What do you need?

We advise you to always have the items from the list below at home, even if you are planning to give birth in an outpatient setting.

Supplies for the delivery
A maternity package. You will receive this, in most cases, from your insurance company around 30-35 weeks. Make sure you get this home on time. If you do not receive a maternity package, you must purchase the following items yourself:
  • 1 sterile navel clamp
  • 2 boxes of sterile gauze so-called 'sixteens'
  • small bottle of alcohol 70%
  • pack of zigzag cotton wool
  • pack maternity pads or liners
  • 2 packs of maxi maternity pads
  • 12 cellulose pads
What else do you need to have at home
  • soap dispenser with anti-bacterial soap
  • 1 digital thermometer (no ear thermometer)
  • 2 metal pitchers with pitcher pockets
  • 10 ironed cotton (hydrophilic) diapers
  • 3 garbage bags
  • 2 buckets
  • bed cover to protect your mattress
  • bedpan (= pot)
  • bed blocks. The bed must be at least 80 centimeters high.
  • a large piece of tarpaulin or plastic if you want to give birth on the birthing stool
You should also have the bedpan and bed linen at home if you are going to give birth in the hospital. You can get these at:
  • ZorgComfort De Kempen, Torenstraat 10 Valkenswaard.
  • Home care shop at Kastelenplein 170-173, in Eindhoven. Reservation is not necessary.
The person who is going to pick up the items must bring a valid ID.
From 37 weeks, the bed should be on wheels. If you can't put your bed on bobbins, see if you can raise it in another way, for example with beer crates. Another option is to raise a guest bed, for example. The working height (i.e. top of the bed) must be at least 80 cm. Please make sure the bed is high enough to protect our backs.

flight case
It is important that you always have a bag or briefcase ready if you want to give birth in hospital, but also if you unexpectedly have to go to hospital during the birth.

Contents flight case:
For the mother
  • punch card, hospital pass
  • toiletries
  • an (old) shirt for during childbirth
  • underwear (possibly a nursing bra)
  • clean clothes
  • flip flops
For the baby
  • hat
  • onesie
  • package
  • socks
  • jacket
  • shawl
  • maxicosi
General
  • camera and/or video camera
  • phone
  • telephone number of the maternity care agency
The KNOV (Royal Dutch Organization of Midwives) has developed a number of leaflets. One of these leaflets discusses what you can do to prepare for childbirth. Click here for the brochure†
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