Pregnancy and giving birth are less medical

In the Netherlands, pregnancy and giving birth are often seen as a natural event that usually does not involve medical intervention. Women can choose to give birth at home with the guidance of a midwife. This is an important difference from the healthcare systems in some other countries, where births usually take place in hospitals, with pain relief and medical procedures.

In the Netherlands, midwives are medical professionals who have completed a four-year training program and are qualified to guide pregnancies and births. Of course it is possible to choose pain relief or a hospital birth, but the standard in the Netherlands is often a less invasive approach.

Biggest difference: In many countries the hospital is the standard for giving birth, while in the Netherlands midwives and home births are more common. This can take some getting used to for new residents. 🌿