the mother and newborn. In some cases, this is up to 10 days after delivery. In certain specific situations it can be longer. The midwife decides in consultation with the maternity assistant whether you need maternity care for longer than 10 days.
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