Postpartum
After 9 months of pregnancy and looking forward to the arrival of the baby, your baby is born. The period after the birth is postpartum. A beautiful and special time, but also an emotional and intensive period. For most parents it takes some getting used to, we see this as the 4th trimester because you can still see this as part of the pregnancy.
Recovering from your childbirth
Adequate rest and for your body to recover is very important. Whether your labor was short or long, and regardless of whether medical interventions were required, rest and care are essential. It is perfectly normal if you find that childbirth has left a deep impression on you. You have accomplished an amazing feat and are at the beginning of a wonderful new phase in your life.
Getting to know your baby
During postpartum 】It's all about getting to know your baby. This is a magical and intense period when you really get to know each other and build a deep bond. Every moment, from the first feeding to learning to recognize his or her cries, helps you discover your baby's unique personality. Skin-to-skin bonding plays an important role here; these intimate moments strengthen the bond between you and your baby, help regulate body temperature and promote a sense of safety and security.
Breastfeeding and Maternity Care
Breastfeeding is a special way to bond with your baby and provide the best nutrition in the first few months of their lives. It not only provides essential nutrients, but also strengthens your baby's immune system and promotes healthy growth and development. We understand that breastfeeding can be a learning process for both you and your baby. It can be challenging at times, but know that we are here to guide you with practical tips, also maternity care will help with proper latching techniques to dealing with any difficulties.
If you want to breastfeed your baby, we recommend taking the breastfeeding course during your pregnancy. See our blog for current dates.
Maternity care
Every pregnant person is entitled to maternity care. The maternity nurse comes by daily for a few hours to care for you and your baby. She performs important medical checks, guides you through your recovery, and teaches you everything you need to know about caring for your newborn baby.
If there are signs of possible complications, the maternity nurse contacts us immediately. In a home birth, she is there to assist, so the midwife and maternity nurse work closely together. This collaboration, based on shared ideas about good care, ensures that you as a young family receive the support you need.
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.
We are here for you
We will visit your home at postpartum for some medical checkups and to perform the heel prick. These visits are designed to make sure both you and your baby are healthy and well, and to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Read more about this in the articles in our knowledge center.
After six weeks, we will invite you to the practice for a follow-up checkup to see how you and your baby are doing. If all is well, you can move forward with confidence in this new phase of your life.
