We are happy to walk you through the different options for giving birth in the Netherlands. There are many ways and places to give birth. You can choose to give birth at home, in a hospital, or in a birth center. In this text, we will discuss the different options so that you can make a well-informed decision.
Home birth in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of the few countries where you can choose to give birth at home. About 13% of Dutch women give birth at home. Home birth in the Netherlands is just as safe as giving birth in a hospital or birth center. Women who give birth at home often experience labor more positively, and they are less likely to need pain relief or labor-inducing medication. Medical interventions are less common, and the risk of infection is lowest at home.
The midwife brings all the necessary equipment for a home birth, such as a birthing stool, suturing supplies, medication, and more. Sometimes there is a reason to go to the hospital—for example, if you decide you would like pain relief after all, or if your baby has passed meconium in the amniotic fluid. In that case, you will need to go to the hospital for additional monitoring. Having to move during labor while experiencing contractions can be unpleasant, which can be considered a disadvantage of a home birth.
Birth center
Another option in the Netherlands is to give birth in a birth center, also called a “relocated home birth.” The rooms in a birth center have a homely atmosphere and are peaceful. Medical care is close by, so it is quickly available in case of an emergency. Most birth centers are located in or near a hospital, but they operate independently. A birth center is usually run by a team of maternity nurses, and you give birth under the guidance and responsibility of your own midwife. There is no medical staff permanently present in a birth center. There are various places in the Netherlands where you can give birth in a birth center.
In a birth center, you can often give birth in water or use nitrous oxide. If you wish to do so, it is best to inform your midwife in advance so it can be properly arranged. If, during labor, there is a reason to go to the hospital, you will need to be transferred. If there is availability in the hospital where the birth center is located, care can be transferred immediately. Sometimes that hospital is full, and you will have to be transferred to another hospital. Just as with a home birth, moving during contractions can be uncomfortable.
Hospital birth
Als je in het ziekenhuis wilt bevallen in Nederland, dan noemen we dat ‘poliklinisch’. Wanneer je weeën beginnen komt de verloskundige eerst bij jou thuis langs. Als je voldoende ontsluiting hebt zullen jullie beiden naar het ziekenhuis rijden met de auto. Welk ziekenhuis je zult bevallen is afhankelijk van de drukte op dat moment. Soms kan je niet terecht bij het ziekenhuis van voorkeur omdat het daar vol is. De verloskundige zal dan een ander ziekenhuis moeten bellen.
If you want to give birth in a hospital in the Netherlands without a medical indication, this is called an “outpatient” birth. When your contractions begin, the midwife will first come to your home. If you are sufficiently dilated, you will travel to the hospital by car. Which hospital you go to depends on availability at the time—sometimes your preferred hospital is full, and your midwife will need to call another hospital.
If you choose to give birth in the hospital, you will remain there for the entire labor. If, for any reason during labor, you become a medical patient, you will stay in the hospital until your baby and placenta are delivered. On the maternity ward, medical staff are present but generally do not enter your room unless needed. The birthing room has a bed, shower, and toilet. All necessary birthing supplies are in the room, and various items for relaxation are available. In the hospital, it is not always possible to give birth in water or use nitrous oxide. If this is something you would like, it is best to discuss it with your midwife in advance so you can explore the options together.
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