Pregnancy

In the Netherlands, pregnancy is considered a natural event. Home deliveries are common. Of course you can also choose to deliver in a hospital, but without a medical need this may lead to additional costs. Check with your healthcare insurer which conditions apply.

If you are pregnant, the first thing to do is to consult your GP or midwife. Your GP is there to provide general medical advice and your midwife will start with the regular prenatal check-ups. You are free to choose your own midwife, who will meet with you regularly throughout your pregnancy and monitor your health and the wellbeing of your baby.

Ask your GP for midwives in your area or look here on where to find one.

The midwife

The midwife (‘verloskundige’) will assist you during childbirth, in the hospital or at home. A gynaecologist or an obstetrician usually gets involved only if there are complications with the pregnancy, in case of multiple births, or if the mother is older than 35. You can be referred to a gynaecologist or an obstetrician by your GP.