Just found out you’re pregnant? Alongside all the emotions, practical questions come up straight away. These are the steps that really need attention in the first weeks. You don’t have to arrange everything at once: most of the things below can be spread calmly over the first few months, at your own pace.
Step 1: make an appointment with a midwife
In the first weeks, look for a midwifery practice in your area and make an intake appointment, usually at around 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy. In the Netherlands, the midwife provides your medical care throughout the whole pregnancy. Start taking folic acid in good time too, and check which other vitamins and supplements are recommended during pregnancy. At the intake, the midwife also discusses your medical history and any risk factors, so that your health can be monitored properly from the start.
Step 2: check your health insurance
Check your policy to see what’s covered: midwifery care is included as standard in the basic health insurance (basisverzekering), but for things like a pregnancy course or extra scans you may need supplementary insurance (aanvullende verzekering). Sort this out in good time, as you can usually only switch insurance at the end of the year.
Step 3: think about where you want to give birth
At home, in a birth centre or in hospital: discuss the options with your midwife, who can tell you what suits your situation.
Step 4: look into support during pregnancy and birth
Many people only start thinking about extra support late in their pregnancy, while starting early actually gives peace of mind: a pregnancy course, hypnobirthing, or a doula who gets to know you from now on. That way you build confidence, instead of having to arrange all sorts of things in the third trimester. As a doula, I usually come into the picture between week 20 and 30 of pregnancy, but there’s no fixed moment: sometimes someone contacts me as early as week 8, and sometimes not until week 38. Whatever works for you, works. Want to know exactly what a doula can do for you? Read more here. The same goes for a pregnancy course: book it in good time, especially if you’d rather choose a fixed date together with your partner than have to arrange something at the last minute. Some courses and doulas fill up quickly in busy periods, so the sooner you start looking, the more choice you have.
Step 5: make an overview of what you still need to arrange
From registering for kraamzorg (postpartum maternity care) to writing a birth plan: more will come your way in nine months than you might expect right now. See the full checklist per trimester here, so you don’t overlook anything.
Would you like support from the very start that grows with you, from the first weeks up to and including the birth? Book a free introductory chat straight away.