Kraamzorg, Birth Boxes and Bicycles: One Dutch Mum's Honest Take on Pregnancy and Motherhood in the Netherlands A few months ago, Nina took us to Australia and showed us what pregnancy, birth and early parenthood looks like on the other side of the world. Today, we are travelling again — this time to the Netherlands. Today I am sitting down with Suzy — a Dutch mum of two — who takes us through her experience of pregnancy, birth and early motherhood in a country that does things rather differently. And rather brilliantly. Now, I came into this conversation thinking I already knew a fair bit. I had heard about the Kraamzorg — the remarkable Dutch system that sends a trained maternity nurse to your home in those first days after your baby arrives, to support you, guide you and make sure you are not left to figure it all out alone. I was curious. I had questions. I was ready. What I was not ready for was quite how much more there was to discover. Suzy walks us through the Dutch midwifery model — a system built on the belief that pregnancy is a natural process, not a medical one, and that women's bodies are to be trusted. She tells us about the little birth box that every expectant mother in the Netherlands receives as she prepares to welcome her baby. She talks about the genuine, structured space given to the second parent — time that is not an afterthought but a priority. And she paints a picture of daily family life in the Netherlands that is warm, practical, and quietly inspiring. But Suzy's story is not just a window into a system. It is also a very personal one. Her two births could not have been more different from each other. One took an unexpected turn at the very last minute. And the other — well. You are going to want to hear that one for yourself. This is a feel good episode. It is fascinating, it is warm, and it left me thinking — as Nina's episode did before it — about what is possible. About what we deserve. And about how much we can learn when we dare to look at how someone else does things. In this episode we talk about: Pregnancy care in the Netherlands and the midwifery modelThe Dutch philosophy that pregnancy is a natural process, not a medical oneThe birth box every expectant mother in the Netherlands receivesThe Kraamzorg — what it is, what it looks like in practice, and why Suzy loved itThe space given to the second parent and what that meant for Suzy's familyThe role of the bicycle in Dutch family lifeSuzy's first birth — and the unexpected last minute twistSuzy's second birth — a story you will not see comingThe similarities and differences between Dutch and UK maternity careWhat the Netherlands does brilliantly — and what the UK could learn from itWhat is the Kraamzorg? The Kraamzorg is one of the most distinctive features of Dutch maternity care. After giving birth, every new mother in the Netherlands is entitled to a kraamverzorgster — a trained maternity nurse — who visits the home for up to eight days after the birth, for several hours each day. She monitors the health of both mother and baby, supports with breastfeeding, helps with older siblings, and ensures the family is settling well. It is part of the standard Dutch maternity package and is covered by health insurance. A genuinely extraordinary system that leaves many parents in other countries wondering — why don't we have this? Resources & Further Reading Dutch Maternity Care Netherlands Midwifery — KNOV — knov.nl — the Royal Dutch Organisation of Midwives, with information on midwifery care in the NetherlandsKraamzorg Nederland — kraamzorgnederland.nl — information on Kraamzorg services across the NetherlandsExpatica — Having a Baby in the Netherlands — expatica.com — a helpful overview of what to expect from pregnancy and birth in the Netherlands, particularly useful for expatsUK Maternity Care & Pelvic Health Birthrights — birthrights.org.uk — a charity protecting human rights in childbirth, including the right to informed choice in maternity careTommy's — tommys.org — information and support throughout pregnancy and beyondSqueezy App — squeezyapp.co.uk — the NHS recommended pelvic floor exercise app, because as we have learned from both Nina and Suzy — pelvic health matters and we should all be talking about it moreHome Birth Support Homebirth UK — homebirth.org.uk — information and support for anyone considering or who has experienced a home birth in the UKWhich? Birth Choice — which.co.uk/birth-choice — helps you explore all your birth options and maternity services locallyIf this episode made you curious, made you smile, or made you think — share it. Send it to your pregnant friend, your midwife, your antenatal group. Because the more we talk about what is possible, the harder it becomes to settle for less. And as always, thank you for being part of this village. 💛 💛 Raising with the Village This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood. New episodes every Thursday! 🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/ 📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage 🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms. If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.
