Pregnant
Are you pregnant? If the midwife has confirmed your pregnancy, you can contact us and sign up for maternity care at “Kraamzorg Het Zonnetje.”
When you are first pregnant you will probably have a lot of questions, but as your pregnancy progresses more questions will arise. For example: What’s happening with my body? Where and how can I give birth? What items do I need? Which organizations do I need to inform about my pregnancy, and who will help me?
The obstetrician and/or general practitioner will be your first contact point for your pregnancy.
Pregnancy timeline
If you are 6 weeks, your baby, also known as an embryo, is about 15mm in size and is a small person.
At 8 weeks, your baby is no longer an embryo, but a fetus about 4cm long. The fetus is floating in amniotic fluid, and is connected to the mother by an umbilical cord. Your baby has muscles and can move a bit. Fingers are formed at this stage.
At 10 weeks, your baby is about 4,5 cm long and weighs 5 grams. Organs are developing, the tail is turning into bones, skin is forming, and the basic substance of early milk teeth are already formed.
In the 11th week, you can hear your baby’s heartbeat.
At 3 months, your baby is about 8 cm and weighs about 28 grams. Meanwhile, your baby is creating his/her own blood cells. The muscles are stronger, so your baby can kick, turn his/her head and move around in the stomach.
You are 4 months pregnant and your baby is about 15 cm and 125 grams. Genitals are developing and can easily be seen on the ultrasound (boy or girl?).
At 5 months, your baby is about 23 cm and 380 grams. The brains are developing and stimuli are being received. He/she reacts to sound, light (even when the eyes are still shut), and the physical exertion of mother.
From 28 weeks of pregnancy, your baby has a high survival rate outside the womb.
At 6 months, your baby is 35 cm and weighs roughly 720 grams. The nostrils are open and the baby is practicing breathing. As a result, the baby occasionally swallows amniotic fluid, causing hiccups. The mother can feel little jerking motions. Your baby can also hear the outside world and can quietly relax to sounds of music.
7 months and your baby is 38 cm and 1300 grams. He/she is moving constantly. The head is positioning itself down for the delivery. Finally, the digestive tract is working and the baby swallows more water.
At 8 months, your baby is 40 cm and weighs 2500 grams. Your baby has formed a fatty layer, changing his/her color from red to soft pink. He/she is positioned continuously head down.
Finally you are 9 months pregnant. Your baby is ready to be born.
Pregnancy complaints
Throughout pregnancy there are a few complaints that are common to have. Most of these complaints are caused by hormonal changes, such as an increase in estrogen. Anatomical changes can also cause certain complaints, such as of the increasing growing uterus. Always discuss with your midwife and/of general practitioner what you are experiencing.
Please note that not everyone has one or more of these complaints. It could possibly be that you do not experience any problems at all.
Pregnancy complaints may be:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vaginal spotting
- Breast sensitivity
- Fatigue and sleepiness
- Abdomen pain
- Headache
- Frequent urination
- Mood swings
- Dizziness
- Vaginal discharge
- Constipation
- Swollen feet
- Gastric acid/Heartburn
- Back problems
- Pelvic complaints
- Muscle cramps
- Dental problems
- Hemorrhoids
- Anemia
- Pigment spots
- Hard stomachs
- Striae
- Itchiness
- Varicose veins
Mothers for Mothers
Registration can be done via the toll-free number 0800-0228070. Information will be found on their website.
Childbirth
The expected date of delivery(EDD) is the predicted date of a pregnant woman’s delivery. This date is determined by the midwife and/or general practitioner.
Most births are currently taken place in a hospital. If you are 36 weeks(or less) pregnant, your delivery is early and will always take place in the hospital. If you are 42 weeks pregnant, you are going into overtime or post-term. You would also have to deliver in the hospital. Between week 37-42 of pregnancy, you can choose whether to give birth at home, at a birthing center, or at a hospital. Your midwife can tell you more about this.
In a hospital delivery, you are monitored by your midwife, clinical midwife, doctor’s assistant and/or gynecologist. At a home delivery, you are accompanied by your midwife and one of our maternity nurses.
Signs of beginning labor could include the following:
- Contractions and pain.
- Water breaking or rupture of the membranes.
- Bloody show of loss of mucus plug(slimy bloody discharge).
Active labor begins:
- The contractions come on a regular basis and last longer at shorter intervals (every 3-4 minutes, lasting 1-2 minute for at least one hour long). Your midwife will confirm that you are in active labor if you are 4 cm dilated.
Contact your midwife and/or physician when show signs of labor. If you want to deliver at home, the midwife will tell you when to contact us to send a maternity nurse to assist the midwife.
Delivery line 088-795 00 00 (option 2)
You can call this number when the following occurs: