What is a birth premium? a sum of money from the Belgian Government to help with all those unexpected expenses that preparing for the arrival of your baby incurs How much is the birth premium? How do you apply? It’s easy to apply for the birth premium. You can do it yourself by registering online with one of the 5 child allowance funds. You can choose but your choice will be dictated by where you live in Belgium. Each region operates slightly differently. When can you apply? You can apply after the 6th month of pregnancy and you should receive the birth premium at the earliest two months before the birth. Once you have applied and been accepted for the birth premium you will automatically start receiving the monthly family allowance. But only after the birth, once you register your baby at the commune you are living in. No additional paperwork required! You can use the money for anything your child needs! Do you use it to finish the nursery, supplement the diaper bill or do you prefer to buy children's clothes with it? The choice is yours. Can I apply for birth premium if I am adopting? Of course, the starting amount also applies to adoption . You will then receive your starting amount soon after the child arrives in your family. You can of course apply earlier! One Birth Premium 7 different names
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Katherine Ellwood DipHB(KGH) 8th February 2024 KG Hypnobirthing Teacher
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Being pregnant means you are plunged into a world of choices and decision making that can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate. From your choice of caregivers, to where you birth your baby, medical procedures, things to buy... You have EVERYBODY telling you what you should and shouldn’t do. And those choices extend to how you prepare for the birth. As a hypnobirthing teacher I am often asked: ‘What are the differences between a hypnobirthing course and an antenatal course?’ ‘Should I do both?’ ‘Is there an overlap? ‘They both cover what happens in labour and when to call the midwife, is that not all I need?’ I have taught both antenatal courses and hypnobirthing courses over the last 10 years and many clients have done both courses. Why? Because, actually these two courses are very different. So often, my clients had already booked an antenatal course earlier in pregnancy feeling that that was the “done thing” and then realised later that they needed something else. Often because they’d come to realise they were carrying a lot a fear around giving birth or because they were keen to have practical techniques to help them with the experience of birthing, however they intend to give birth. Now, it is important to acknowledge that there can be vast differences in what is covered in one antenatal course compared to another. However, from my experience as both an Antenatal and Hypnobirthing Teacher, antenatal courses tend to talk about the stages of labour, drug options, places to birth, feeding and baby care. But, they do not directly address the underlying fears and apprehension most women feel in relation to the actual labour and birth of their baby. A Hypnobirthing course tells you about birth just like an antenatal course does. But TELLING you is a small part of the puzzle Hypnobirthing Shifts Perspective A shift in perspective holds incredible power for having a more enjoyable pregnancy and a better birth. The opportunity to explore choice and decision making can be birth changing. This is what comes with a Hypnobirthing course. On a Hypnobirthing course you can experience a mindset transformation. By that I mean that the way you view birth changes. Often women talk about feeling so much calmer and more confident about birth after taking a Hypnobirthing course. How you view birth matters! It’s known that those that expect the worst are more likely to fear birth and actually that fear can interrupt the whole process of childbirth and certainly how you feel about it. A Hypnobirthing course places a strong emphasis on the mind-body connection, encouraging expectant parents to release fear and tension and promote a positive and calm mindset during labour. Labour and birth are powered by hormones and how we feel emotionally has a direct effect on how our body and muscles function. Fear results in tension and tense muscles don’t work as effectively and easily as relaxed muscles. This powerful mindset shift takes place with the use of enjoyable Hypnosis and renowned cognitive techniques. In addition to this a Hypnobirthing course gives you valuable new skills. We go beyond telling you what comfort measures you could use and actually practice with you simple yet powerful tools that hugely impact your birth experience and can be used beyond that too. This includes breath work, anchoring and self-hypnosis. “The moment you change your perception, is the moment you rewrite the chemistry of your body.” Dr. Bruce H. Lipton What else is covered on a Hypnobirthing course?A complete understanding of the process of childbirth, invaluable information about choice and rights in pregnancy, preparation for birth partners, birth planning, dealing with changes in plans and so much more. Add to this that the time on the course and utilizing the tools beyond it provide a perfect opportunity to connect with your baby and make wonderful memories too. So, there you have it. This is why antenatal courses and hypnobirthing courses are different and why the popularity of Hypnobirthing is rapidly growing. If you are expecting a baby, get in touch with me sooner rather than later so that you have lots of time to enjoy its benefits.
