Sat, 20 March 2010
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Picture a cross between the Fairy Godmother and Mary Poppins and the result might just be a kraamverzorgster, a trained health care professional that helps new mothers in the first few days after a birth. By Amanda van MulligenWhat is Kraamzorg?
Kraamzorg is a unique postnatal service for women in the Netherlands in the first eight to ten days (kraamperiode) after the birth of their baby. The purpose of kraamzorg is to aid the recovery of the mother and provide her with advice and assistance to care for her newborn. The goal is to get the mother swiftly back on her feet to independently care for her baby and return to daily life.
Kraamzorg is the reason why, in normal circumstances, hospital staff release mothers from their care within hours of giving birth in the Netherlands.
Kraamzorg Packages and Costs
Every pregnant woman in the Netherlands has the right to kraamzorg but the hours she is entitled to vary depending on her particular circumstances.
Kraamzorg is part of the basic health insurance package and your health insurance provider should cover the majority of the costs associated. However, a small individual contribution per hour of care is due. Depending on your health insurance policy, this amount may also be refundable.
The Landelijk Indicatieprotocol Kraamzorg (National Guidelines for Postnatal Care) categorises kraamzorg in three levels:
1. Basic (Basispakket)
When: if there are no complications with the birth or recovery and no exceptional circumstances within the household.
What:
• care for mother and baby,
• regular health checks (e.g. that stitches are clean and healing, the uterus is shrinking),
• advice and instruction (hygiene, feeding etc),
• ensuring hygiene levels are high
• basic household chores which directly relate to the care of mother and baby (such as cleaning of the bathroom, the nursery and the mother’s room and taking care of meals for the mother).
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