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.
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