Dam Parenting

Dam Parenting Podcast
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Parenting in the Netherlands as an international family can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to do it alone. DAM Parenting is a weekly podcast supporting international parents through pregnancy, birth, and parenthood in the Dutch system. With 165+ episodes, we explore everything from giving birth in a system you may not fully understand to raising third-culture kids in multilingual homes. Featuring real birth stories, expert insights, and honest conversations, this is your space for clarity, reassurance, and community. You are not alone.

  1. Mother-Assisted C-Section in the Netherlands: Your Rights, Your Birth, Your Choice | Dr. Koen Deurloo

    9 HR AGO

    Mother-Assisted C-Section in the Netherlands: Your Rights, Your Birth, Your Choice | Dr. Koen Deurloo

    April is International Cesarean Awareness Month — and I can think of no better time to bring back one of our most-loved episodes. In the Netherlands, the cultural weight around birth can make a cesarean feel like a deviation from the "right" path. But what if a C-section could still be a deeply empowering, connected, and beautiful birth experience? Dr. Koen Deurloo, OB-GYN at Diakonessenhuis Utrecht, is proof that it absolutely can. Dr. Deurloo is the pioneer of the mother-assisted cesarean — a practice he developed in 2017 in which the birthing parent plays an active, physical role in their own surgical birth. Since then, he has performed around 400 mother-assisted births, published his book Door de ogen van een gynaecoloog, and is now training gynecologists across the Netherlands to bring this option to more hospitals. In this episode, together with Dr. Deurloo we explore: What a mother-assisted cesarean actually looks like — and why it's just 4 extra minutesHow the Dutch medical system approaches maternal agency in the operating theaterSkin-to-skin contact, postpartum recovery, and bonding after a cesareanHow to advocate for your birth preferences — even when the system pushes backWhy cesarean births deserve to be honored, not minimizedWhether you're planning a C-section, want to be prepared for every birth path, or simply believe that mothers deserve to feel empowered in every delivery room — this episode is for you. Find Dr. Deurloo:📱 Instagram: @kldloo💻 Expert at Ouders van Nu & How About Mom

    50 min

  2. 25 MAR

    I Thought I’d Feel Better By Now — A Spring Check-In for Tired Parents

    I thought I’d feel better by now. The days are longer. The light is back.But instead of feeling energised… many parents feel exhausted, heavy, and behind. In this episode, I’m sharing what it really feels like to come out of winter in motherhood—the emotional backlog, the pressure to re-engage, and why spring isn’t always a fresh start. If this is where you are right now, this episode is for you.

    6 min
  3. Navigating Cancer in the Netherlands as an Expat | Support for English-Speaking Internationals

    20 MAR

    Navigating Cancer in the Netherlands as an Expat | Support for English-Speaking Internationals

    Cancer as an expat in the Netherlands hits differently. In this episode of DAM Parenting, we speak with Katherine, founder of Cancer Support Netherlands — a Dutch non-profit offering English-language, community-based support for internationals navigating cancer. Being diagnosed with cancer can turn life upside down. But for those living far from home — expats, immigrants, international families — the experience can feel even more isolating. Navigating treatment in a different language, without your usual support systems, while trying to process the emotional weight of illness… can be overwhelming. Cancer Support Netherlands was created to bridge this gap. In this episode, we explore: • What it means to face cancer while living abroad • Language barriers in the Dutch healthcare system • The emotional reality of illness without family nearby • Support for partners, caregivers, and families • The importance of English-language peer support • How community spaces can change the experience of cancer Cancer Support Netherlands offers: • Confidential peer support groups • English-language community spaces • Events, workshops, and expert-led sessions • Support for patients, survivors, and caregivers • Flexible ways to connect — privately or in community They welcome: • Expats and internationals • Migrants and immigrants • Refugees • Binational families • Long-term residents • Anyone who feels most comfortable expressing themselves in English This episode is released in recognition of Daffodil Day — a national day of cancer awareness in Ireland. Because cancer awareness isn’t just one day a year. And for those living abroad, the need for support doesn’t follow a calendar. If you are navigating cancer, supporting someone who is, or part of an international community in the Netherlands — this episode is for you. No one should face cancer alone. And language should never be a barrier to support. Links for suport: Public Page (Friends & Supporters) Follow our work, events, advocacy and Hive Network updates: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bm2VGKr5b/?mibextid=wwXIfr  Facebook Private Support Group (confidential space) For emotional support, connection, and sharing with others affected by cancer: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DBabL8fWr/?mibextid=wwXIfr  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cancer_support_netherlands  LinkedIn https://nl.linkedin.com/company/cancer-support-netherlands

    29 min
  4. Autism & Bilingualism: You Don't Have to Choose with Mimi

    18 MAR

    Autism & Bilingualism: You Don't Have to Choose with Mimi

    You've just received an autism diagnosis for your child — and suddenly someone tells you to stop speaking your home language. For international families in the Netherlands, that advice doesn't just feel wrong. It feels like losing a piece of who you are. In this episode, Eva sits down with linguist and multilingualism specialist Mimi Potvin to talk about what the research actually says about raising autistic children in multilingual families — and why so much of the advice parents receive is simply not supported by science. After listening, you'll know why bilingualism does not cause additional language delays in autistic children, what actually happens when families are told to drop their home language, and how to build a flexible, child-led language approach that supports both development and belonging. New episodes every week. Subscribe wherever you listen.

