At home or in the hospital

During the birth plan check-up we discuss, among other things, where you would like to give birth. We supervise births at home as well as in hospital. It is especially important that you give birth in a place where you feel safe. Feeling safe s extremely important and contributes to a positive birth experience.
When the delivery starts between the 37th and 42nd week of the pregnancy and you have no medical reason to give birth in hospital, you can choose whether you want to give birth at home or in hospital. The midwife of your team will then supervise your birth. Research shows that both at home and in the hospital are safe places to give birth. We think it is especially important that you choose a place where you feel comfortable so that you can relax better and look back on it with a good feeling.
Before the delivery and the period after that, it is important that the bed is on blocks and is therefore about 70-80 cm high. They can be rented at a store (Thuiszorg winkel). It is also possible to rent a chair for the shower. It is also important to request the maternity package from your health insurance in time.
Home
If the pregnancy goes without any problems and you are at least 37 weeks pregnant, you can give birth at home, in your own environment. Your team’s midwife on duty will guide you. She will also call a maternity nurse (kraamzorg) to assist with the delivery.
If you want to give birth at home, it is useful to have the following items ready from 37 weeks:
- Maternity package (via health insurance or products for sale separately at the drugstore)
- Possibly extra mats for protection of your matras (can be bought at a drugstore)
- Umbilical cord clamp or cord ring (usually included in the maternity package)
- Garbage bags
- Two buckets
- Two warm water bottles with pockets
- At least 10 cotton cloths
- Two thermometers
Hospital (polyclinic)
If you prefer to give birth in hospital, and you have no medical indication, that is of course also possible. We call this an polyclinic delivery that can also take place under the supervision of your own midwife. In addition, a nurse or maternity nurse is available to assist. If there are no abnormalities, you can go home a few hours after birth.
It is good to know that an polyclinic birth requires a personal contribution. Check the policy conditions of your insurance in advance to check whether your health insurer will reimburse (part of) your hospital birth.
We mostly collaborate with the Tergooi Hospital in Blaricum, the Birth House (Diakonessenhuis) in Utrecht or the Meander Hospital in Amersfoort.
If you would like to give birth in the bath, this is possible in the Tergooi Hospital Blaricum or the Birth House in Utrecht.