Tips & advice · 5 min read
Which care providers do you need, and when?
Around pregnancy and birth you meet quite a few care providers. Who does what, and when do you call them in? A clear overview.
Midwife
Your fixed companion throughout the whole journey: prenatal consultations, birth support, postnatal care at home, breastfeeding and babywearing advice. The midwife is the care provider par excellence for a normal pregnancy and birth, and works closely with the other providers.
Gynaecologist
The medical specialist who handles the medical follow-up of your pregnancy, performs the scans and attends the birth in the hospital. With a high-risk pregnancy or complications, the gynaecologist takes on a bigger role.
GP
Your first point of contact for general health questions, including during pregnancy. Some couples choose to have (part of) the pregnancy follow-up with the GP.
Maternity ward and paediatrician
At a hospital birth, the maternity ward team cares for mum and baby in the first days. The paediatrician checks your newborn’s health and follows up when extra care is needed.
Kind en Gezin
After the birth you can turn to Kind en Gezin (Opgroeien) for free follow-up of your child’s growth and development, vaccinations and parenting support, at a consultation office or at home.
Maternity care
A maternity carer helps at home in the first weeks with practical tasks and the care of your baby. Maternity care complements the medical follow-up by the midwife.
And more
Depending on your situation, a lactation consultant (breastfeeding), a physiotherapist (pelvic floor and recovery) or a psychologist (mental wellbeing) can also play a role. Your midwife helps refer you in a targeted way when useful.