Arrange maternity care – Midwives Lelystad

Everything about maternity care: essential support during your pregnancy and beyond

Maternity care is a unique and crucial service that the Netherlands offers to expectant mothers and their newborns. In the Netherlands, the approach to pregnancy care is unique, with midwives playing a central role, unless there are medical complications. Maternity care plays an essential role during and after your birth and here we explain why.

What is maternity care?

Maternity care is a specialized form of care offered in the Netherlands to new mothers and their babies. This care starts during delivery and continues in the following days at home. A maternity nurse, specially trained to support both mother and baby, assists with the birth and then provides support at home for approximately eight days.

The role of maternity care

• Support during childbirth: The maternity nurse assists the midwife and ensures that everything runs smoothly and safely.
• Care after childbirth: After the birth, the maternity nurse will help care for you and your baby, which is especially important if you are less mobile.
• Nutritional advice: Whether you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding, the maternity nurse offers support and advice.
• Domestic help: The maternity nurse also helps with light household tasks, so that you can concentrate on your recovery and your baby.

Arranging maternity care

Timely registration for maternity care

It is important to register for maternity care early in your pregnancy, ideally around the 12th week. This ensures that you receive the necessary support on time.

Initial interview

You will usually have your first meeting with someone from maternity care between the 25th and 28th week of your pregnancy. During this conversation your wishes and needs will be discussed.

Home visit by the maternity nurse

Around the 34th week of your pregnancy, someone from maternity care often visits your home. This visit is to check that your home environment is safe for a home birth and whether you have all the necessary items at home.

Bed raisers: a necessity

Before and after your delivery, your bed must have a minimum height so that the caregivers can work ergonomically. Bed raisers or blocks are essential for this and can often be borrowed for free. You can order these via specialized websites such as www.medipoint.nl. It is important to have your bed at the right height from 37 weeks of pregnancy, even if you plan to give birth in the hospital.

The maternity package: a must-have

You also need a maternity package, which contains all the necessities for the birth and the first days afterwards. Request this package through your health insurance or buy it online. Make sure you have the maternity package ready in your bedroom.

Conclusion

Maternity care is a valuable and unique service that ensures that you and your baby get the best possible start. By arranging maternity care in a timely manner, you ensure yourself of expert support during one of the most important moments in your life. At Midwives Lelystad we are there to support you every step of the way, from pregnancy to postpartum. If you have any questions about maternity care or other aspects of your pregnancy, please feel free to contact us.