Expecting parents unaware of available midwife services, study shows

Parents-to-be in Belgium can turn to the services of a midwife throughout all stages of their pregnancy, but too few are aware of it, writes Bruzz based on a study by the VUB and Erasmushogeschool. The results of the study, which were recently published in the journal Midwifery, reveal that expecting Brussels parents know very little about midwives and the numerous services they offer, most of which are fully reimbursed by the Belgian health insurance funds.

"Most women know that midwives can assist them during labour and the birth itself, but too few Brussels women are aware that they can already turn to a midwife at the beginning of their pregnancy. The midwives not only provide information and practical tips, but also perform a pregnancy test, blood test and regular monitoring,” says Elke van den Bergh, midwife and lactation consultant at the Brussels midwifery practice Zwanger in Brussel (Pregnant in Brussels).

Compared to other EU countries, Belgium's healthcare policies around pregnancy and childbirth focus primarily on risk, with more than 95% of births occuring in hospitals in the presence of a gynaecologist. In the Netherlands, by comparison, one third of pregnant women give birth at home under the guidance of a midwife.