What if your maternity carer gets sick during the maternity week?
11-09-2026 — Kraamplein
Replacement is the standard procedure
If your maternity carer gets sick during the maternity week, the maternity care organisation arranges a replacement in consultation with you — that's the usual course of events at maternity care organisations. So in principle you don't need to organise this yourself.
With an independent maternity carer: the backup network
If you're working with an independent maternity carer, many independent professionals work with their own backup network — a network of colleagues who step in if she herself is unable to. So it's not the case that with an independent maternity carer you're automatically left without care in case of illness; it is good to know how this is arranged with your maternity carer specifically.
Can a replacement sometimes not be arranged immediately?
To be honest: sometimes yes, sometimes not right away. During busy periods or general capacity pressure in the sector, it can happen that a replacement maternity carer isn't immediately available. Should this happen, one option is to look together with your midwife at whether the number of remaining maternity care hours can be reduced, so the care period ends earlier — not ideal, but a realistic outcome to take into account.
What can you do yourself beforehand?
Feel free to ask during the intake interview how the organisation or your independent maternity carer arranges a replacement in case of illness. That gives you a realistic picture beforehand, rather than finding out only during the maternity week itself.
In short
- If your maternity carer gets sick, the organisation (or the backup network of an independent carer) usually arranges a replacement.
- During busy periods a replacement isn't always immediately available.
- One option in case of a shortage is reducing the remaining hours, in consultation with your midwife.
- Ask during the intake interview how this is exactly arranged, so you're not caught off guard.
Also read Independent maternity nurse or a maternity care agency: what suits you?
This article is general and informational and may be out of date or incomplete. It is not medical or personal advice; for your situation, what your midwife, GP or maternity care provider says applies. You cannot derive any rights from the content, and Kraamplein accepts no liability for damage arising from its use.
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