Verloskundige

Verloskundige is the Dutch term for a midwife, a health professional who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Verloskundigen provide primary maternity care and are a central part of the standard maternity care system in the Netherlands and other Dutch-speaking areas.

Typical responsibilities include routine prenatal visits to monitor maternal and fetal health, screening and education, and the development of a birth plan. They support labor and delivery, offering non-surgical pain relief options and practical guidance during childbirth. After birth, they provide postpartum care for the mother and newborn, including support for breastfeeding and early parenting. Verloskundigen assess risk factors, and if complications are suspected, they coordinate or refer care to obstetricians or hospital teams.

Care settings and models vary, with verloskundigen working in independent practices, maternity centers, or hospital teams. They may accompany home births, births at birthing centers, or hospital births. In routine pregnancies, the same midwife often follows the woman throughout pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period, while high-risk cases are managed in collaboration with obstetricians and other specialists.

Education and regulation typically require completing a bachelor-level education in midwifery (Verloskunde) and obtaining registration to practice in the national health register (BIG-register). Ongoing professional development is required, with professional guidance provided by organizations such as the Koninklijke Nederlandse Organisatie van Verloskundigen (KNOV). The midwife-led model emphasizes continuity of care, informed choice, and preference for non-invasive, evidence-based approaches when possible.