What is Kraamzorg? Everything You Need To Know

If you are expecting or planning for a baby in the Netherlands, you may have started to look into the local care system and wondered what it is kraamzorg? We will tell you what’s hiding behind that strange name and how it’ll help you in the very first few days after birth.

Postnatal support in the days following the birth of your baby ensures that you have time to recover from the birth, and that both you and your baby are healthy. In the Netherlands, the Kraamverzorgsters (maternity nurses) are trained to provide this support, at your own home. They play a key role during your first few days as parents!

Kraamzorg is a unique service that originated in The Netherlands to meet the care needs of postnatal women in the 8-10 days immediately after the birth of their child. Unless there have been birth complications, as long as mother and baby are in good health, most women will leave hospital within a few hours of giving birth, in average if all goes well between 4 and 8 hours post birth. To support the new parent, a kraamverzorgster (or maternity nurse) will come to your home to assist you as you recover from the birth and settle into the first days of parenting your infant. This medical caregiving service is available and accessible to every mother whether it is their first baby or not.