What you need to know if you are pregnant and giving birth in the Netherlands
What to expect from maternity care after delivery
In the Netherlands, after the birth of your baby, you get support from the maternity help. The maternity help takes care of the mother and monitors the baby's health.
Especially for parents with their 1st child, the maternity nurse offers practical advice. This includes not only medical matters, but also daily actions such as changing, washing and feeding the baby.
In addition to caring for the baby, the maternity nurse also helps with household chores, such as cleaning. The maternity nurse also helps watch your other children.
The 1st interview with the maternity support organisation takes place around the 7th month of pregnancy. During this interview you will discuss how many hours of support you want and what your expectations are.
After giving birth, the maternity nurse determines exactly how much help you need. If necessary, they will adjust the number of hours of help. You may be able to get more maternity help if there were problems during childbirth.
When you get maternity care depends on childbirth. With a home birth, the maternity nurse is present immediately after the birth to help the midwife. If you give birth in the hospital, the maternity care begins as soon as you are home.
It is important that you feel comfortable with the maternity help you receive. If you do not understand each other well or if you prefer to get help from someone else, discuss this with the organisation your maternity nurse works for.