Register for maternity care
You can contact a midwifery practice yourself. If you have a medical condition, take medicines or have had a complicated pregnancy before, mention this straight away. Your midwife will work with you to determine which care is appropriate and can consult your GP or gynaecologist if needed.
Before the first appointment, write down when your last period began, which medicines and supplements you take and which illnesses run in your family. Do not stop prescribed medication on your own initiative. Also discuss work, mental health, smoking, alcohol and other circumstances that could affect your pregnancy.
Make room for questions and choices
Check-ups monitor matters including your health, the progress of the pregnancy and, later, your baby’s growth and position. The check-up schedule is not a fixed package for everyone. Extra tests or support may be needed, while a healthy pregnancy may need only routine appointments.
Ask how to reach the practice outside office hours, when you should call and where to find your results. Say which language support, explanations or other support you need. You may bring someone to an appointment and, where medically possible, ask for time to consider a choice.
Arrange kraamzorg early
Kraamzorg provides support with checks, feeding and care during the first days after birth. Availability varies by region and period. Registering early in pregnancy increases the chance that a provider has capacity, but the final number of hours is agreed later based on the parent’s and child’s situation.
Kraamzorg is covered by basic health insurance. A statutory personal contribution may apply, and supplementary insurance may sometimes cover part of it. Check your policy and ask the chosen provider how the intake, planning and any changes work.
Discuss food and supplements
Voedingscentrum advises taking 400 micrograms of folic acid each day from the time you plan to become pregnant until ten weeks into pregnancy. It also advises taking 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day throughout pregnancy. Check the amount on the label, including when you use a multivitamin.
Choose supplements intended for pregnancy and discuss additional products with your midwife. Taking more is not automatically better. The free ZwangerHap app from Voedingscentrum lets you look up which foods are safe to eat during pregnancy.
Create a small personal file
Keep the contact details for your midwife, GP, pharmacy, kraamzorg provider and health insurer together. Note allergies, medication and important appointments. A paper list is useful if your phone runs out of power or someone else needs to call on your behalf.
Use this guide to prepare, not as a substitute for personal healthcare advice. If you experience bleeding, severe abdominal pain, breathlessness, a severe headache, your baby moving less later in pregnancy or any concern, contact your midwife or other clinician according to the call instructions you were given.
Sources for this guide
This guide provides general information. Your healthcare professional or the competent authority can explain what applies in your situation.
- Rijksoverheid: checklist for having a childAccessed on 2026-09-07
- Zorginstituut Nederland: midwifery careAccessed on 2026-09-07
- De Verloskundige: information for pregnant peopleAccessed on 2026-09-07
- Voedingscentrum: supplements during pregnancyAccessed on 2026-09-07
- Voedingscentrum: healthy eating during pregnancyAccessed on 2026-09-07