    21 min
  5. Matrescence & Body Image: Why Motherhood Changes How We See Our Bodies | Ilena Standring

    11 MAR

    Matrescence & Body Image: Why Motherhood Changes How We See Our Bodies | Ilena Standring

    Becoming a mother is a total biological and psychological transformation, yet society often expects us to "bounce back" as if nothing happened. In this archive favorite, Eva continues the conversation on matrescence with Amsterdam-based doula Ilena Standring, focusing on the deeply personal topic of body image. We move past the superficial to have a warm, honest, and direct conversation about why so many women feel like strangers in their own skin after pregnancy. We explore how patriarchal beauty standards and diet culture complicate the postpartum experience, and why shifting your focus from body perfection to body functionality can be life-changing. Please note: this episode touches on sensitive topics, including trauma and sexual abuse. This is a journey toward learning to inhabit yourself again—not as the person you were before, but as the woman you are now. Your body adapted, healed, and sustained life; it’s time to offer it the compassion it deserves.

    54 min
  6. Matrescence Explained: Why Mothers Feel Like They are Losing Their Identity

    7 MAR

    Matrescence Explained: Why Mothers Feel Like They are Losing Their Identity

    Matrescence isn't a one-time event; it’s an ongoing evolution. In this special archive episode of Dam Parenting, we revisit a powerful conversation with Amsterdam-based doula Ilena Standring that is just as relevant today as it was two years ago. While many of us have now heard the term "matrescence," we often still struggle with the quiet, daily reality of feeling like we’ve lost ourselves in the process of raising children. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at the emotional and psychological rewiring that happens when we become mothers. Ilena shares her profound insights on holding space for this transition, helping you recognize that the "identity fog" you might be feeling isn't a failure—it's a transformation. Whether you are a new parent or years into the journey, this episode is a reminder to bring these silent shifts back into the light. It’s time to stop just surviving your new identity and start honoring the woman you are becoming.

    1hr 4min
  7. The Identity Shift in Motherhood: Understanding Matrescence

    4 MAR

    The Identity Shift in Motherhood: Understanding Matrescence

    Why is it that 67% of mothers have never heard the word "matrescence," yet almost all of them are living through it? In this powerful and essential conversation, Eva sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Naomi Gibson to unpack the developmental process of becoming a mother. Much like adolescence, matrescence involves a massive rewiring of the brain, hormonal shifts, and a complete reorganization of your identity. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at why so many mothers—especially those raising families abroad—feel "lost" after having a baby. We explore why defining yourself solely as a "mother" can be harmful to your mental health and how to navigate the dip in self-esteem that often follows this life-altering transition. If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and asked, "Who am I now?" this episode is your permission slip to acknowledge that you aren't just a parent—you are a woman in the middle of a massive evolution.

    51 min
  8. Parenting a Child with a Rare Disease: Support and Community in the Netherlands

    28 FEB

    Parenting a Child with a Rare Disease: Support and Community in the Netherlands

    Parenthood rarely follows the script we imagine, but for families navigating a rare disease diagnosis, the shift can feel overwhelming. In this warm, honest, and direct episode for Rare Disease Day, Eva is joined by Sarah, who shares her family’s lived experience of parenting in the Netherlands through the lens of a rare condition. We move past the clinical details to discuss the "human" side: the initial grief, the search for a diagnosis, and the power of finding a community that truly understands. Sarah introduces A Different Story, a vital space created for parents in the Netherlands to be seen, heard, and held. We discuss how labels can serve as tools for finding support rather than reasons for hiding, and why building a village of "rare" parents is essential for maintaining your own resilience. Whether you are at the start of a diagnostic journey or are looking for ways to advocate for your child’s dignity, this episode reminds you that you don't have to navigate the path alone.

    23 min
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About

Parenting in the Netherlands as an international family can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to do it alone. DAM Parenting is a weekly podcast supporting international parents through pregnancy, birth, and parenthood in the Dutch system. With 165+ episodes, we explore everything from giving birth in a system you may not fully understand to raising third-culture kids in multilingual homes. Featuring real birth stories, expert insights, and honest conversations, this is your space for clarity, reassurance, and community. You are not alone.

Information

  • Creator
    Dam Parenting Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    197
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dam Parenting Podcast
  • Show Website
    Dam Parenting

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