Birth plan
In the birth plan you can put your ideas and wishes regarding the delivery. The midwife will try to take this into account as much as possible during your delivery and try to meet your wishes. The midwife always puts the safety of you and your baby first and can therefore deviate from the birth plan for that reason. It’s also possible that you want something different during childbirth than you had in mind beforehand. After all, you never know in advance exactly how you will react during childbirth. Of course, you are then free to deviate from the birth plan.
Below is a brief description of what you can expect from your midwife during your delivery. If you still have specific wishes regarding your delivery, you can put them in the birth plan.
Good preparation is half the battle!
Schedule
Midwives work in shifts. The midwife on duty will assist you during the delivery. Unfortunately, it is not possible to indicate a preference for a midwife, this would be practically impossible to realize.
Interns
In our practice, students of the midwifery academy do their internship. Depending on the grade and the level of the trainee, she will perform some actions independently. An intern always works under the responsibility of the midwife and will never supervise a delivery completely independently. The midwife will always be present. If you are not comfortable having an intern present during your delivery, please let us know. The midwife will always ask permission in advance for the presence of an intern.
Home delivery
For home or outpatient deliveries, the midwife is supported by a maternity nurse, the midwife calls them during your delivery to come and assist. In the hospital, this support is done by a nurse of the midwifery ward if the delivery is medical. Often this nurse does have several patients, so she may not stay with you the whole time.
Water birth
We have extensive experience in assisting water births. This can be done at home in your own birthing pool but also in the hospital under our supervision in the delivery rooms. Are you interested in a hospital water birth, tell us at the consultation and we will tell you the ins & outs.
Birthing chair
The midwife always carries a birthing chair with her. A birthing chair is also available at the hospital. It is almost always possible to give birth on the birthing chair with our guidance, even in the hospital. If you already have a preference for the birthing chair or another pushing position – hands and knees, half-sitting, squatting, in the bath – prior to delivery, please let us know.
Cut or episiotomy
A cut is made only on indication, such as when the baby is in distress or there is not enough room. Anesthesia is always used before cutting or if sutures are needed.
Skin to skin
If all goes well with mother and baby, you will have the baby skin to skin on your chest immediately after the delivery. Here your baby may land quietly and, of course, be admired by its parents.
Umbilical cord
If possible, we always wait for the umbilical cord to stop pulsating before it will be cut. You get to choose whether you want to cut the umbilical cord and who will do it. We are open to a (half) Lotus delivery and have cordrings with us should you still want to cut the umbilical cord.
Breastfeeding
The baby is on your chest immediately after delivery. If your baby indicates it, he or she often crawls to the breast, the “breast crawl,” by themselves or we help you latch the baby on within an hour of birth.
Medical indication
The midwife will do everything in consultation with you and your partner. If a medical indication occurs, choices may be limited. The midwife will then tell you what policy she wants to follow and also explain why it seems best to her. If complications occur during labor, consultation may no longer be possible.
The midwife sometimes has to act right away for the sake of you and/or your child. Afterwards, the midwife will then explain what she did and why. If a medical indication occurs during your delivery, the midwife will transfer the care to the gynecologist or physician assistant to the gynecologist. If possible, the midwife will accompany you to the hospital to personally convey the progress up to that point.
After that, the gynecologist is fully responsible for your delivery and will also guide you further. The midwife may stay with you in some cases if possible for support but will no longer have an active role.
Good preparation is half the battle!
Schedule
Midwives work in shifts. The midwife on duty will assist you during the delivery. Unfortunately, it is not possible to indicate a preference for a midwife, this would be practically impossible to realize.
Interns
In our practice, students of the midwifery academy do their internship. Depending on the grade and the level of the trainee, she will perform some actions independently. An intern always works under the responsibility of the midwife and will never supervise a delivery completely independently. The midwife will always be present. Should you be uncomfortable with an intern being present during your delivery, please indicate this. The midwife will always ask permission in advance for the presence of an intern.
Home birth
For home or outpatient deliveries, the midwife is supported by a maternity nurse, the midwife calls them during your delivery to come and assist. In the hospital, this support is done by a nurse if the delivery is medical. Often this nurse does have several patients, so she may not stay with you the whole time.
Water birth
We have extensive experience in assisting water births. This can be done at home in your own birthing pool but also in the hospital under our supervision in the delivery rooms. Are you interested in a hospital water birth, tell us at the consultation and we will tell you the ins & outs.
Birthing chair
The midwife always carries a birthing chair with her. A birthing chair is also available at the hospital. It is almost always possible to give birth on the birthing chair with our guidance, even in the hospital. If you already have a preference for the birthing chair or another pressing position – hands and knees, half-sitting, squatting, in the bath – prior to delivery, please indicate this.
Cut or episiotomy
A cut is made only on indication, such as when the baby is in distress or there is not enough room. Anesthesia is always used before cutting or if sutures are needed.
Skin to skin
If all goes well with mother and baby, you will have the baby skin to skin on your chest immediately after delivery. Here your baby may land quietly and, of course, be admired by its parents.
Umbilical cord
If possible, we always wait for the umbilical cord to stop pulsating before it will be cut. You get to choose whether you want to cut the umbilical cord and who will do it. We are open to a (half) Lotus delivery and have cordrings with us should you still want to cut the umbilical cord.
Breastfeeding
The baby is on your chest immediately after delivery. If your baby indicates it, he or she often crawls to the breast, the “breast crawl,” by themselves or we help you put the baby on within an hour of birth.”
Medical indication
The midwife will do everything in consultation with you and your partner. If a medical indication arises, choices may be limited. The midwife will then tell you what policy she wants to follow and also explain why it seems best to her. If complications occur during labor, consultation may no longer be possible.
The midwife sometimes has to act right away for the sake of you and/or your child. Afterwards, the midwife will then explain what she did and why. If a medical indication occurs during your delivery, the midwife will transfer the care to the gynecologist or physician assistant to the gynecologist. If possible, the midwife will accompany you to the hospital to personally convey the progress up to that point.
After that, the gynecologist is fully responsible for your delivery and will also guide you further. The midwife may stay with you in some cases if possible for support but will no longer have an active role.
