The Hague has dozens of midwifery practices. How do you compare them, and what do you pay attention to? An honest guide for pregnant women who want to make their choice without it becoming overwhelming.
The choice of a midwife is personal. A practice that was perfect for your girlfriend does not necessarily have to be a perfect fit for you. Below you will find 7 points that, in our experience, are most useful to you when comparing practices in The Hague.
During your pregnancy you will visit the midwife 10 to 15 times. A central location saves a lot of travel time. NB:
Femme is sitting at the Boekhorststraat in the center of The Hague, within walking distance of the HMC Westeinde and accessible by several tram lines.
A midwife must suit you. Call a few practices and pay attention to how they help you over the phone. Do you receive a calm explanation or do you feel rushed away? Do you feel heard? A good conversation at the first appointment says a lot about how the entire pregnancy will progress.
Not every midwifery practice does the standard ultrasound scans itself. Some refer to an ultrasound center. A practice with its own sonographers and equipment saves you extra appointments at other locations. At Femme we do everything standard ultrasounds yourself, in the same practice where you have your check-ups.
Most practices only offer individual checkups. A growing number of practices also offer group care (Centering Pregnancy) where you work together with other pregnant women in the same phase. Both forms have advantages and disadvantages. Do you enjoy sharing experiences and would you like more time per appointment? Then group care is probably a good fit for you. Do you prefer strictly personal one-on-one checks? Then individual care is the logical choice.
At a smaller practice you often see the same one or two faces throughout your entire process. In a larger practice, this varies more, but the continuity of care is less dependent on one person (for example during vacation or illness). Femme has a close-knit team of five midwives, two sonographers and an assistant, small enough to remain personal, large enough for continuity.
For the delivery, midwifery practices work together with a specific hospital. In The Hague this is usually the HMC Westeinde or the HagaZiekenhuis. If medical care is needed during your pregnancy or delivery, the midwife will transfer you to a gynecologist. Short lines between the practice and the hospital make this smoother. Femme works closely with HMC Westeinde, the hospital within walking distance of our practice.
Ask how the practice can be reached outside office hours. Do they have a 24/7 emergency line? Who answers? How quickly do they respond? At Femme we are available 24/7 for registered clients via a landline emergency number, also at night and on weekends.
Some things sound important but mean little. A beautiful website (unfortunately) or many years of experience (a good new practice can be at least as good) are not in themselves quality measures. Ask how long the practice has been around, how the team is composed, and how they deal with emergencies, then you will get a reliable picture.
Femme has been a trusted midwifery practice in the center of The Hague for more than 25 years, with:
Doubts or questions? Call us or register online, we will answer everything calmly.