New midwife-led units, or birth centres, in Brussels hospitals as from September 2024 will offer expectant mothers greater choice about where and how they birth. But at just a few months from the start date, is the healthcare system ready?
At 15 weeks – just one week above the EU minimum – Belgium's maternity leave is among the shortest in Europe. But, what if you want to spend longer with your newborn? Why not check out this article on The Village website. It looks at some of the options you have to extend your time at home. Plus, some handy hints on how to make best use of those options, whether it be maternity leave, breastfeeding leave, parental leave or a career break......
Independent midwives can care for you during your pregnancy, birth and after your baby is born. For most ex-pat women in Belgium a home birth is not considered as a possible option. But, with the support and care of an Independent Midwife it is possible and here's how... 1-3% of women choose to have a home birth in Belgium. If you are considering a home birth you need to find an independent midwife who can support home birth. Sometimes they can offer midwife led continuity of care within the four walls of a hospital. Like gynaecologists, midwives are affiliated to particular hospitals but unlike consultations with a gynaecologist, consultations with most midwives are fully reimbursed by your mutuelle/ziekenfonds (social security organisation). Birthing your baby at home is not just restricted to second and subsequent pregnancies. But, to be able to give birth at home, you need to meet certain criteria:
With an independent midwife you can give birth either:
Hopital Erasme is the only hospital in Belgium to have a midwifery-led maternity unit, Le Cocon. The unit actively promotes natural childbirth and midwife care for you throughout your pregnancy and childbirth. How much does care with an independent midwife cost? Unlike hospital births, home births and midwife appointments are fully reimbursed by the mutuelle/ziekenfonds (social security organisation). Your midwife’s additional expenses (such as petrol etc.) are at your cost. You may have to pay a contribution towards blood tests and scans, unless you have top-up insurance. It is a good idea to investigate what health insurance you have anyway, just to make sure you are covered for all eventualities. Home Birth Care With An Independent Midwife Before your baby is born Each midwife, whether she works independently or within a team, normally has a partner midwife to help with deliveries. She is also connected to a hospital and a gynaecologist. Most (if not all) of your routine prenatal checkups will be with the midwife, although you will be able to visit the hospital for scans and the standard prenatal blood tests. It is a good idea to visit the maternity facilities of the hospital and meet the gynaecologist anyway, just in case things don’t go according to plan at home.
Finding a MidwifeFlemish Professional Organisation of Midwives (Dutch) Union Professionnelle des Sages-Femmes Belges (French) Both organisations provide information on how a midwife cares for you in pregnancy, birth and after your baby is born. Plus a search function on how to find a midwife near you. The power of women, and their families, is strengthened by the power of the midwife. Further Reading● Homebirth, a practical guide. Wesson, N. (2006) London, Pinter & Martin ● New Active Birth. A concise guide to natural childbirth (chapter 10: Active Birth in home or in hospital). Janet Balaskas ● Water Birth – a concise guide to using water during pregnancy, birth and infancy. Janet Balaskas and Yehudi Gordon ● The Father's Homebirth Handbook Hazard, L. (2010) London, Pinter & Martin ● Homebirth: The Politics of Difficult Choices. Nolan, M. (2011) Abingdon, Routledge Online Resources ● www.nct.org.uk/birth/faqs-home-birth
● www.nct.org.uk/birth/what-do-i-need-home-birth ● Homebirth Reference Site Horn, A. Available at: www.homebirth.org.uk A qualitative study has explored women's experiences in using hypnobirthing during childbirth. A qualitative study has explored women's experiences in using hypnobirthing during childbirth.
