Courses and tips

Courses

There are many pregnancy courses you can follow. For example, you could attend a free course of SAG (Stichting Amsterdamse Gezondheidscentra/Amsterdam Health Care Foundation) or you could follow private courses like haptonomy, yoga or Mensendieck. In general the course consists of pregnancy counseling and physical preparation for the birth through various exercises. In addition you will be given information about pregnancy and childbirth, and there is space to exchange experiences.

There are also courses for you and your partner together. You can get more information (including brochures) at our consultation hours. More information on all facets of having children can be found in books or on the Internet.

Tips

We recommend eating varied and healthy. You do not have to eat for two! Make sure you eat dairy products, fresh fruit, vegetables and brown bread every day. Eat iron-rich foods like green vegetables (such as spinach) and red vegetables (e.g. beetroot), legumes, dried apricots and any meat because the risk of anemia during pregnancy is slightly increased.

It is unwise to eat raw meat, because of the risk of toxoplasmosis infection. Because toxoplasmosis also occurs in the feces of cats, it is not advised to clean the litter box. It is also suggested when working soil where cats could have been to wear gloves and properly wash vegetables.

Because the (small) chance of listeria infection it is not wise to eat cheese which is made from raw milk. These are usually the soft white cheeses. The cheeses made in factories and for sale in supermarkets, is sterilized and therefore not dangerous. You should avoid the cheeses coming from a farm or whose origin is unknown. Listeriosis is also found in food which is kept to long after cooking. We recommend not eating food which has been stored for more than 24 hours. We also recommend properly heating the food before eating it. The packaging of vacuum packed fish may contain too much listeria bacteria. Therefore it is not recommended eating pre-packaged smoked salmon, eel and mackerel.

Of course it is wise to stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Use medications only at the express advice from us and / or the GP.

Kinds of complaints that you previously did not have, like nausea, increased urination, fatigue, itching, aversion to certain foods and fragrances and more discharge, are often 'normal'.

If you always have been sensitive to getting a cystitis (urinary tract infection), we recommend to check your urine several times in your pregnancy at your GP, as a urinary tract infection can occur easily during pregnancy whilst given only vague complaints.

Apply for nurseries on time, see the links for addresses elsewhere on this website.

When you are not married and the father wants to acknowledge the child, it is wise to arrange this early in the pregnancy (before 24 weeks) at the stadsdeelkantoor (your district's communal office). Choosing the surname of one of the parents (this is also the case when married) can (better) be done in advance.

If you benefit from welfare and you are expecting your first child, it is possible in some cases to obtain one-off additional payment for costs around birth, such as the purchase of a layette. Please inquire at your Social Services office.

If you have an additional insurance, you often are entitled to a maternity package from your health insurance. Check with your insurer whether this also applies to you.

If you're a single mother already or if you will be, you can contact the FIOM. This is a organization who specifically deals with (among other topics) single parenthood. It organizes support groups, provides information and performs a number of calls if necessary with you. You can contact them by telephone during your pregnancy and after childbirth at 569 1945 1970.

If you are unsure about certain complaints, please contact us.

Design and copyright © 2011 by landobee.com