Having a baby is an exciting, but daunting challenge at the best of times and doing so in a foreign country can make it even more stressful.

Appropriately entitled Babies and Toddlers, this extremely well organised book gives a concise, but thorough overview of the Dutch maternal healthcare system.

This newly revisied edition includes all the new, relevant information around childbirth in Holland added, along with updated contact information.

The new edition is divided into ten chapters (previously 7), and starts with pregnancy and childbirth at home or in hospital, and moves through to after the birth and child health and safety. Subsequent chapters introduce childcare services and other support groups.

The book ends with a guide to the relevant Dutch-English Vocabulary and recommended further reading and websites. There is also an index and personal directory.
 
Written in clear English by native-speakers, the book also introduces Dutch terminology frequently and continues to use it, familiarising readers with terms that they will be confronted with throughout the nine-month pregnancy and beyond.

Now 120 pages long, plus the index, the book is easy reading. But it is also a good source of reference for a host of queries about the Dutch maternal healthcare system and offers comprehensive contact details of important organisations.

Chapter by chapter

Chapter one runs through pregnancy tests, choosing a healthcare practitioner, prenatal care and home or Dutch hospital births. It also gives an outline of IVF technology for infertile couples, adoption basics, foetal abnormality tests and pre and post-natal classes.

The opening chapter also deals with pregnancy leave and Dutch labour laws and pain relief during labour — a source of some concern for expatriate women told that pain relief is not customary practice in the Netherlands.

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