- Always call during the day. (8-20 o clock) - Do not call at night if the baby’s head has descended properly, you are between 37 and 42 weeks pregnant, you are not having contractions and the amniotic fluid is clear. You should call in the morning. - If the baby’s head has not descended properly during the check, lie down and call the midwives day or night. - If the amniotic fluid is green or brown in colour, always call the midwive. It is normal to lose the mucus plug from 37 weeks. You do not need to call if you lose light pink or brown mucus.

Archief FAQs - Fem centrum vrouw en geboortezorg

Q: How do I register the birth of my baby?

You are required to register the birth of your baby within 3 days. This must be done in the municipality where your child was born. After registration, the registrar of births, deaths and marriages will issue a birth certificate. If birth registration is not possible due to a weekend or public holiday, the deadline is extended to ensure at least two working days remain to complete the registration.

Q: What is the heel prick test and why is it done?

Between the 4th and 7th day after your baby is born, the heel prick test will be performed. As the name suggests, this involves taking a small blood sample from your baby’s heel. It is important that the heel is warm. Most babies don’t mind the prick itself, but rather the squeezing of the heel — warming the heel beforehand usually helps prevent discomfort. The blood is tested for a range of conditions. These are mostly rare metabolic disorders that can be harmful to the baby but are treatable with medication or a special diet. The test also screens for adrenal and thyroid function, two hereditary forms of anemia (and carrier status), and cystic fibrosis. The heel prick is done at an early stage so treatment can start in time if needed. If you don’t hear from your GP or from us within 3 weeks, the results are normal. In rare cases, something may go wrong during testing and the heel prick needs to be repeated — but this is uncommon. Around the 36th week of pregnancy, you will receive a leaflet from us with more information about the heel prick test.

Q: What is the hearing test?

The hearing test is preferably performed within 2 weeks after birth, usually around day 5 of the postpartum period. Ideally, the test is done while the baby is asleep. A small earpiece is placed in the baby’s ear that emits a high-pitched sound. The test measures the echo that bounces back from the eardrum. The results are given immediately. If there is too much background noise, the test may need to be repeated. The hearing test is usually arranged by the maternity nurse.

Q: If I am under the care of a gynecologist during pregnancy, do I still need a midwife for the postpartum period?

If you are under the care of a gynecologist during pregnancy due to a medical indication and give birth in the hospital, there is often no reason to remain in the hospital after delivery. The gynecologist will transfer care to a midwife. We recommend registering with us during your pregnancy for this postnatal care. After the birth and your discharge from the hospital, we will visit you at home following our regular schedule of postpartum check-ups.

Q: What checks are performed?

We will visit you several times during the postpartum period. Together with the maternity nurse, we’ll check how you and your baby are doing. The maternity nurse keeps a record and will consult us if she notices anything unusual. For the mother, we monitor breast engorgement, uterine contraction, and the healing of any stitches. We also keep an eye on temperature, pulse, urine output, and bowel movements. In addition, we pay attention to your emotional well-being and check whether you’re experiencing more uncertainty than usual. For the baby, we observe skin color, urination and bowel movements, feeding behavior, and growth. The eighth day is, in principle, the last day of your postpartum period. We will transfer your baby's file to the Youth and Family Center. From this point on, care for your baby will be continued by the child health clinic.

Q: The Importance of Maternity Care

It is important to arrange maternity care early in your pregnancy. After the birth, the maternity nurse will come to your home and monitor the health of both mother and baby. She will help you care for your baby, support you with breastfeeding, and temporarily take over some household tasks. She also keeps a record for us. Maternity care is spread out over several days, with the nurse present for a few hours each day. We cannot do our work properly without good maternity care.

Q: How long does the postpartum period last?

In principle, the postpartum period lasts 8 days. If medically necessary, it may be extended to 10 days. The number of hours of maternity care you receive depends on your health insurance and medical situation. The Importance of Maternity Care It is important to arrange maternity care early in your pregnancy. After the birth, the maternity nurse will come to your home to monitor the health of both mother and baby. She will assist you with caring for your baby, support you with breastfeeding, and temporarily take over some household tasks. She also keeps a record for us. Maternity care is spread out over several days, with the nurse present for a few hours each day. We cannot do our job properly without good maternity care.

What are common complaints during the postpartum period?

How do I register the birth of my baby?

What is the heel prick test and why is it done?

What is the hearing test?

If I am under the care of a gynecologist during pregnancy, do I still need a midwife for the postpartum period?

What checks are performed?

The Importance of Maternity Care

How long does the postpartum period last?

What pain relief options are there?

Ruptured membranes

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