What if you receive less postpartum care than you had hoped for?

Are you getting fewer hours of postpartum care than you expected? You’re not alone, and no, it’s not your fault. Due to a nationwide shortage of postpartum care providers, many families are currently receiving fewer hours than the standard package, especially during the summer months. By taking care of a few things right now, you can still make that week peaceful and cozy.

In a nutshell

• The standard package is about 49 hours over eight days. The minimum the sector aims for is 24 hours. What you receive depends on your region, your home situation, and how busy it is during the week you give birth.
• July and August are the busiest months: there are many births, and at the same time, many postpartum care providers are on vacation. More and more often, care is being provided at a postpartum care center instead of at your home.
• What you handle on your own makes the biggest difference. Freeze meals, designate one person to handle grocery shopping and laundry, spread out visits over two weeks, and wear clothes that make feeding and skin-to-skin contact easy.

Why are families currently receiving less postpartum care?

There are simply not enough postpartum care providers, and July and August are precisely the busiest months. In the Netherlands, a relatively large number of babies are born in the summer, while postpartum care providers are also on vacation at that time. These two factors clash.

You can see the impact at home. Maternity nurses are increasingly taking on double shifts, caring for two families in a single day instead of just one. A large number of postpartum care regions are now on “code red.” And postpartum care is increasingly moving off-site: this summer, fourteen postpartum care centers opened their doors, in hospitals, hotels, or separate locations.

It sounds a bit stark, especially when you’re lying on the couch 36 weeks pregnant. But almost all families still receive postpartum care—just not in the way you might have imagined.

How many hours of postpartum care do you actually receive?

The standard package in the Netherlands is about 49 hours, spread over eight days. The minimum the sector aims for is 24 hours. Anything in between is possible.

Exactly what you’ll receive depends on your region, your health insurance provider, how busy things are during the week your baby decides to arrive, and your situation at home. Do you already have children? Are you a single parent? These factors are taken into account. Feel free to call your postpartum care organization during your final weeks and ask what the situation is like in your area. You don’t have to wait until you’re in your postpartum week to find out.

What can you take care of right now?

Much of what makes postpartum care so wonderful comes down to practical peace of mind, and you can take care of some of that yourself, well before the contractions start.

• Food. Freeze some meals during your last few weeks. Six containers of soup and four casseroles will go a long way. #mamahonger
• A person who runs errands. Someone you can text without hesitation. Not someone who says, “Let me know if there’s anything I can do,” but someone who just does it.
• Laundry and housework. Agree on who will take care of the laundry in week one. If your mom or sister-in-law asks what she can do, this is the answer.
• Schedule a visit. Don’t do everything on day two. Spread it out over the first two weeks, and don’t be afraid to cancel on someone.
• Clothing that works with you. A small detail, a big difference. More on that below.

What if you receive postpartum care at a maternity center or maternity hotel?

In that case, you won’t be at home, but at a separate location where several families are receiving support at the same time. The advantage: there’s often someone available for a larger part of the day to answer your questions about nutrition and care.

It’s different from your own bed, that’s true. But it also means you won’t be sitting alone on the edge of the couch at three in the morning, wondering if that was a good choice. Bring your own things. Your own pillow, your own clothes, something that smells like home. Staying somewhere else is a lot easier if it doesn’t feel completely like a sterile hospital.

So pack your bag with more room than you would for two nights, because you won’t know in advance how long you’ll be staying. Our flight bag guide will help you with that, and it works just as well if you know in advance that you’ll be staying at a maternity center. If you’re expecting a longer stay, the Ziekenhuisproof Black (€58) is a great choice, with snaps on the shoulders and along the entire length, so you don’t have to undress completely to place your baby skin-to-skin.

How can you prepare yourself for the first week after giving birth?

By making everything you do frequently easier. Feeding, skin-to-skin contact, showering, getting dressed again. During the first week after giving birth, these things happen dozens of times a day.

That’s why the Maternity Dress is just the way it is: snap buttons all the way down, silky-soft bamboo, hypoallergenic, and moisture-wicking. Gentle on your skin and your baby’s. Worn by 80,000+ moms.

One thing that’s especially worth it right now, when there are fewer people around to help you out: get more than one. The 2-Pack Bamboo Dresses (€105) come with two, so there’s always a clean one waiting for you after your shower. After all, this week there’s no one around to run a quick load of laundry for you. #wassenenweeraan

Clothing won’t solve the shortage of maternity care workers. But it does save you fifty little tasks a day, and in a week when you’re running on fumes, that makes a big difference.

Designed in the Netherlands, handmade in a workshop in Portugal. Good quality, high standards, absolutely no child labor.

FAQ

Can I request more hours of postpartum care on my own?

You can always discuss this with your postpartum care provider and your midwife. The number of hours is determined based on your family’s needs, so your specific situation is taken into account. However, availability does vary by region and by week.

What if there isn’t a postpartum care provider at all?

This rarely happens, but be sure to report it immediately to your postpartum care organization and your midwife. They will then help you explore alternatives, such as a spot at a postpartum care center or care from another provider.

Is a postpartum doula a substitute for maternity care?

No. A doula doesn’t take over caregiving responsibilities, but provides practical and emotional support to your family: fresh meals, a listening ear, and help around the house. It’s a supplementary service, and you pay for it yourself.

When should I arrange my postpartum care?

As early as possible, preferably around weeks 8 through 12. Especially during the summer or holiday season, registering early is the difference between tight and very tight.

What should I bring with me when I go to a maternity center?

Pack your bag as if you’re staying longer than two nights: a few comfortable dresses, your own pillow, chargers, snacks, and toiletries. Everything that makes it feel less like a place to stay and more like home.

You can’t control how many hours you get, but you can control how gently you land. Grab your bag, stock up your freezer, and tell that one friend she’s welcome to come over and do her laundry.

momsaresuperheroes #SKINTOSKIN