Childbirth
From week 37, labor is in sight. During these final weeks, you will come to our practice every week. Good preparation is essential for your delivery. In a birth plan you describe your preferences, how you want to be approached and how you want to deal with unexpected situations. By writing this down, you not only give yourself clarity, but also your partner and our team.
In our experience, mothers who have written down their needs are stronger in their minds. They are better able to communicate what they need. See here our birth plan which you can fill out as you wish.
Why a birthing plan?
Theright preparation: Preparation gives you insight into what to expect, allowing fear to give way to confidence.
YourVoice: A birth plan is your manifesto - it articulates your wishes and makes sure you are heard.
Better Decisions: When you know options (pain relief, postures), you make informed choices.
Peace for Partners: Your partner knows what you need, less stress for both of you.
Flexibility: A plan does not make you rigid, but rather more flexible in the face of unexpected situations.
Empowerment: By preparing and writing down wishes, you take control.
Your delivery, your choices
Birth location: Home, birth center, or hospital - each has its advantages. It's all about where you feel safest. Read our blog about where we compare all the locations where you can give birth in Rotterdam.
Pain relief: There are several options for pain relief, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The location where you give birth often also determines what pain relief options you have.
Attitudes: We strongly believe in the power of movement and position choice. Your body often tells you which posture is most comfortable. Read all about different postures in our article.
Bath birth: We see more and more mothers opting for a bath birth. With good reasons:
- Heat: The water gently embraces you, which immediately relaxes and helps you stay calm during contractions.
- NaturalPain Reliever: Warm water stimulates the release of endorphins and reduces pressure on your lower back. Many mothers experience less pain, without medication.
- Freedom of movement: In water, you feel lighter, making it easier to change positions.
- Lesschance of tearing: Water makes skin and muscles more flexible, which can reduce tearing.
- SootherBaby: We find that water-born babies are often calmer, possibly due to the softer transition.
- InvolvedPartner : Your partner can sit next to the bath or even join in, strengthening your bond.
Our touch points during your pregnancy
Congratulations, you are pregnant! Contact us to schedule your first appointment and first ultrasound . Do you have any questions before your first appointment? Then the midwife can answer them for you in advance.
Have you already started taking folic acid and vitamin D? Otherwise, start this as well.
If you are curious about what is happening in your belly and don't want to wait for the term ultrasound, you can get a ultrasound with us at 8 weeks.
The first meeting with the midwife! The midwife will give you information about the practice so you know how to reach us and what our methods are.
At this ultrasound , the baby is measured from the buttocks to the head. The length measured here determines the due date!
Want more information about the tests that can be done in pregnancy on the baby? We will explain them to you in detail.
This medical ultrasound assesses whether the baby's development is progressing well.
Are you curious about the sex of the baby? Starting at 16 weeks, we can take a look at this with the ultrasound !
The 20 weeks ultrasound is scheduled in week 19. This medical ultrasound is designed to detect any abnormalities in the baby. So an exciting ultrasound !
After the 20 weeks ultrasound you will have an appointment with the midwife. She will go over the results of the ultrasound with you again.
Everyone prepares for childbirth and the arrival of the baby in their own way. Attending a meeting on childbirth or breastfeeding can be of great help.
Most women feel their baby move for the first time between weeks 20 and 24. This may be very clear one day, but a little less so another day. By 27 weeks, your baby is heavy and strong enough to report clearly every day!
You will see your midwife more often now. This is important because we want to monitor your blood pressure and the baby's growth.
Not everyone gets a growth ultrasound in pregnancy. There are a number of indications when this growth ultrasound may be performed; the main reason is when the obstetrician has doubts about the baby's growth.
Childbirth is really getting closer now! You may have to work a few more weeks and then maternity leave starts. Some women have already prepared a birth plan; others still need to delve deeper.
Most babies lie with their head down in week 35. We check this with the ultrasound to be absolutely sure.
From week 37, your baby is ready to be born. However, most babies are still a little while away.
About 4% of children are born on the due date. The rest come a little earlier or a little later. Still, you probably live very much towards this day!
85% of women gave birth at week 41. That means there are still many children in the belly at week 41.
The midwife will call you when the contractions have started and you could use her support. We are there for you and carefully monitor the condition of mother and baby.
The first days with your baby at home! That takes some getting used to. There are often questions, concerns and queries about your physical recovery. The midwife will visit your home to discuss these.
The first few days after birth your baby will lose some weight, but by the end of the first week most babies are growing again. 2 weeks after birth, babies are back above birth weight.
ultrasound's during your pregnancy
Sometimes a small or larger amount of vaginal bleeding may occur early in pregnancy. Sometimes this is harmless, sometimes it is a sign that the pregnancy is not going well.
Anyone may come by our office for an 8 week ultrasound! The baby is still smaller than 2 cm at this term!
Are you curious if the baby is growing well? For this we have the heart consultation.
Between weeks 10 and 11, the term ultrasound is done. The baby is then larger than 3 cm.
This ultrasound falls under prenatal screening. This ultrasound is done if you choose this ultrasound, after you have had the informational interview about it. The baby is about 7 cm, this is the last time the baby is measured from buttocks to head.
Are you curious if you are expecting a boy or girl? At 16 weeks, we can tell.
The 20 weeks ultrasound also falls under prenatal screening. The baby weighs about 250-300 grams. The ultrasound is done between weeks 19 and 20.
During the 2nd half of the pregnancy, the midwife may request a growth ultrasound when she has doubts about the growth of the belly. Sometimes the growth ultrasound is used preventively, then it is usually done around 30 weeks.
This ultrasound is only performed, if a low position of the placenta was seen during the 20 weeks ultrasound . Was this not the case? Then this ultrasound is not made.
Not everyone has an indication for a growth ultrasound after the 20 weeks ultrasound . To make sure the baby's head is down, we make a ultrasound to check this.
Have you not yet given birth? Then during this ultrasound we measure the baby's growth again and we measure if there is enough amniotic fluid around the baby.
What you can expect from us
With us, you can count on personal and loving care during your delivery. Each woman's wishes and expectations may be different. We adapt to them and make sure you feel supported.
We are here for you, for kind and encouraging words and for professional care. We closely monitor the health of you and your baby, and provide clear and straightforward communication while closely following your birth plan.
