Verlos

Verlos is a Dutch term referring to obstetrics and the practice of assisting childbirth. It encompasses prenatal care, labor and delivery management, and the immediate postpartum period. The aim is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both mother and baby, balancing medical monitoring with the mother’s preferences and birth plan.

The professionals most closely associated with verlos are verloskundigen (midwives), who provide primary care for low-risk pregnancies and often attend births at home or in birthing centers. In many healthcare systems, obstetricians and gynecologists provide care for high-risk pregnancies or complications, and midwives work in collaboration with them. Training for verloskundigen typically involves formal education in midwifery, supervised clinical practice, and professional registration plus ongoing continuing education.

Practice settings vary: many low-risk pregnancies are managed by midwives in community settings; hospital birth is common for higher risk cases or when specialized monitoring or anesthesia is desired. Verlos practice includes fetal monitoring, fetal development screening, management of labor progression, and access to pain relief options, along with emergency readiness such as neonatal resuscitation and obstetric interventions when needed. Postpartum care covers physical recovery, breastfeeding support, and family planning.

Historically, verloskunde emerged from traditional midwifery and gained formal regulation and scientific grounding in the 19th and 20th centuries. The Dutch system is notable for the strong role of verloskundigen in primary care, coordinating with hospitals as needed; in other countries, obstetric care is structured differently, but all share the goal of safe, respectful, and evidence-based childbirth.