Pregnancy in Belgium
Pregnancy can be a daunting time, not least when you find yourself in a foreign country. Health insurance, pre and post-natal help, maternity benefits, Belgium's approach to pregnancy — questions abound. Elise Wyatt arrived in Belgium as an expatriate two years ago. "I had to deal with a new culture, new language, new way of doing things. The biggest shock though came when I learnt I was pregnant. The thought of having a child in an unfamiliar place was a terrifying thought."  

  

I quickly realised I had nothing to worry about. The quality of care here was amazing and I really felt cared for throughout my nine months. Looking back now, I would chose to have a child here rather than back home in Derry (Northern Ireland) if I was to have a second child."

On the whole, Belgium favours an interventionist approach to childbirth and pregnancy, so you can expect to be monitored closely and offered numerous tests and scans. With the country's culture of medical specialisation, where GPs are often less consulted than dermatologists or cardiologists, you can expect to be closely followed by a gynaecologist throughout your pregnancy. He or she will also be present at time of delivery.

Where to deliver
When deciding where to have a baby, you will normally first chose a gynaecologist who will provide pre-natal care and deliver the baby. The hospital at which you will deliver will be decided in function of your gynaecologist. To find a gynaecologist you can enquire at your local hospital, ask your GP, or contact an organisation such as the Brussels Childbirth Trust. Home births are also becoming increasingly popular across the country. The organisation Bolle Buik offers help for home birthing, offers prenatal check-ups, support during labour and immediate post-natal care. It also has its own birthing centre which is a homely alternative to hospital. Physiotherapists Another Belgian distinction is that physiotherapists play a much more important in both post-natal care and during the birth itself than in Anglo-Saxon countries.

You will be encouraged to see a physio after the birth of your child to guide the re-balancing of our body for example and to help you with the correct exercises for re-tonification. Marie Josée Decoster, Vice President of the Belgian Professional Union of Physiotherapists in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, says: "Although other professionals such as yoga teachers or midwives may give pre-natal exercise and advice on breathing and relaxation, a physio's knowledge in biomechanics is strongly recognised as an essential element in childbirth." Fertility treatment Belgium is also one of the world's pioneers in fertility treatment, with a worldwide reputation in the field and widely accessible treatment. A referral from a GP is not needed in order to benefit from the national health insurance — all contributors can recuperate some of the costs attached through the 'mutuel'. To benefit from Belgium's national health insurance system you must pay contributions either as an employee, where your employer will automatically deduct the necessary amount, or as a self-employed person.

Help in English
The Brussels Childbirth Trust is an independent, non-profit organisation that offers help to foreign nationals. Under the auspices of the UK's National Childbirth Trust (NCT), it holds informal meetings once every six weeks, giving future parents an idea of how the health system works in Belgium as well as how to find a gynaecologist and hospital. 

The Trust offers information on various other organisations which can give post-natal support, details on maternity benefits and legal formalities. Qualified pre-natal teachers and breastfeeding counsellors are always present to answer questions and are a wealth of information for mothers and fathers to be. A lending library is also available, with some 400 titles on child development, parenting, pregnancy and childbirth. The BCT runs English language ante-natal classes on a regular basis. Practical activities are combined with discussions, allowing couples to explore pregnancy issues in a relaxed environment. Some topics covered include the process and stages of labour, relaxation and breathing positions, caesarean section, pain relief, hospital procedures, baby care and breast feeding.

They also offer an opportunity for women to share experiences of pregnancy at their Bumps and Babies group, run on a regular basis either at their headquarters or at one of twelve sub-groups in an around Brussels.

Useful information  For English language ante-natal classes or advice on recommended gynaecologists and hospitals: Brussels Childbirth Trust
BCT Imagine
77 ch de Mailines
1970 Wezembeek
Contact: Mandy Boylett
(info@bctbelgium.com, O2 215 33 77 or visit their website www.bctbelgium.com).

Having a baby in Belgium - A useful booklet, giving specific information on the Belgian system and includes a glossary of English, French and Dutch pregnancy-related vocabulary. It is available from: Community Help Service (CHS)
Mental Health Centre
Blvd de la Cambre 33
1000 Brussels Belgium
Tel: +32 (0) 2 647 67 80
Fax: +32 (0) 2 646 72 73
Email: chs@chsbelgium.org

Hospitals specialising in fertility treatment include:

Hôpital Universitaire Saint-Pierre (www.stpierre-bru.be  02 535 31 11) Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc (02 764 11 11)

For further information on home birthing: Bolle Buik
Contact: Leen Massy (02 759 30 48)

For further information on breastfeeding: La Leche Ligue
Contact: Karen Maxwell 02 660 77 67 or visit their website www.llli.org/)

For information in French on baby clinics, health visitors, advice on parenthood and a list of baby minders: L'Office de la Naissance et de l'Enfance (ONE)
(ww.one.be, 02 542 12 11)

For further information in French on all aspects of family life in Belgium: La Ligue des Familles
Sécretariat Générale
127 Rue du Thrône
1050 Brussels
(www.citoyenparent.be, 02 507 7211)

For further information in Dutch on all aspects of family life in Belgium: Bonde van Grote en van Jonge Gezinnen
125 Rue du Thrône 1050 Brussels (02 507 88 11)

Top Health Insurance Groups : Union Nationale des Mutualités Libres (www.mloz.be 02 778 92 11).

Euromut and Partenamut come under the auspices of this Union and have web pages in English (www.euromut.be ; www.partena-expats.be)

Union Nationale des Mutualités Neutres (www.mutualites-neutres.be 02 538 83 00)

Union Nationale des Mutualités Socialistes (www.mutsoc.be 02 515 02 11) Union Nationale des Mutualités Libérales (www.mut400.be 02 542 86 00)

Alliance Nationale des Mutualtés Chrétiennes (www.mc.be 02 246 41 11)

(Expatica)