Good preparation may help calm you when labour begins. We provide you and your (birth) partner with extensive information about labour and delivery with our video series. A pregnancy course also offers good preparation and can dispel possible fears and anxieties. During a check-up we will discuss your birth plan if so desired. Inform yourself and ask us your questions, so that you can be prepared. We’re happy to give you some tips. Use our handy checklist to help you complete the many practical matters that need to get done.
Read and watch
It’s up to you to decide how you want to prepare. Some women enjoy reading up on labour and birth. There are good books and magazines and we provide you with pamphlets. The website De Verloskundige is a trusted (Dutch) source for information with pamphlets and videos.
Video series
We offer you nine short informative videos with a lot of information about labour and birth and everything you may encounter. We hope and expect that all this information will contribute to good preparation for your delivery. Of course we will also provide you with useful information during your check-ups and Centering Pregnancy meetings, but the video series delves more deeply into all the various subjects.
In addition to offering this information, we are more than happy to discuss all your questions at the consultation hours and during the Centering Pregnancy meetings. If you prefer, we can schedule extra time on request.
We recommend you and your (birth) partner view the videos from a pregnancy stage of about 32 weeks.
Birth plan
You can describe your specific wishes for labour and delivery in a birth plan. A birth plan is meant to help us and other health care providers know what is important to you, giving us insight into your ideas, wishes and how we can best communicate with you. At the same time, discussing your birth plan together gives us the chance to know what your expectations are for the birth. This discussion happens when you are about 36 weeks pregnant. Please send us a digital copy of your birth plan so that we can upload it to your file. If a medical situation arises during labour, we will also give your birth plan to the gynaecologist. For this reason it’s handy to also have a printed copy with you. For tips on writing your birth plan check out the website De Verloskundige
What do you need?
You will need to have a number of things at home for the birth. You need these things for planned home births and hospital births. Make sure to have these things at home before 37 weeks of pregnancy:
- bed blocks (or crates) to raise your bed to at least 70 – 80 cm. You can borrow bed blocks (klossen) for free from the home care shop (Medipoint Amstelring)
- 2 buckets and trash bags
- 2 metal hot water bottles with two covers
- 12 muslin diapers (hydrofiele luiers)
- 2 baby hats and baby clothes
Maternity kit
Usually you will receive a maternity kit (kraampakket) from your insurance at around 30 weeks of pregnancy. If your insurance does not cover this, you will need to buy a kit yourself. You can purchase one at the home care shop, a baby store or pharmacy, among other places. You may end up spending less money this way. Consult the checklist to ensure that your maternity kit is complete.
Download checklist (PDF)
Hospital bag
If you need to leave for the hospital quickly during labour, you will need to have a bag packed already with all the necessary items. Consult the checklist to ensure that your hospital bag is complete.
Download checklist (PDF)
Baby’s first supplies
Before your baby arrives you will need to have a number of items at home, for the cot and for feeding and taking care of your baby. Consult the checklist to ensure that you have all of baby’s first supplies.
Download checklist (PDF)