Norwegian researchers explain that, “Hypnobirth is a technique that incorporates elements from hypnosis and is used to prepare women for birth." "It aims to promote a normal birth and create a positive birth experience by equipping women with knowledge and tools to reduce fear, anxiety, and pain during labor.” “The women reported that the knowledge they gained in the classes led to new perspectives and changed their view of childbirth." "...as a result of the classes, their experience of labour changed from it being a potential risky event to an existential meaningful experience and transformation.” “The women reported developing a new holistic perspective, where they considered pregnancy and childbirth a natural state for the female body. This increased their confidence in their own ability to give birth." "They gained new insight into their inherent resources, and through active participation they developed ownership of their own childbirth. The knowledge they acquired made them more conscious of their rights and co-determination, and allowed them to critically assess and influence their own labour.” "In our study, all the women thought that mental preparation should be an integral part of the antenatal classes offered by the public health service. Their positive experiences with the technique made them want other women to also have the best foundation for a good birth experience." "The antenatal classes made them aware of the potential challenges they might face. Coming to terms with the inevitable uncertainty of childbirth can bring a sense of peace and thereby an acceptance that what happens, happens. Women can then start working on strengthening their belief that they will be able to cope with what happens." (Uldal et al 2023) You can read the full study at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/.../pii/S1877575623000800 In some hospitals in Belgium, you can give birth with your own independent midwife who has followed and supported you throughout your entire pregnancy. All the benefits of one-on-one midwife care, with its focus on physiological birth and typically fewer interventions during birth, plus the added reassurance of being close to additional medical teams if needed during labour and birth. For some mums, it's the perfect option! Just last week, CHU Saint-Pierre | UMC Sint-Pieter in central Brussels announced the exciting news that they're officially allowing independent midwives to use their facilities to support births in full autonomy! They're currently in the process of setting up agreements with independent midwives, and as soon as we know more about which (teams of) midwives will be able to offer this option, we'll let you know! Wondering which other hospitals offer this option? From what we know, this is also possible in:
Note: Not all independent midwives can support births in these hospitals, as it depends on individual agreements. If you know of other hospitals offering this then please let us know! Thank you Siobhan at www.thevillage.be for picking up on this important addition to midwifery care in Brussels and then spreading the word!
Mine are cosy, soft and very, very pretty and they make me feel safe – what are your pyjamas like, a bit tatty, out of shape, grey from the wash with elastic showing the strain? Uhm time to buy a new pair I think........... We all have days when if we listened to what our bodies were telling us and we went along with how we truly felt we would end up spending a quiet day on the sofa in our pyjamas nibbling on treats, dozing and taking time out to recharge our batteries and who would want to do that in tatty PJ’s? But, we don’t listen to our inner voice and take a pyjama day, do we? We battle on regardless and often pay the price with illness maybe physical or mental. So, before your baby is born plan ahead for the postpartum period and buy yourself the most beautiful pair of pyjamas you can afford. Then wear them with pride for as long as you need after your baby is born... Never are PJ days more important than in the weeks after your baby’s born, a time to nurture and be nurtured as you bond with your baby, adjust to motherhood and establish breastfeeding. It is a time for your body to heal, a time to wear your PJ’s as a uniform that gives a subliminal message to others - you are not ready to engage in the real world and are absorbed in caring for your baby and need to be looked after. In the Western world we seem to have lost sight of this and there is enormous pressure to get back into our skinny jeans, look like a film star at the Oscars and behave like a superhero as soon as possible after birth and many of us struggle. In many areas of the world this concept of rest and nurturing a woman after childbirth is written into their customs and rituals: For example in:
Taking time out for PJ days and just being with your baby has important benefits for you and your baby. By not being distracted by outside stimuli or exposed to too many germs guards against postpartum depression and promotes an easier physical recovery. According to Karen Kleiman the period after birth is a time when you are most vulnerable to emotional illness. Failure to take care of yourself adequately can create the perfect opportunity for a serious depression to set in. No one likes to think about that. But the truth is mothers don't spend enough time thinking about how they feel. Understandably, most of your spare energy goes toward caring for your baby. But, the facts are clear, if you take care of yourself, you will strengthen the resources that will enable you to take better care of your baby. The benefits for breastfeeding of having a prolonged period of PJ days after birth are tangible with enhanced breast milk production. Nancy Mohrbacher, an international board – certified lactation consultant, says it is very intense to care for a newborn in the first forty days. Your baby is feeding around 8-12 times a day with feeds taking as long 40 minutes and those are not evenly spread over a 24 hour period but in clusters, when you are literally