Some women are sure they want to give birth at home whilst others are sure they will choose for a hospital birth.
In the hospital you may be administered for polyclinic birth or a clinic birth. When administered for a clinic birth it means there is a medical indication for your admission. With a polyclinic admission you yourself have requested to give birth in a hospital.
In Dutch the term polyclinic birth (polikliniek) refers to a short stay birth (less than 24 hours) that occurs in a hospital and is attended by a midwife or a general practitioner.
A clinic (klinische) hospital birth, occurs after referral by a gynecologist: the birthing woman is formally admitted to hospital and gives birth in the clinic under specialist supervision.
Thus a polyclinic birth and a hospital birth both take place in the hospital the only difference is in the caregiver who accompanies the birth.
Polyclinic birth in the hospital
When your pregnancy progresses without risk you may give birth in the hospital with your own midwife. You will give birth in hospital then at your own request, without medical indication. You can discuss this with your own midwife. You ‘rent’ as it were a delivery room and the nurses care of the hospital. The cost of this is about Euro 450,-. A polyclinic birth means that your birth will start at home and that during the first stage you will go to the hospital. The midwife works in the hospital with the same devices as she would with a home birth. If complications arise during birth a gynaecologist may be called upon to take over.
Clinic birth in the hospital
If there is an increased risk of complications, then you will be placed in the care of a gynaecologist. It may be that during your pregnancy you are already being treated by a gynaecologist. Then he or she will also lead the birth. It may occur that during birth it is decided your birth is ‘medical’. This is for example the case when pain relief medication is administered or when contractions are induced intravenously.
Advantages of a hospital birth
• A gynaecologist or a paediatrician is on hand
• Medical equipment is available
• Choice of pain relief
• No travelling required in case of complications
• No mess at home
Disadvantages of a hospital birth
• During contractions travelling by car to the hospital
• Unfamiliar surroundings
• Less privacy
• Protocols of the hospital must be followed
