There are several midwifery practices in Den Haag. So which one fits you? 7 concrete points to compare practices on — and one big tip on top.
You’ll be going to the practice many times. Choose one within easy reach — walking, cycling or by public transport. In Den Haag this matters because parking can be limited. Femme is centrally located on Boekhorststraat with trams 2, 3, 4 and 6 nearby and 10 minutes’ walk from Den Haag Centraal.
Some practices work with a large rotating team; others are deliberately small. A small team usually means you see the same faces during pregnancy and they’re more likely to be present at your birth. At Femme we work with a close-knit team of 5 midwives, 2 sonographers and a practice assistant.
Not all midwifery practices have their own ultrasound facilities. If they don’t, you’ll go to another location for every scan. At Femme we have certified sonographers in-house — all standard scans (term, 13-week, 20-week, position) happen at the same practice.
If Dutch isn’t your first language, ask whether the team speaks English. At Femme, all consultations, courses and birth plans can be in English. For expat families this can make a real difference in stressful moments.
Where would you like to give birth? At home, in hospital, or in a birth centre? Ask the practice which options they support. At Femme we support home births and outpatient hospital births at HMC Westeinde and HagaZiekenhuis.
Some women love individual care; others get more out of group care (Centering Pregnancy). It’s good to ask whether the practice offers this. At Femme, Heleen leads Centering Pregnancy groups.
This is the hardest to judge from a website but the most important. Walk in. Have a phone call. How does it feel? Do you feel rushed or are they taking time for you? Pregnancy and birth are big moments — you want to be with people who feel right.
Most practices, including Femme, are happy to have a no-obligation conversation before you register. Get in touch and we’ll arrange a moment.
Choose with your head and with your gut. Location, team size, in-house ultrasounds, languages, birth options and group care are concrete things to check. But ultimately: pick a practice where you feel at home.
Register with Femme — we’ll call you within one working day.