routed to the spot feeding your baby for what seems like hours. There’s not much time for anything else. Giving in to this process and feeding on demand in a relaxed and nurturing environment is essential as it helps establish your milk supply. It’s a simple case of supply and demand. The amount of new milk created depends on how much has been taken out. It takes about 6 weeks for Mum and baby to get the hang of breastfeeding, slowly feeling more co-ordinated and breastfeeding becoming easier and faster. Ok, so in the crazy, mixed up ex-pat world we live in in Brussels, away from our close family forty days in pyjama's recuperating and resting confined to the house is for most of us unrealistic, mores’ the pity. But, with planning and organisation before your baby is born and working as team with your partner you can manage to create that vital breathing space as you adjust to motherhood. So, here are a few things to bear in mind:
2. Nurture yourself It's really true. It can feel wonderful if you pamper yourself a little. Whatever it takes, manicure, pizza, long-distance phone call, hair-cut, a good book..... You will never find a better excuse to indulge in self-absorbed and perhaps, frivolous projects. (Remember, if you feel guilty about this, you will be defeating the purpose.) So, enjoy and go for it! 3. Sleep If your baby is getting you up at night, it is especially important for you to find time to rest during the day. That means, when your baby naps, you do not do the laundry or clean the floor. It means, you rest! If you can't sleep, then lie down on the couch, close your eyes and try to relax. Your body needs time to recharge.
5. Exercise moderately Try to get out and walk if you are not interested in regular aerobic activity. The fresh air will feel wonderful and the exercise will help keep you in shape and feeling good. 6. Stay in touch with friends Spend time with family and friends that you feel most comfortable with. Try to maximize the time you spend with people who will support you and help you out, if necessary. Isolation can increase feelings of loneliness and depression — try to stay connected with important relationships. 6. Try not to pressure yourself thinking that everything has to be done right now. Unfortunately, if you are used to getting things accomplished and prefer to be in control at all times (and who doesn't!), then this may prove to be particularly difficult for you. If procrastinating is just not your style, you may have to learn to let go a little bit and realize that some of the things that you want to take care of NOW, are just going to have to wait. 8. Simplify everything Laundry can wait. Your bed doesn't have to be made every day. Take-out dinner is fine. Everything doesn't have to be 100% perfect right now. Try to let go of your expectations that everything be exactly the way it was before the baby. It's not. Giving yourself permission to relax and nurture yourself and your baby is not a luxury. It is vital to your well-being and you may be surprised at how wonderful it feels! So, go on treat yourself buy a new pair of PJ’s, make them the most beautiful you can afford and wear them with pride as you undertake the most important job in the world, nurturing a new life, everything else can wait.
Ok, not sure how I missed this as a option for having your baby if you live in and around Leuven, Belgium. Bolle Buik have a birth house! It's not home, it's not hospital. It is your home away from home! Here is what they are offering: "If you prefer not to give birth in the hospital, but you don't feel like giving birth at home, you can visit our "Birth and Breakfast" to give birth with a midwife from Bolle Buik. Part of the home of midwife Patty Docx is made available for this purpose. There are three rooms. In the first room there is room to place a bath for during labor and/or childbirth. In the second room there is a double bed where the parents can rest with their baby after the birth. Of course you can also give birth there on the birthing stool, in bed, etc. And then there is the bathroom with walk-in shower, sink and toilet. The condition for giving birth in the 'Birth and Breakfast' is the same as for a home birth. The pregnancy, labor and delivery should proceed normally. After giving birth, the brand new family can stay for 24 hours. All meals during their stay are provided." To find out more about the services of the Bolle Buik then check out their website: www.bollebuik.be/nl/geboorte
There is no doubt a woman's body is beautifully designed to birth her baby and a gentle vaginal birth offers the best possible start for her baby. But sometimes pregnancy, labour and birth can, for a number of reasons, take an unexpected turn and normal delivery via the vagina is not safe and caesarean birth may be the best option. So, how can you ensure a caesarean birth is a positive, gentle and empowering experience? In Belgium, the rate of caesarean births is around 21%, however, significant variations are observed between hospitals (from 11.8% to 32.9%). The WHO recommends a limit of 10% - 15% so Belgium exceeds this recommendation and the number has been rising steadily. So, it seems reasonable as part of your birth preparation to consider a plan for a caesarean birth. A caesarean birth, whether expected or unplanned, offers unique challenges and circumstances for you and your baby. It is helpful to recognize that a caesarean birth is still a birth, and you can prepare in advance by including plans for a birth on your terms, even when it occurs in the operating theatre. Of course it goes without saying that you need to discuss your plan in advance with your caregivers to see what is possible in your situation and in your place of birth! It can be challenging to voice your preferences to your healthcare providers, but it is the first step towards creating an empowering birth experience. In the absence of a medical emergency, many gynaecologists in Belgium are happy to accommodate your requests - you may just have to make your wishes very clear. TOP TIP!
