Childbirth in My Life and Around the World 

On June 25, 1997 at 2:30am my water broke and the contractions started.  By 8:00am, the contractions were about 6 minutes a part, so my husband and I left for the hospital.  Everything was going along like it said in the books.  Once we arrived at the hospital, the contractions stopped being regular.  They gave me medicine to help them along.  Nothing was working, except the epidural!  After 19 hours, my temperature started to rise, putting me and the baby at risk for infection.  At 10:00pm, the doctor decided on an emergency C-section.  Even though I was an educated 27 year old, who had read all the “pregnancy books” and attended Lamaze classes, I was not prepared for this scenario.  I was exhausted mentally and physically and just wanted the safe arrival of my baby.  I had never been in an operating room before. Fortunately, my husband was able to be in there with me.  I was not able to see any of the delivery, and they whisked my baby girl away after I had a quick look at her.  I didn’t even get to touch her.  She was perfectly beautiful and healthy.  I held her for the first time when they brought her to me in the recovery room at midnight.  It was one of the longest and most rewarding days of my life.   

The Netherlands

“The Netherlands has the highest percentage of home births in the western world,” said Sjaak Toet, chairman of the Dutch association of midwives KNOV.  About 30% give birth at home and 10% at special out-patient birthing clinics.  The main reasons why so many mothers choose home births are because “it runs in the family” (their own mothers did it) and because of insurance.  Insurance does not cover the full cost of a hospital birth unless it is a medical reason.  Home births and midwives are free.  The midwives are very skilled, knowledgeable and highly qualified to assist in normal births.  Many mothers choose a home setting for their second or third births because it is more relaxing.  For a home birth, you progress at your own rate.  The midwife can only administer over-the-counter pain relief.  In addition, the midwife will come do a home visit within 10 days after the delivery.   

What I found especially fascinating was that during the first 8 days after giving birth, in the Netherlands, a professional maternity nurse will come to your home and look after you and your baby.  Generally, insurance will cover this cost.  The maternity nurse’s duties include showing you how to care for the baby, how to bathe him/her, and how to breastfeed properly.  The maternity nurse will also help with the other children, prepare meals, take care of laundry, and do light housekeeping. 

I think one’s birth experience does impact child development because APGAR scores are taken at the one and five minute marks for a reason.  Although, I have known babies who have overcome an extremely low initial APGAR score, it was with medical assistance that their scores were improved at the 5 minute mark.  Oxygen levels are crucial and inadequate levels can cause brain damage.

http://www.passionateparenting.nl/pregnancy-and-birth/having-a-baby-in-the-netherlands.php
http://www.expatica.com/nl/essentials_moving_to/essentials/childbirth-in-holland-38191.html