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Guide
BASED ON FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Contents
This ACCESS Guide has been compiled with the generous assistance of Bureau Kraamzorg Extra Rijswijk
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Introduction
When you are an expat living away from home, having a baby can be an overwhelming experience, but it need not be a stressful one. It is important you carefully research all your options. You will need to make good decisions ahead of time to insure that you get the kind of birth that you will be comfortable with. You will find that the health care system in the Netherlands provides well-organized care. However, many practices here may differ from what is usually done in your home country. For instance, more than 60% of Dutch women get pregnant, have a baby and go home without seeing a gynaecologist once. Home births and using only a midwife to assist are also fairly common practices here - although the numbers are declining. In general, there is a natural, non-interventionist approach to medical and maternity care in the Netherlands. It is also known that doctors tend to provide less information to their patients about their conditions, and there is far less preventative screening than in many other western countries. ACCESS is proudly supported by several healthcare providers and trainers. Please refer to our website for the most current list outlining who they are and what they offer.
Prenatal Care Q. I am pregnant and will be giving birth in the Netherlands. What practical
preparations do I need to take? The Dutch philosophy is that childbirth is a natural, physical process, not a medical condition. Prenatal care is usually provided by midwives. The role of the doctor or gynaecologist in a normal pregnancy in the Netherlands is minor and in most cases they do not get involved at all, unless there are complications. Therefore, the first priority is to find a midwife. It is best to register with your midwife by week 8-10 or as soon as you arrive in the Netherlands You can look in The Yellow Pages under verloskundigepraktijk or talk to your family doctor (GP) - he will be able to point you in the right direction! A few other things that you can do are as follows:
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Make sure you know what your medical insurance covers for you; Register yourself with a kraamzorg agency (postnatal care), preferably before the 12th week of pregnancy. Your midwife can direct you to organisations they partner with and your health insurance provider must be contacted to ensure your chosen kraamzorg is approved by them; Decide where you want your baby delivered the Dutch are big believers in home births so make it clear if you want a hospital birth if that is what you prefer. The rate of epidural use in the Netherlands is low and there is sometimes an absence of anaesthetists available during out of normal hours so find out which hospitals can honour your request for pain relief. In addition to midwife visits, you can also attend a childbirth preparation class.
Q. Can you please tell me what services I can expect from a midwife?
Midwives in the Netherlands are the lead professionals providing care to women with 'normal' or uncomplicated pregnancies. They are independent practitioners, like GPs and work in single-handed, duo-, or group practices. In case of complications or an increased risk of complications during pregnancy, during labour or in the postpartum period, the midwife will refer her client to a gynaecologist who will take over responsibility. As an independent practitioner, a midwife can legally practice obstetrics without supervision of a medical doctor. She is the sole health care provider during pregnancy, labour, delivery and the initial postpartum period. In short, she will help you make sure that you and your baby are safe from pregnancy to delivery. Among other things, she will take you and your partners medical history, as well as that of your family; monitor your weight and blood pressure, the foetal growth, position and heart beat; check your blood iron levels; discuss with you plans about delivery, whether home birth or in a hospital; supervise you during labour, delivery and the initial postpartum period. You can phone the midwife yourself to make the appointment. You will find midwives listed in the yellow pages under verloskundigenpraktijk.
perfect translation but it gives you an idea of what the original text is about. English should not be a problem if you contact them by phone (Tel: +31 (0)30 282 31 00) or email (info@knov.nl) and they can refer you to one of their members who speaks English and has experience assisting a member of the international community like you.
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caesareans are relatively rare and epidural use is low. Normally, pain medication is infrequently offered during birth and you should bring it to your midwifes attention if it is part of your birth plan. Most Dutch midwives and doctors prefer not to interfere with the natural process of labour and delivery. If you insist on receiving some pain medication, please discuss this with your hospital, as there may be an absence of anaesthetists available during out of normal hours; so if necessary, do your homework to find out which hospitals can honour your request for pain relief. Pain relief is ruled out at a home birth as midwives are not qualified to administer anaesthetics and restricted to using over-the-counter drugs.
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It is important to note that the kraamverzorgende is trained to guide and assist, not dominate or interfere. You may balk at the idea of someone coming into your home but these are women prepared for cultural differences and a household with its own rules and customs. They adapt to your way of doing things, not the other way around. You dont want to breastfeed? That's fine. The support is there if you want it. The choice is entirely yours.
going postnatal support service. The national website for doulas (http://www.doula.nl/english.htm) has a directory as well as an overview in English. Please note that the cost of a doula is not covered by insurance companies.
Birth Registration Q. I am going to have a child. What should I do to register her/his birth?
