Maternity care in the Netherlands
Maternity care in the Netherlands is unique. You will not find this type of care anywhere else in the world. Maternity care consists of two parts:
- Assistance by the midwife during and immediately after delivery
- Care for you and your baby, family and household at your home during the first 8 to 10 days after the birth
Selecting the maternity care
You can choose from which maternity care organisation you receive care. Naviva Kraamzorg is one of the largest maternity care organisations of the Netherlands. Do you want to find out whether we provide maternity care where you live? Check your postcode or call us on 088 – 7777 666.
Arranging maternity care
You can arrange Naviva maternity care yourself quickly and simply. It is best if this care is arranged before the 16th week of your pregnancy. Visit this page to register. You can also register by phone by calling 088 – 7777 666. You will require a Burgerservicenummer (BSN; Citizen Service Number). You must also have healthcare insurance in place. Our customer service department will be happy to help with questions or anything that is unclear. Call 088 – 7777 666 on working days between 8.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. or email [email protected].
Registering
You will receive confirmation after registering by email. If you do not object within the statutory cooling-off period of two weeks, your registration will be definite. An agreement or contract will then be in place. Maternity care will then be guaranteed. After registering, you will receive a welcome e-mail.
Maternity care cost
Maternity care is required care. Maternity care is therefore reimbursed by your basic healthcare insurance. You do, however, need to pay a personal contribution of €5.10 per hour (2024). If you have additional healthcare insurance, your personal contribution will be reimbursed (in part). Naviva maternity care is reimbursed by all healthcare insurers.
Maternity care number of hours
The number of maternity care hours will depend on your situation and preferences. We will organise an initial assessment interview to determine the number of maternity care hours that you require. Our maternity carer will visit your home if it is your first child. The initial assessment interview will often be on the phone in relation to a second or consecutive baby. If, however, you prefer a home visit, please let our customer service know.
The initial assessment interview
Our maternity carer will explain what you can expect from Naviva during the initial assessment interview. She will make a note of your preferences and any special details. At the end of the interview, you will receive an indication of the number of maternity care hours that you will get later. If you do not speak or understand Dutch or if your knowledge of the language is insufficient, ask a family member, friend or acquaintance to be present to translate.
Other items you may need
Naviva Kraamzorg has drawn up a useful list of the items that you must have at home for the post-natal period. Make sure you have the following items at home:
[See the ‘Baby essentials’ annex for a list of items – > Check the front and the back!]
Where will you give birth?
You can choose where you want to give birth in the Netherlands: at home or in hospital. In both cases, the Naviva maternity carer will assist your midwife during the birth. An exception is a birth under medical supervision in hospital. For example, in case of a C-section (caesarean delivery) or when there are complications. Then the gynaecologist or clinical obstetrician will take charge of your delivery.
Hospital bag
Births cannot be planned. It is therefore wise to pack a hospital bag as from the 34th week of your pregnancy. This will ensure that you have everything at hand should baby suddenly arrive. Make sure you pack the following items:
[See the ‘Hospital bag’ annex for a list of items – > Check the front and the back!]
Post-natal week
We call the first eight to ten days after the birth the kraamweek (post-natal week). The Naviva maternity carer will be at your home during this period. She will offer you all the necessary care and required support. Your midwife will be the one who has final responsibility. She will visit you a few times during the post-natal week. Your midwife and the maternity carer will regularly consult each other about your well-being and that of your baby.
Care
Your maternity carer will care for you and your baby. She will give instruction and advice about caring for baby. This refers to issues such as changing nappies, bathing your baby, dressing and undressing baby and temperatures.
Feeding your baby
It is essential that your baby is fed on time and sufficiently to guarantee healthy development. Breast milk is the best food that you can give your baby. The maternity carer will help and provide advice about everything to ensure you can breastfeed successfully. She will also do this if you decide or have to decide to bottle-feed.
Bonding
The maternity carer will also help in relation to achieving an optimal bond between parent(s) and baby. For example, by encouraging skin-on-skin contact. You can help your child sooner by recognising sleep and hunger signals. This will prevent excessive crying. This will strengthen the bond between parent and child.