Baby!

In different countries, people do things differently. Little things, but also the big things in life.
Marriage, death, but let’s start at the beginning of everything: birth. Some things are the same for all women: the pregnancy ailments, morning sickness, the cravings, swollen ankles.

In the Netherlands parents to be have their own ways of doing things. First of all, when expecting a baby, many mothers and fathers don’t wanna know whether their baby is a boy or a girl. This is changing a bit over the last years, but traditionally this is the case. And even if they know, they often keep it a secret to friends and family. So when you know somebody that is expecting a baby, the first question you ask after delivery is: Is it a boy or a girl?

Then the delivery. After reading this you might ask: Why? Most of the Dutch women don’t go to the hospital to give birth, but they deliver their baby at home. Of course there is medical assistance, and when things are getting tricky, the woman goes to the hospital after all. The plus side? You are in your own safe environment, and it cuts medical costs. The downside? Noting beats the safety of the hospital.

Ever heard of an epidural? Dutch women haven’t. While in other countries, all women get some medicine to help them through the horror of delivery, Dutch women do it the natural way. They feel every contraction, pang, tear while they are pushing a head out of their vagina. Are these women out of their mind? Probably! So why are they doing this? It is just the way we do it!

Lisanne