Every child born in the Netherlands must be registered at the municipal population affairs office of the town where the baby was born, within three days of its birth. If you are unable to do so because of a weekend or public holiday, you must register the birth on the first available working day. This service is provided free of charge The Registrar of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Registered Partnerships will draw up a birth certificate. This is the legal proof of the child's birth. The father should do the registration. If he is not able to register his child or if the father is not known, somebody else who was present at the birth is allowed to do it (e.g. family member, doctor, midwife etc.). If none of these authorised persons are able or authorised to register the birth, the birth will be registered by a civil servant. The mayor appoints the civil servant to do this task. You will also need to bring the following: A valid identity document for the person registering the birth A valid identity document for the mother A statement by the doctor or midwife. This is to confirm the identity of the mother A marriage certificate of the mother (if relevant). Your child will be on this (not compulsory) A copy of the deed of acknowledgment is required, if the child has already been acknowledged before birth. In this case, a certificate about the choice of the last name may be needed also if the decision about the last name has been made.
Q. My partner and I are living together but we are not married and I am going to
have a baby. Will my partner be officially recognised as the father? If you and your partner are not married and the father wants to be regarded as the child's lawful father, he must acknowledge the child. This also applies if you have a registered partnership or a cohabitation agreement. Acknowledging the child may be important for the right of inheritance, nationality, determining parental access and/or parental guidance. Your partner may acknowledge the child before the child is born by having a deed of
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acknowledgement drawn up by the registrar of births, deaths and marriages or a notary. Alternatively, he can acknowledge the child when registering the birth or at any time afterwards and he needs the mother written consent in advance. Only if you have a registered partnership the father is obliged to provide for his child even if he does not acknowledge him/her. The child also acquires the right to inherit from its father.
home. During this visit, the nurse will gather your child's medical history, introduce you to the consultatiebureau system and provide you with a copy of the "Groei Op" (Grow Up) book and the name and location of your nearest consultatiebureau. Contact details of your local consultatiebureau will also be indicated in the Groei Op book. If you do not have this book, your family doctor or midwife can direct you to your nearest consultatiebureau.
Q. Which vaccinations are common in the Netherlands and how can I arrange
them for my children? All vaccinations are given at the Consultation Bureau (Consultatiebureau). The Dutch national immunisation programme includes vaccinations for the following diseases: DKTP: D = Diphteria, K = Whooping Cough, T = Tetanus, P = Polio-myelitis HIB = Haemophilus influenzae type B BMR = Mumps, Measles, Rubella (German Measles) Men C = Meningitis C Pneu = Pneumococcal vaccination Hep B = Hepatitis B vaccination HPV = Human Papilloma Virus only for girls
Q. I would like my child to have additional shots that are not standard in the
Netherlands. How can I arrange this? You will have to contact your GP (Huisarts) or visit a specialised vaccination centre. Please bear in mind that you will probably have to pay for additional shots yourself.
may take unpaid parental leave. This is leave you can take to care for a child who is less than eight years old. You are entitled to parental leave when you have been working for the same employer for at least one year and are caring for a child who is younger than eight years of age. Both parents are entitled to parental leave. If you have more children, you can take parental leave for each child separately. According to the Wet Aanpassing Werktijden (WAA) (Adjustment of Hours Law), people in the Netherlands are entitled to work full-time or part-time according to their needs. Mothers who wish to spend time with their babies and children are allowed to work part-time (four hours per day) returning to full-time employment at later date.
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This ACCESS guide is intended to provide general information. If you need more specific information about this subject please contact the ACCESS Helpdesk on 0900 2 222377(0.20/c per min) 10:0016:00, Monday to Friday, or send us an email at helpdesk@access-nl.org.
We also work closely with our network of partners, associates and trainers. You can find their contact details on our website http://www.accessnl.org/about-access/how-we-do-it/helping-access.aspx
ACCESS guides available for downloading, free of charge, from the ACCESS website*: Banking, Taxation and Personal Finance Having a Baby in the Netherlands Health Care in the Netherlands Housing in the Netherlands Learning the Dutch Language What to do when Leaving the Netherlands Legal Matters regarding Key Life Events Partner Support Studying in the Netherlands Your Child Your First Three Months in the Netherlands
* The titles mentioned above will be published gradually during 2012. In this period the actual titles available on the website may be different from the ones mentioned here.
COPYRIGHT ACCESS June 2012 Disclaimer This ACCESS guide is intended to provide comprehensive and general information. ACCESS did everything possible to ensure correct and up-todate information. ACCESS cannot accept responsibility for any information that may have changed.
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