Pregnancy and what should you arrange?

Cohabitants

If you are not married, there is nothing legally regulated regarding the registration of your child. In this case, it is important to think about your child’s last name in advance. It is to be advised to arrange all the birth registration appointments at the town hall. You can make an appointment at the town hall or visit their website for more information. Custody of your child can be obtained through the courts, see www.rechtspraak.nl.

Arrange maternity care

The maternity nurse will assist us during your labor and during the first week after birth she will familiarize you with the care and feeding of your baby. Additional maternity care can be requested through your health insurance. It is very useful to apply for full maternity care. Especially when you are having your first baby.

The nurse can answer many questions from her tremendous amount of experience and will provide you with useful tips. She will also do some light household chores. Other forms of maternity care are also possible, for example, district care (3 hours / day). We work together most with Welkom Kraamzorg, a well known maternity care provider. Also, there are some private agencies ABC Kraamzorg, Kraamzorg 1op1, Kraamburo PVG, We Care Geboortezorg, Arons Zorg

Your diet

We promote a healthy and varied diet. It’s best to eat small portions throughout the day, rather than to eat 3 large meals a day.

Vitamins

When you are pregnant you need extra vitamin D. Vitamin D contributes to good calcium absorption from food. This is important for maintaining strong bones as mother and plays an important role in the baby’s bone development.
The Dutch Health Council recommends that all pregnant women use 10 micrograms of vitamin D supplements daily. These supplements are widely available through drugstores and pharmacies.

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasma is a parasite that can sit in stool from (especially young) cats, in soil contaminated by cat feces and raw or undercooked meat.

It’s best not to handle cat litter while pregnant. Also, do not work in the garden without wearing gloves and do not handle and/or eat raw meat or meat products. No roast beef carpaccio or steak tartar or poorly cooked steak, whatsoever.

Wash your vegetables well, and please wash your hands thoroughly after use.

Listeria bacteria

The listeria bacterium is found mainly in soft cheeses made from raw milk (French cheeses with the designation ‘au lait cru “on the packaging) and vacuum-packed fish such as smoked salmon and mackerel. Certainly do not eat fish when the expiration date is (almost) expired. The listeria bacterium grows well at refrigerator temperature and multiplies rapidly in foods that have been stored for too long.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

If you contract CMV during pregnancy (which probability is less than 1% because most people have contracted the disease during childhood), the virus can be transmitted to your baby. Cytomegalovirus can be contaminated through body fluids (blood, saliva, urine).

Tripe

Occasionally a sandwich with liver pate will not do any harm, but organ meats like liver contain lots of vitamin A, which can be harmful to your baby. Moderation is advised.

Caffeinated drinks

Research has shown that there is an increased risk for miscarriage if you drink a lot of coffee or other caffeinated beverages.

The nutrition center recommends no more than 300 milligrams of caffeine per day. Or, in other words:

• 3 cups of coffee and one cup of tea.
• 2 cups of coffee, 2 cups of tea and one glass of cola.
• 2 cups of coffee and 3 cups of tea.

Alcohol

Alcohol reaches your unborn child directly, via the placenta. The effects are significant, both before and after giving birth. Babies are often born too small due to the mother’s alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and most of the time the damage will not recuperate throughout the years. Also, damage to the central nervous system, the organs (including the heart) or a deviation of the eyes, for example, can be the result of drinking alcohol while being pregnant.

Especially during the first two months of pregnancy your baby is very sensitive to alcohol.

There is no answer to the question of “how much” alcohol you are allowed to drink.

As long as no one can tell how much alcohol is harmless, it is therefore best to not drink alcoholic beverages at all when you are planning to become pregnant and while you’re pregnant. It’s just too much of a risk to take.

You can read more about how to prevent infections in the flyer “I am pregnant. What can I do to not get infections?”