Ask whose care you are under
For an outpatient birth, your own midwife usually attends the birth in a hospital or birth centre. Where there is a medical reason, a clinical team takes responsibility. A transfer can also happen during labour.
Ask who to call when labour starts, where to go and whether you need to register in advance. Procedures vary by institution. Also check visitor rules, access and what the location provides.
Discuss comfort and pain relief
Not every location offers the same bathing facilities, aids or forms of pain relief. Discuss the available options in advance, how long you may need to wait for treatment and whether a choice affects monitoring or mobility.
You may have preferences and ask questions. The final choice is agreed with the healthcare professional based on your wishes and the medical situation. In your birth plan, focus on what helps you understand information and feel safe.
Check the financial aspects
A statutory personal contribution may apply to an outpatient birth without a medical reason. The institution may also charge costs above the maximum reimbursement. There is no personal contribution for midwifery care during a hospital birth for a medical reason.
Amounts are adjusted annually, and supplementary insurance policies differ. Ask your insurer for a current calculation in advance and ask the chosen location about its fees. Keep the confirmation with your other pregnancy documents.
Plan admission and the return home
Bring only what the institution advises for parent and baby. A stay may be short but can sometimes last longer. Arrange transport, care at home and a contact person who can take over practical matters.
After discharge, midwifery follow-up and kraamzorg are coordinated for the time you arrive home. Tell the hospital, midwife and kraamzorg provider when you leave. Ask which observations, medicines or follow-up appointments are important at home.
Sources for this guide
This guide provides general information. Your healthcare professional or the competent authority can explain what applies in your situation.
- De Verloskundige: home, hospital or birth centreAccessed on 2026-09-07
- Zorginstituut Nederland: midwifery care and personal contributionAccessed on 2026-09-07
- Zorginstituut Nederland: statutory personal contribution in 2026Accessed on 2026-09-07