Have you ever wondered what giving birth is like in the Netherlands? If you pictured your or your partner’s water breaking and being rushed in a stressful frenzy towards the hospital — you’d be sorely mistaken!
That is definitely not how it works here in the Netherlands because a lot of Dutch people don’t do giving birth in hospitals.
What is it?
We all know that the Dutch are pretty down-to-earth, especially when it comes to all things healthcare.
They avoid places like hospitals, GPs, and the dentist as much as humanly possible.
That being said, most Dutch women prefer to give birth at home with the guidance of a midwife (verloskundige) rather than giving birth at a hospital.
Why do they do it?
Giving birth at home is a more personal and natural experience, which is very appealing to Dutchies.
They don’t want to give birth in a scary, clinical environment when they can just do it in the comfort of their own homes. 🤱🏼
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Also, if something goes wrong, there’s always a hospital not too far away in the Netherlands.
Why is it quirky?
The Netherlands has the highest rate of home births in the west — up to 30% of women give birth at home! Wowza!
This is very different from how movies portray giving birth. 😲
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The Dutch are such fans of homebirths that they’ve added “homebirth culture” to the list of intangible heritage.
Should you join in?
That’s up to you! How a person gives birth is a very personal choice.
You can totally join the trend and give birth at home for a more personal experience.
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However, you can also choose to give birth at a birth centre or at the hospital where you have access to pain-relieving medicines — it’s mum’s choice! 💘
What do you think of this Dutch quirk? Have you experienced it? Tell us in the comments below!