It is really important that you understand the rationale behind why you are being offered a caesarean birth and own the decision to have one - it is your decision to make after all. If you are unsure of absolutely anything, ask questions and do your own research! Feeling it is the right decision will help you get in the right mindset and be able to fully appreciate the moment of your baby's birth. What should you consider in your caesarean birth plan? Your birth plan begins with creating an atmosphere where you can give birth to your baby in a peaceful and relaxed environment. An atmosphere that accepts a caesarean is major surgery but that works in tandem with yours and your baby's physiology. Your aim: to create as many aspects of a natural birth as you can within the operating theatre environment - a gentle environment for a gentle caesarean birth. Your Birth Partners Having two support people in the operating theatre is ideal. This allows your partner to stay with the baby if your baby needs special care. They can attend to your baby while a doula, midwife or other family member stays to support you. Your partner can:
Communication Consider asking the theatre staff to introduce themselves when they arrive. There will probably be more people than you expect, all wearing masks and gowns. That little bit of human connection can go a long way for creating a positive experience. The staff should be focused on you and how you feel throughout the experience. This can include keeping the room quiet and using only positive words to explain what is happening. Be Awake and Comfortable Rarely an emergency caesarean birth requires a general anesthetic that puts you to sleep. However, for a planned caesarean birth, you can have an epidural or spinal block. This numbs the lower half of your body so you are awake for the surgery but feel no pain. If you’re anxious or agitated, you might be offered other medication to help you feel groggy and less able to remember things afterward. You can let the anaesthetist know you would prefer to stay alert and involved. It’s normal to feel jittery or nauseous in the operating theatre. To remedy this, instead of medications, peppermint essential oil on a cotton pad near your face will often do the trick. Ambiance Playing your own music can be deeply comforting especially if you’ve been planning something special. Ask to put on your own music. Make your own playlist! You can also be asked for the theatre lighting to be dimmed (not over your abdomen of course your gynaecologist needs good light). Surgical Curtain Your abdomen is usually hidden from view during the operation by a curtain, but you can ask to see your baby being lifted from your uterus. Some hospitals even provide a clear drape to maintain the sterile field while allowing you to watch or the curtain can be lowered at the moment of birth so you can see your baby enter the world. Announcing the Sex of Your Baby If you’ve been waiting to learn the sex of your baby, ask if the staff can abstain from announcing it so you can discover it yourself when the baby is given to you. Delaying Cord Clamping Delayed cord clamping has been proved to offer a baby significant health benefits. It’s become the new normal for vaginal births but the practice isn’t so common for caesarean births. With delayed cord clamping the gynaecologist waits 3-5 minutes before clamping, then cutting, the umbilical cord. This allows extra placental blood to flow to the baby. You can read more about delayed cord clamping and its benefits at: waitforwhite.com/ Skin-to-Skin Ask if your baby can be given to you immediately after birth for skin-on-skin contact, bonding, temperature/heart rate regulation and breastfeeding rather than being handed to the midwife for any routine procedures. This skin to skin contact promotes bonding, which has several advantages. Breastfeeding success is more likely, you'll develop attachment earlier, and your baby feels more secure after entering the world. It’s a great experience for birth partners, too, as they can benefit from skin to skin with baby and provide extra reassurance and support for you. Monitoring Equipment Ask if the IV catheter, oximeter and blood pressure cuff can be placed on your non-dominant arm and the electrocardiographic leads are placed on your back. This leaves your chest clear so you can hold your baby skin to skin on your chest. Routine Procedures Ask if all newborn procedures (e.g. weighing, vitamin K injection, dressing, etc.) can wait until after you’ve gone back to your room and had the opportunity to bond and breastfeed with your baby. Talk to Your Baby You and your partner can help ease your baby’s transition into the world by talking to them