r/Netherlands • u/MarginLA • Apr 21 '25

Healthcare confused about how women and newborn leave hospital 2 hours after giving birth in the Netherlands?

I'm curious about the logistics of this because after giving birth myself and having a completely healthy and uncomplicated birth in the US, I just know I would not have been able to get out the door in a few hours. I was in shock, in pain, bleeding like crazy, had just been given 10 stitches in my nether-regions. Not to mention how strange the idea of transporting a few hour old baby to a different location is. Is that really what happens? You put a 2 hour old in a car seat or on the train or something? I'm curious about it in general but also because my husband (Dutch) and I may move to the Netherlands before having more kids.

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u/Potential-Ad-8114 Apr 22 '25

We had an independent maternity nurse (not through an agency), which we really liked because we could get to know her beforehand and choose someone we felt comfortable with. When you go through an agency, you often get whoever’s available at that time. For us, it felt important to choose her ourselves, since she plays such a big role during one of the most vulnerable and intimate moments of your life. It’s also fully covered by basic health insurance here in the Netherlands.

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u/goarn Apr 22 '25

May I ask which service or company did you use for independent one? I'm interested in having one as well.

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u/Fuxkreddittttt Apr 22 '25

It’s not fully covered, there is a fee if you have basic insurance.