Home birth or hospital birth: what changes for your maternity care?

Three places to give birth

In the Netherlands you can give birth at home, as an outpatient in hospital (without a medical indication), or in hospital on medical grounds. Which of the three suits you best is something you discuss with your midwife — that's a medical and personal decision this article won't make for you. What we do explain here is what each option means practically for how your maternity care is organised.

Home birth: maternity care is there from the start

With a home birth, your midwife calls your maternity carer as soon as labour gets going. She supports you and your partner already during the birth itself — think of preparing supplies and advice on managing contractions. After the birth she usually stays at least a few more hours: she does the first medical checks, helps you shower, and supports the first feeding.

Outpatient hospital birth: you go home, then maternity care starts at home

With an outpatient hospital birth, labour starts at home; you go to hospital during the dilation phase. Without a medical indication, you usually go home again within a few hours of the birth. Maternity care at home follows on directly once you're back — the same care as with a home birth, just starting after your return from hospital instead of already during the birth itself.

Birth on medical grounds: hospital days count toward your hours

If you give birth in hospital for medical reasons, the stay can be longer. As also described in Maternity care after a caesarean section, the hours you spend in hospital count toward the total number of indicated maternity care hours — the longer you stay there, the fewer hours in principle remain for at home.

Difference in reimbursement

A home birth is fully covered by basic insurance. With an outpatient hospital birth without a medical indication, a co-payment can apply. See Maternity care and your insurance policy for a checklist to check this kind of thing with your health insurer in advance.

In short

• Where you give birth (home, outpatient, or on medical grounds) is a medical and personal choice — discuss this with your midwife.
• With a home birth, the maternity carer is there already from the start of the birth.
• With an outpatient hospital birth, maternity care at home starts once you're back from hospital.
• With a birth on medical grounds, hospital days count toward your total indicated hours.
• Check with your insurer whether a co-payment applies for an outpatient hospital birth.

Also read Maternity care and your insurance policy: what to check before the baby arrives?