Home birth

For many women, home is the most pleasant and relaxed place to give birth. To welcome the newborn in their own environment. If you want that too, please discuss this during the consultation hour. You can give birth at home if you and your baby are healthy, and you are 37 weeks or more pregnant.

We have listed the pros and cons:

ADVANTAGES OF A HOME BIRTH

  • In your own environment you usually have the least stress and can relax best. This causes the body to produce endorphins. This is a pain-relieving hormone and stimulates the contractions. Good contractions ensure a smoother delivery. This also reduces the risk of medical intervention, such as hormones to induce the contractions or painkillers.
  • You don't have to get into a car with heavy contractions.
  • You will not be exposed to any harmful hospital bacteria.
  • A home birth is cheaper. If you opt for a hospital birth without medical grounds, you will usually have to pay a personal contribution (depending on your health insurance).

DISADVANTAGES OF A HOME BIRTH

  • If complications arise, you will still have to go to hospital. Usually this is not an emergency, and you can use your own transport. This is for instance the case with meconium-containing amniotic fluid or if the contractions are not effective enough. If it is urgent, you will go by ambulance which we will arrange for you.
  • If pain relief methods such as warm water, birth TENS or relaxation techniques do not work sufficiently and you want medicinal pain relief such as an epidural, you will always have to go to hospital.

SAFETY

A home birth is safe! This is because the midwife and maternity nurse are trained to act immediately in the event of unforeseen emergencies. The midwife can administer medication to stop excessive blood loss. She also always has an oxygen kit with her to ventilate the baby or even resuscitate him. In addition, the good ambulance service and infrastructure in the Netherlands make it possible to transport someone to the hospital in an emergency situation in no time.

Scientific research has shown that with a first birth it is just as safe to give birth at home as a hospital birth. And if it is not your first birth, then a home birth is even safer!

At ease at HOME

After the birth you can enjoy your own shower while the maternity nurse changes your bed. Afterwards you'll crawl into your fresh bed with your new baby, and you don't have to do anything else. Just enjoy!

CHOICE

Sometimes, especially if it is your first child, you do not know in advance how you will experience the birth and where you want to give birth. Then just decide during your contractions where you feel most comfortable: at home or in hospital. Make sure that you have everything ready at home, both for a home birth and a hospital birth.

PRACTICAL MATTERS

Below are a number of things you need to arrange before giving birth:

  • Make sure the doorbell works properly, that there are lights outside and that the house number is clear. Inform your midwife and the maternity bureau in good time of any complicated route instructions.
  • Put your bed on spacers from 37 weeks.
  • Make sure you have a maternity kit in the house. Leave everything in the box so we can quickly find everything, if needed.
  • Protect your mattress with plastic or the tarpaulin from the maternity package.
  • Prepare two buckets and garbage bags.
  • Make sure you have two metal pitchers in the house, with pitcher bags.
  • Have a "hospital bag" ready with things for you and the baby if you must go to hospital unexpectedly during labour.
  • Do you have a carpet floor? If so, protect it with some plastic or a sheet.
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