Childbirth
Giving birth in the hospital
Where to give birth?
If your pregnancy is uncomplicated and you give birth between 37 and 42 weeks, in the Netherlands you can choose where you want to give birth. This is unique in the world! You can choose to give birth at home or in the hospital. It is important to give birth where you feel most comfortable, because this will speed up the course of your labor. The decision of where to give birth is not made until you are actually in labor. If health and safety for you and your child allow, you may decide where you will give birth. Sometimes there is an indication to give birth in the hospital, for example because of medication use, a complication from a previous birth or a high BMI. Depending on the indication, you will simply give birth in the hospital with one of our midwives. There are also situations where the advice is to give birth under the supervision of the hospital gynecologist. Examples are:
- Cesarean section (sectio) in your history
- High blood pressure in your current pregnancy
- Growth retardation of your baby
Whatever you do, every choice is good!
Need help deciding where to give birth? Discuss it with us, we are happy to help! And you only really have to choose what you want during childbirth. For us, any choice is good.
Benefits of giving birth at home
- You are in familiar surroundings, which for many women feels more comfortable and relaxed
- You have a lot of freedom in terms of birthing position and location: for example, you can give birth at home in the bathtub, in bed, on a birthing stool or ball, on your hands and knees, etc.
- No need to travel while in labor
- Hospital bacteria pose no risk from home
- More likely to deliver spontaneously without medical intervention
- Home births are fully covered by basic health insurance
- Most women who have had a home birth look back on it positively and found it a very pleasant experience.
Disadvantages of giving birth at home
- In case of complications during or after the home birth, you still have to go to the hospital
- Pain relief in a home birth can only be done without medication: birthTens, relaxation techniques, hot water bottle, shower and bath, acupuncture, etc. If you want medical pain relief, such as an epidural or Remifentanil pump, it is necessary to give birth in the hospital.
The person behind care
Celina
van Grotel
obstetric - team blue - specialisations - ultrasound technician
Outpatient delivery
You can also choose an outpatient delivery: a delivery in the hospital under the supervision of your own midwife. Outpatient labor also begins at home. We will always visit you at home first to assess whether your labor has started and is progressing well. So you don’t have to go to the hospital alone. The midwife will come to do check-ups with you and assess the dilation. We determine the moment to go to the hospital together. Your own wishes are very important. So always let us know! In principle, you and your partner go to the hospital with your own transportation and the midwife follows with her own car. Upon arrival at the hospital, you and the midwife will go to the delivery rooms.
Benefits of outpatient delivery
One advantage of outpatient delivery is that women who choose it often feel safer in the hospital. Feeling safe is an important condition for a good delivery. Also, an outpatient birth can be fine if you live very small, or if there are other circumstances that make it impossible or unwilling for you to give birth at home. Another advantage of giving birth on an outpatient basis is that you no longer have to be transported to the hospital if the assistance of the gynecologist proves necessary.
Another good thing to know
It is not true that the gynecologist is available earlier in an outpatient birth than in a home birth, should complications arise. The gynecologist should be called in both cases. After delivery, you may return home with your baby. Usually this is after about 2 hours, when you have washed or showered, eaten something and recovered a bit from the delivery. With an outpatient delivery not all costs are fully reimbursed by your health insurance. Consult your health insurance for an overview of what part of the costs you have to pay yourself. At the consultation, we will ask you if you already know your preference. You only have to make your final choice during childbirth, so you can feel what feels best for you.
We attend outpatient deliveries in 3 hospitals:
- The Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven
- The Maxima Medical Center in Veldhoven
- The St. in Geldrop.
Regardless of where you are going to give birth, it is important to have a few things in place. Check out a handy checklist here.
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