Dam Parenting

Dam Parenting Podcast
  • 5.0 (7)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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 175+ 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. What's actually normal after birth (and what isn't) — pelvic floor physiotherapy in the Netherlands

    1D AGO

    What's actually normal after birth (and what isn't) — pelvic floor physiotherapy in the Netherlands

    After birth, so many women are told their symptoms are normal — and then left to quietly wonder if they are. Leaking, pain, pressure, discomfort during sex. Normal? Or not?This week I'm joined by Sophia, a pelvic floor physiotherapist based in The Hague with 13 years of specialist experience — and an immigrant herself who understands the unique position international families are in when navigating Dutch healthcare.We cover what's actually normal in the first six weeks postpartum, when to seek help, what a pelvic floor physio appointment in the Netherlands actually involves (including the parts nobody warns you about), and the one thing Sophia wants every woman to hear: there is always a solution.For the international parent in the Netherlands sitting with something they haven't told anyone: this one is for you.

    22 min

  2. 2D AGO

    Late night recording - but for us on Mothers Day

    After a late phone call with a friend, I felt the urge to record something very different than usual, as we already are bombarderd with Mothers Day deals, discounts and bundles - but the reality is - we don't want or need more stuff. Our mental overload is barely dealing with managing our home as it is. So this was mine to you. Just words - and acknowledgement for all you go through, raisinig kids, on the daily. Happy Mothers day.

    5 min
  3. Why Pregnancy Loss Doesn't End When a Healthy Baby Arrives

    6D AGO

    Why Pregnancy Loss Doesn't End When a Healthy Baby Arrives

    There are some experiences in motherhood that don't end when we think they will. Pregnancy loss is often spoken about as something that happens — and then we move forward. But what's talked about far less is what happens when the grief doesn't stay in the past. When it returns in another pregnancy. Or shows up after your healthy baby is born. Today I'm joined by Dr. Renée Out — a doctor, bereavement counsellor, and founder of Renée Begeleiding — who works closely with women navigating the emotional impact of miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, and medical pregnancy loss. We talk about why grief doesn't follow timelines, why a healthy baby doesn't erase a previous loss, how the body holds what the mind tries to move past, and what partners can actually do to help. If you've ever thought: "I should feel grateful… so why do I still feel this?" — this one is for you. Part of our Maternal Mental Health Month series.

    15 min
  4. The Hard Conversations — Postpartum Rage: What It Is, Why It Happens, and What To Do About It

    MAY 4

    The Hard Conversations — Postpartum Rage: What It Is, Why It Happens, and What To Do About It

    Nobody told you about this part. Not the rage that rises out of nowhere. Not the way you can go from calm to completely overwhelmed in seconds. Not the fact that it usually lands on the person closest to you — your partner — while the actual source of the pressure stays invisible. Postpartum rage is one of the most common — and most misunderstood — experiences of new motherhood. It is not a character flaw. It is a nervous system under siege. In this episode — the first of our monthly Maternal Mental Health series — I'm joined by Dr. Naomi Gibson, couples therapist and returning Dam Parenting residental guest, to talk about what postpartum rage actually is, when it happens, why it targets our partners, and what help looks like here in the Netherlands. We cover: the clinical definition and why it's not in the DSM | the hormone and sleep science | the expat isolation layer | accessing support via verloskundige, huisarts, and GGZ | and how couples can start to talk about this. This one is for the parent who is holding it together on the outside. You are not alone.

    32 min

  5. MAY 1

    Maternal Menal Health Month - it starts here.

    This month is about the conversations we don’t say out loud. I’m bringing in familiar voices and new ones to talk about maternal mental health, the reality of motherhood, and what it actually feels like beneath the surface. These are not easy conversations.They may feel uncomfortable at times. But they matter. Because motherhood can be both a gift…and one of the most draining, excruciating, identity-shifting experiences we go through. And yet, so many of us are expected to carry onas if our entire world hasn’t been turned upside down. These episodes are not for everyone. But they are for someone. They’re not here to give you answers.They’re not here to “fix” anything. They’re here so you can hear something and think: “Okay… it’s not just me.” You are not meant to suffer in silence.You are not meant to do this without support.You are not meant to navigate this without a village. So take what you need from this month. Leave what you don’t. And if something resonates—reach out, share it, or start a conversation of your own. Because it matters. And you matter in this too.

