Amsterdam Birth Center

For the next question we’d like to give you some background info before you answer the question.

As a healthy pregnant (low-risk) woman you have the opportunity to have choice of birthplace. We’d like to explain the different options:

At home: you give birth in your own home. If a medical indication arises during your labour and birth, we will handover your care to the hospital staff (hospital midwife or attending doctor) and you will go to hospital at that time (by car or ambulance, depending on the medical indication).

Hospital birth upon request: you give birth in a hospital room where you can use the facilities available there. You can use a birthing pool in most hospitals. If a medical indication arises during labour or birth, we handover your care to the hospital staff (hospital midwife or attending doctor) but you do not have to change to another room.

Birth center in hospital: you give birth in a delivery room in hospital with a more homey atmosphere (no hospital bed, no medical devices visible), a birthing bath and the option of using nitrous oxide (gas&air, laughing gas) as pain relief. If a medical indication arises during your labour or birth, we will handover your care to the hospital staff on the same floor but you would have to change to a “medical room” on the other side of the hallway.

Birth center outside hospital: you give birth in a delivery room in the birth center, positioned on the ground floor outside but near a hospital, with a homey atmosphere, a birth bath and the possibility to use nitrous oxide (gas&air/laughing gas). If a medical indication arises during your delivery, we will handover your care to a hospital and transfer you to the hospital at that time (by care or ambulance, depending on the medical indication).

For the following questions, we’d like to take you into our thoughts about the new birth center;

The birth center we would like to create has enough space for all pregnant women who choose this place or for whom there is no room in hospital. As soon as you enter it will feel like home. A warm, quiet and homely atmosphere comparable to your own bedroom with the luxury of a hotel. A room that you can make completely your own with all the facilities that can contribute to a positive birth experience for you and your partner.

Due to our experience in the BCW (Bevalcentrum West), our existing primary birth center, we know that these facilities ensure the best possible outcome for your labour & birth. It increases confidence in yourself and your chance of a spontaneous vaginal delivery and it reduces the chance of needing a medical indication and therefore a referral to the hospital staff. Statistics showed us that we refer 40% fewer women with a pain relief request when they give birth at the BCW compared to women giving birth in hospital by choice.

In this case, the birth center is not located in, but near a hospital. We know from extensive research that giving birth at home or in a birth center outside the hospital is just as safe as giving birth in hospital. This is because we are highly trained in guiding you and use extensive risk selection prior and during labour and birth, to ensure a safe delivery. If we notice a possible chance of a developing complication, your care will be handed over to the hospital and we will transfer you to our colleagues in the hospital. In addition, we are well trained to act adequately in the event of acute complications while ensuring that you are moved to the hospital to prevent any delay of medical treatment.