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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Has anyone given birth in the Netherlands?

8 replies

Gemzooks · 03/01/2008 20:10

Just moved to Amsterdam, I'm 10 weeks pregnant..

Had my DS of 15 months in Belgium in a hospital with mobile epidural, very medicalised but birth went fine. It seems that natural childbirth is the only way in Holland, and even the most pro epidural hospital in Amsterdam will only give it in exceptional cases. Now I would like to try to go natural 2nd time around, but I would like to know that if I need an epidural, I can get it...

Has anyone given birth in the Netherlands and can advise?

thanks a lot!

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lulumama · 03/01/2008 20:12

is there anything available pain relief wise?

Original poster

Gemzooks · 03/01/2008 20:22

I don't think they use anything. I used TENS last time and it was great, but the labour took 3 days, he was back to back and I needed the drip and insisted on the epidural..

I would def use TENS again, wouldn't want anything like pethidine anyway and am very claustrophobic so would never want gas and air, and that's your other options really, apart from the epi.... hmm..

OP posts:

lulumama · 03/01/2008 20:24

waterbirth? is that an option

being mobile and unmedicated can help make things go quicker, although will be intense

massage can be so helpful, and of course your body's own endorphins

second time is often a lot quicker and more straightforward

tigger15 · 03/01/2008 20:31

I had 2 friends who have had babies there. 1 it was her first and she was very happy with whole set up. I don't know more details than that.

2 - it was her 2nd. First had been straightforward but she really wanted a hospital birth as wasn't culturally attuned to anything else. Birth was fine but they kicked her out very soon after and she ended up returning to hospital by ambulance with a pph that night.

No advice really but just be clear about what you want find out what they'll offer if you're in the same position as before ie OP labour. Do they use syntocin and if they do will you get an epidural?

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 03/01/2008 20:34

I think a mn'er called lilimama is in the Netherlands. She was in the early stages of labour a few days ago, so if you lurk around the birth announcement threads, you may find her.

I can recommend a birthing pool - they are complete and utter bliss.

Livvilou · 05/01/2008 14:03

Hi there

i gave birth in den haag seven months ago. from the very start was looked after by midwives. developed complications halfway through pg and was in hospital for nearly three weeks, was looked after exceptionally well. amazingly clean hospital. considerate and attentive staff for the most part. I had heard lots of horror stories about giving birth in Holland and quizzed the doctors i saw. two reasured me that i would not be made to suffer. they do have other forms of ain relief, though gas and air was not an option told to me. You may ask for an epi but they will not call out a doctor to give you one in the middle of the night unless is an emergency!
I did not have pain relief, my baby came too quick in the end, and the pain was my biggest fear. In the end i just had to get on with it. You never know what may happen on the day. If you feel more comfortable giving birth in a hospital, i thnk it could be arranged. The dutch are not big on water birth but the dutch realise that foreigners are used to hospital births. if you have a difficult pg, you will automatically be in a hospital.
Best thing after birth is a kraamzorg, a nurse that comes to your house for a period of time to look after you and the baby. Mine came for 51/2 hrs per day for 8days. She was fab, i think every new mum should have this service. She looked after my baby when i slept, cleaned her room, my room, the bathroom, even did some washing - but i dont think they are required to do that. She was a gift from heaven. That first week was almost a blurr but my kraamzorg saved me from real exhaustion. apparently the kraamzorg service is the only one of its kind, not sure how true that is but i think it could help alot of mums from going into postnatal depression after birth. Dont fear the pain like i did, it is a waste of energy. be honest with the doctors and keep talking until you are satisfied they have heard your needs. Good luck!

paulaplumpbottom · 05/01/2008 14:04

I lived ther for a year and I had a friend who was pregnant. She had to give birth at home and was given no pain relief.

Original poster

Gemzooks · 05/01/2008 23:34

Hi all,
thanks for the experiences... I have heard about the 'kraamzorg' and that sounds great: someone to help after the birth, exactly what you need!

Basically I would like to give birth under the care of midwives in a hospital, knowing that if the baby is OP and I need the synotocin drip or whatever, I can get the epidural. I've been looking up which hospitals give the epi 24/7, and trying to find some nice midwives.... anyway will keep looking!

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