Choice hospital
Usually labor starts between 37 and 42 weeks. Within this period, pregnant women who are under the care of the midwife can choose where they want to give birth; at home or in the hospital. If you have a medical indication and are under the supervision of the gynaecologist, you will in any case give birth in the hospital.
Which hospital do you choose?
In which hospital you will give birth is your own choice. We work together with three hospitals in the region; Spaarne Gasthuis in Haarlem, Alrijne Hospital in Leiderdorp and Amstelland Hospital in Amstelveen. Chances are your preferred hospital is too busy. At that point, we will swerve to your second preference.
It is useful if the hospital you choose is not too far away. You can then be there quickly if there is a rush. However, you have the right to choose the hospital you want, even if that hospital is further away. In that case, your midwife will not always go with you to guide you during the delivery, this will be done by the hospital's obstetrician or doctor.
What does the hospital offer?
Some hospitals have a birth center where you can give birth. The birth center is a kind of relocated home birth; you give birth with your own midwife in a homely environment in the hospital, so that if help is needed, it is close at hand. The choice can also depend on which type of pain relief a hospital has, which can sometimes differ. Also the possibility to spend the night with your child during admission does not exist in all hospitals.
Cost
If you give birth in the hospital without medical reasons, you may have to pay a personal contribution. This depends on which insurance company and which type of insurance you have. Check this in advance, so that you do not receive an unexpected bill afterwards. If you have a medical reason for giving birth in the hospital, these costs will be reimbursed.
To compare
You can compare hospitals with each other on the website www.ziekenhuischeck.nl. www.zorgkaartnederland.nl contains reviews of hospitals by patients.
