April 17, 2012 12:28:16 PM CEST
I am a stay at home mom, so I am not sure about day care, but I did deliver my daughter here. Most of my pregnancy was in another country, but we moved here before she was born.
Read a lot about the different stages of pregnancy and childbirth ahead of time. The midwife should be able to guide you/explain, if they speak English fairly well. My midwives spoke English but most of the medical terms they were unable to translate, so I relied on my own research on pregnancy and delivery.
I opted for a hospital birth, but home births are very common here. If you have a preference, let them know early on. If you want an epidural, you need to request it in advance, as there is no one on staff 24/7 at the hospital for this. I didn't get one, but the midwife told me it would be hard to get someone there if you decide to get one while in labor. They generally don't keep you in the hospital unless there is a complication. I was home 5 hours after delivery!
You should be able to get recommendations from the midwife, but you need to find a kraamzorg in your area. It is basically a nurse that comes to your home after you have given birth, anywhere from 5-10 days I think. She checks on you and teaches you how to do basic baby care. She will also cook/clean some if your insurance covers enough hours for it.
Feel free to ask if you have any more questions..
Congratulations!