FAQ

It is always useful to have a small suitcase or bag ready for your birth, even if you are planning a home birth. Please bring:

Nightwear / bathrobe

Warm socks / slippers

Toiletries

Clean underwear and clothing

Several sets of clothing for the baby (possibly in two sizes, depending on the season)

Insurance documents and ID

A camera (optional)

No, it is not possible to register in advance. You can include in your birth plan that you would like to give birth at Bevalcentrum Amsterdam.
When your labour begins, your midwife will call us to check availability and register you.

The birth centre does not have medical delivery rooms. If a medical indication arises during labour, you will be referred to a medical delivery room at the hospital. Your midwife will do her best to arrange a place at the hospital where you are, or at the nearest one.

Many complications can be handled independently by a midwife, both at home and at the birth centre. If the midwife needs the assistance of a gynaecologist (or a clinical midwife), the labour is usually continued in a medical delivery room. At the Oost location, your midwife will do her best to arrange a place at OLVG. It may happen that there is no availability at OLVG Oost. In that case, you will be referred to another hospital in the region. Your midwife can tell you more about this.

In case of emergency, there is always a place at OLVG Oost.

If you are at the Zuid location and a medical indication or complication arises during your labour, you will go under the guidance of your own midwife to a nearby hospital. These are all within a maximum 10-minute drive from the Zuid location.

For the sake of calm and quiet in the centre/hospital, it is not desirable to bring other children. In addition, giving birth is an intense event that can be traumatic for a (young) child to witness.This is a personal decision that you can discuss with your partner and your midwife.

Unfortunately, pets are not allowed at any of the locations of Bevalcentrum Amsterdam.

If everything goes well, you will go home with your baby about 2 to 3 hours after the birth (also at night). Most maternity care organisations provide support when you arrive home. If you still feel dizzy or nauseous after the birth, you may stay a little longer in consultation with your own midwife. Two hours after the birth of the placenta, maternity care begins. The hours you remain with us after that time will be offset against the hours of maternity care at home.

A maximum of 5 hours after the birth, it must be clear whether you can go home or whether you need to be admitted to the medical maternity ward.

You give birth with us under the guidance of your own midwife. Whether or not you can give birth with us is something you discuss with him or her. Together you will decide whether the travel distance from your home or your (temporary) stay address to one of our locations is safe during labour.

Research has shown that women are better able to cope with labour pain when they are supported by someone they trust. At Bevalcentrum Amsterdam, your own midwife and our experienced maternity care assistants can support you in managing labour pain.

A range of supportive options is available, such as a birthing ball, a birthing pool, a shower, aromatherapy, and medical nitrous oxide.
Click here for information about all our facilities.

Your own midwife, the maternity care assistant, and possibly a student midwife and/or trainee maternity care assistant (if you have given permission).
Of course, your partner is welcome, as well as one additional person. If you do not have a partner, two people may attend.

In certain situations, this can be deviated from, provided this is requested in advance by the midwife with BCO.

Families do not always consist of a mother and a father. We find it important that every parent has the opportunity to be present at the birth of their child.

In practice, we almost never have to refuse anyone because we are full. We have several rooms at our different locations that are usually not all occupied at the same time.However, due to the unpredictability of birth dates, we unfortunately cannot guarantee availability.

You may bring your own food and drinks, and it is sometimes possible to heat something up in the microwave. At our birth centres, we also have bread, spreads, fruit, dairy products, juice and soft drinks available. We are happy to prepare something for you.

We love receiving birth announcement cards. The addresses of the different locations can be found on the location pages for East and South. Please note that we display the card on a noticeboard in a public area. Would you like to know more about privacy at our birth centre? Read ourprivacy statement.

Click here for directions and parking for the East location.

Click here for directions and parking for the South location.

This page from KNOV is a very good link with information about pain management.

Yes, a little — but that is actually part of how it works, and it is temporary. Nitrous oxide (in this case medical nitrous oxide, always mixed with oxygen) makes sensations from your body come through a little less strongly. This makes a contraction feel less intense. The gas works on your nervous system and has a mild relaxing effect. Many women describe it as a pleasant haze. You may feel a little sluggish, but you remain fully conscious.
You can continue to talk, move and make choices. For safety reasons, at Bevalcentrum Amsterdam we do require that you remain lying down when using nitrous oxide. The effect disappears within a few minutes after you stop inhaling.

• It is therefore not an anaesthetic, but a temporary reduction of pain and tension.
• The nitrous oxide installation in a birth centre is safe and medically controlled; the oxygen–nitrous oxide ratio is continuously monitored.

No. Medical nitrous oxide is not the same as the “regular” nitrous oxide that is used recreationally. During labour, only medical nitrous oxide is used:
a safe, controlled mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen (50/50) that is specifically intended for medical applications. It is administered via a device that continuously monitors the correct ratio.
Recreational nitrous oxide does not contain oxygen, the quality is not guaranteed, and inhaling it can be dangerous. That type of nitrous oxide is never used in healthcare. In short: the composition, safety and application are completely different.

Yes, this is possible in consultation with your own midwife.
At Bevalcentrum Amsterdam, a birthing pool is available in all rooms at our various locations. We can have the pool filled and ready for you while you are on your way.

For our pools, we use hygienic disposable pool liners. If you use the pool, these are paid for on site. The cost is €65 and is not reimbursed by your health insurer.

If the cost is a concern for you, please discuss this with your midwife. She is aware of arrangements that may help cover these costs.

Every birthing room has a comfortable birthing pool, so it’s not neccessary to bring your own.

In most cases, a water birth is possible. It depends on your medical situation and how the labour progresses. Your midwife will always assess with you whether it is safe and remains responsible during your labour.

Yes. The pool is carefully cleaned and filled according to medical guidelines. During labour, we closely monitor the temperature and your wellbeing.
If for any reason it is no longer safe or comfortable at a certain point, you can step out of the pool and move to another place, such as the bed.

Usually only practical items: a top or vest (if you prefer), slippers and possibly a scent you like (aromatherapy is available via a diffuser).
The pool and materials are provided. You do pay on site for the liner that goes into the pool. The cost is €65, payable via QR code.

Yes. Many women find it pleasant to cope with contractions in warm water and later choose another place — for example the bed — to give birth. Both options are possible.

Ja. Je partner mag mee in het bevalbad. Al zijn deze niet heel groot, het kan wel.

Yes, every birthing room has a aroma diffuser, and we have several scents available. You may also bring your own oil.

It is not permitted to light candles, incense or oils in the birthing rooms. This is due to the smoke detectors and the oxygen connection points in the rooms.

If you would like to use scents, aromatherapy is available. Please ask the maternity care assistant about the options.

Deze kosten voor de bevalbadhoes bij een badbevalling, worden niet vergoed door uw zorgverzekering. U ontvangt hiervoor een factuur á € 65,-.

Het is mogelijk dat je verzekeraar geen contract heeft met Bevalcentrum Oost. In dat geval ontvang je van ons een factuur voor het volledige tarief. Je bent zelf verantwoordelijk voor tijdige betaling van het hele factuurbedrag. Informeer bij je eigen verzekeraar naar de mogelijkheden voor vergoeding.