when they arrive. Hearing the sound of you and/or your partners voice is incredibly comforting for them and begins the next stage of your relationship. You might like to consider having a towel/blanket that you have slept in available to put over your baby soon after birth, helping to transfer your skin flora to baby (as with skin-to-skin). Exteriorizing Your Uterus Surgeons sometimes move the uterus out of the body to examine and repair it. However, research shows that this in no more effective than repairing it inside your abdominal cavity. Removing the uterus to repair it is tied to increases in nausea, vomiting, longer time to first bowel movement and postpartum pain. It is a worth inquiring about your gynaecologist's preferences Placenta options In a vaginal birth the final stage is the birth of your placenta. It is easy to forget that placenta delivery is also part of caesarean birth. As long as there’s no medical reason why your placenta needs to be sent away for testing, it can be given to you. If you’re planning on placenta encapsulation, this can still be part of your plan. Your midwife can keep the placenta on ice for your partner to bring home. If you didn’t plan on encapsulation, it’s still nice to be given the chance to see this incredible organ your body made to keep your baby nourished in the womb. You can request a quick look before it’s whisked away, or ask a support person to take a photo. How can a KG Hypnobirthing Course Support You In a Caesarean Birth? KGHypnobirthing (KGH) can turn a scary and clinical experience into a safe and empowering one – knowing how to have a calm, confident and informed caesarean birth experience allows you to feel some of the benefits of a natural birth and have a positive birth experience, even if your birth takes an unexpected turn. There are a number of ways to emulate a natural KGHypnobirth in theatre. Here are some ideas for you to consider: Breathing: In labour and birth the hormone oxytocin is the star of the show and the amount you produce in labour dictates the strength, length and frequency of your surges (contractions). This is essential for a natural birth - but oxytocin can also support you when you are having a caesarean birth. Doing all you can to feel safe and happy will help you release the feel-good 'love hormone' oxytocin (it is not released when you are feeling scared or unsafe) which will in turn pass to your baby. Whether the caesarean is elective or unplanned, you may feel apprehensive - you may have concerns about your baby’s health or your own and it is a major operation so somewhat significant! The calmer you are, the lower your stress levels will be, the more oxytocin you release and the calmer your baby will be. Breathing is the key to staying calm:
Oxytocin also plays a major role in bonding with your baby so the more of it you can have at the time of birth the better! And as oxytocin is also released in response to touch ask for a kiss, hand or reassurance from whoever is with you. KGHypnobirthing affirmations / scripts:
Photos / affirmations cards:
Essential Oils:
Relaxations for a Caesarean MP3: The KGH caesarean audio collection helps you prepare for your baby’s birth so you see it as a happy and positive event, and this makes a huge difference to your baby’s life. The audio includes:
You can purchase your caesarean relaxations at: www.kghypnobirthing.com/hypnobirthing-audios/relaxation-for-caesarean-birth.html A KGHypnobirthing course provides the tools to support you through labour and birth regardless of how it unfolds. If you find yourself in the position where a caesarean is necessary, then you can be confident that the KGHypnobirthing techniques learnt on a course are also beneficial in the operating theatre and can give your baby a positive start in life. A Positive Birth Story... If at first you don't succeed (in finding a doctor who truly listens to your wishes and involves you in the decision-making process) try, try again! Kasia's story of the caesarean birth of third child is testament to everything you have read in this blog and how changing just a few details can change everything. Kasia's made small changes and her third birth was transformed into a healing, and most memorable birth experience. Read her story here at: www.thevillage.be/gentle-welcome-via-cesarean/ Further Reading: I love the writing of Dr Sarah Buckley! Check out Sarah's article on caesarean birth: 'How to have the Best Caesarean Birth' at: sarahbuckley.com/how-to-have-the-best-cesarean/ (Accessed 14th February 2023)
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Kate EllwoodKG Accredited Hypnobirthing Teacher Archives
February 2024
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