    9 min
  6. Maternity Rights in the Netherlands: What Every International Parent Needs to Know

    APR 29

    Maternity Rights in the Netherlands: What Every International Parent Needs to Know

    Are you pregnant in the Netherlands — and not sure what your rights at work actually are? You are not alone. This is the most asked-about topic in international parent communities, and in this episode we finally get it answered properly — by an employment lawyer. Eva sits down with Ferline van Laerhoven, founder of Fair Line Law and Dutch employment law specialist, who has spent a decade working with international companies and employees in the Netherlands. In this conversation they cover: →  When you are legally required to tell your employer you're pregnant →  Whether employers are allowed to ask if you're pregnant (even in a job interview) →  Medical appointments and prenatal checks — are they paid time? →  What workplace adjustments employers must legally provide →  Night shifts, overtime and physically demanding work during pregnancy →  Extra paid rest breaks — the legal right most people don't know they have →  Sick leave during pregnancy: why it is treated differently, and why you get 100% →  How sick leave interacts with maternity leave length →  What happens after maternity leave ends if you're still unwell (including PPD/PPA) →  The 16 weeks: how it splits, how it's applied for, and the WAZO process →  Permanent contracts, temporary contracts, part-time and freelancer rights →  What non-renewal of a contract while pregnant really means legally →  Miscarriage before and after 24 weeks — what Dutch law says right now →  The Amsterdam and Utrecht grievance policy — and what it means nationally →  Stillbirth rights and bereavement leave →  Documentation, complaint timelines and what to do when things go wrong →  Partner leave — the full 6-week picture RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Fair Line Law — employment lawyer specialising in pregnancy and parenthood at work Website: www.fairlinelaw.nl  Instagram: @fairlinelaw    Email: info@fairlinelaw.nl Juridisch Loket — free basic legal advice (income-dependent): www.juridischloket.nl UWV — Employee Insurance Agency, maternity benefit questions: www.uwv.nl Dam Parenting Podcast — questions and community: damparentingpodcast@gmail.com Paternity leave episode coming soon — send your questions to damparentingpodcast@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram.

    30 min
  7. You Can't Raise a Multilingual Child Alone — Building Your Language Village in the Netherlands

    APR 22

    You Can't Raise a Multilingual Child Alone — Building Your Language Village in the Netherlands

    If you've been carrying the weight of your child's minority language entirely on your own — this episode is going to change how you think about multilingual parenting. This week Eva is joined by multilingual family expert Eowyn to explore one of the most undertalked truths in raising bilingual children: you cannot do this alone, sustainably. Language lives in connection — not in one determined parent pushing harder. We talk about what a 'multilingual village' actually looks like for expat families in the Netherlands, how to build one intentionally when you don't have family nearby, the practical power of language partners and community events, and why having multiple people in your child's language life changes everything. Whether you're parenting in English, Bulgarian, Spanish, French or anything in between — this conversation will leave you feeling less alone and more equipped. For international families in the Netherlands, this is the permission to stop being a one-person show.

    20 min
  8. Why Dutch Supermarket “Healthy” Foods Can Be Misleading | Nutri-Score Explained

    APR 18

    Why Dutch Supermarket “Healthy” Foods Can Be Misleading | Nutri-Score Explained

    When I started moving beyond the easy first foods and into toddler snacks, pouches, crackers, and supermarket “healthy” options, I realised I had no idea what I was actually looking at. Why does one snack get a bright green A, while plain nuts or hummus score lower?How can the same crisps get a better Nutri-Score in the larger bag?And why are some brands now quietly removing their Nutri-Score altogether? In this solo DAM Parenting episode, I break down a fascinating Keuringsdienst van Waarde Dutch TV investigation into the Nutri-Score system — translated into English for international parents navigating Dutch supermarkets. We unpack: what Nutri-Score actually measures why it’s still voluntary across Europe how brands can “optimise” ultra-processed foods to score better why some frozen pizzas can jump from E to B why certain brands are now dropping the label under the stricter 2026 algorithm what this really means for baby snacks, toddler foods, and busy parents trying to make good choices If you’ve ever stood in a supermarket wondering whether the front of the packet matches what’s actually inside, this episode is for you. A practical, honest conversation about food labels, processed snacks, and the emotional labour of feeding a family in the Netherlands. If you enjoy these Dutch TV breakdown episodes, message me !

    9 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 175+ 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
    191
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Dam Parenting Podcast
  • Show Website
    Dam Parenting

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