Given that I’ve already experienced one pregnancy in the US, I thought I’d write a post about the Dutch maternity system. It’s pretty different from the US — much more hands-off. A friend of mine recently referred to it as “free-range pregnancy,” which I think is a pretty apt description.
When I was pregnant with Prim, here’s how the first trimester was:
- blood test at 5 weeks to confirm pregnancy and measure HCG levels
- blood test 2 days later to confirm HCG levels were at least doubling
- doctor appointment and ultrasound at 6 weeks to confirm pregnancy with heartbeat
- blood test to screen for antibodies, Rh, iron levels, etc.
- doctor appointment at 10 weeks
- ultrasound at 10 weeks to confirm due date
- early glucose test due to family history of gestational diabetes
- blood test for NT scan
- NT scan ultrasound at 12 weeks
- doctor appointment at 14 weeks
Here’s the first trimester in Amsterdam (omitting all the hospital crap I had to do due to the Hyperemesis Gravidarum):
- doctor appt at 6 weeks to establish relationship with midwife
- 6 week ultrasound to confirm pregnancy with heartbeat
- 10 week ultrasound to confirm due date
- blood test for NT scan/blood test to screen for antibodies, Rh, iron levels, etc.
- these tests are done together so you only have to go in for one blood draw
- NT scan ultrasound at 12 weeks
- midwife appointment at 13 weeks
The three things in italics above are things that are not customary in the Dutch system. We opted into these and paid out of pocket for them. If you went “straight Dutch” you would have two midwife appointments, the dating ultrasound and one blood test during the first trimester — that’s it!
Also, when I would go in for a routine doctor’s appointment in the US they would weigh me, have me pee in a cup, take my blood pressure, measure the height of my uterus, and listen to the baby’s heartbeat on the doppler. Here a standard midwife appointment is getting my blood pressure taken, having the midwife feel how my uterus is growing, and listening to the baby’s heartbeat on the doppler. That’s right — THEY DON’T WEIGH YOU. I’m kind of into it.
It’s also not customary to do the glucose/gestational diabetes test here. They apparently only test you if you have some sort of risk factor. And aside from the GD test (if you’re required to take it), there is no other blood work required after the single test done in the first trimester. Bananas!
I’ll fill you in on the delivery planning here on a later date, because that’s a whole other animal. But yeah, if you’re into hands-off pregnancy, maybe plan your next one to be here in the Netherlands!