A few weeks ago, I was talking with my friends in Spain about my last weeks of pregnancy and all the preparations I still had pending for the baby's arrival. This brought up something that is very common here in the Netherlands but practically unknown in Spain: the famous kraampakket or maternity package.
In Spain (my homeland), this concept is practically unknown, but here it’s a common practice that might surprise expectant mothers, especially if it’s their first pregnancy in the Netherlands. Now, as I’m expecting my third baby here, it feels completely normal. But I remember during my first pregnancy, when I was expecting Jordaan, I was both surprised and a bit unsettled by it. I didn’t fully understand why I would need something like this, especially since I planned to give birth in a hospital.
What is the kraampakket or maternity package?
The kraampakket is a box sent to you by your health insurance (or requested separately if it’s not included in your plan). This package is free if your insurance covers maternity; otherwise, you can buy it for around €20-25. The package includes basic essentials for both mom and baby, such as:
Postpartum pads
A mattress cover (perfect in case your water breaks while you’re in bed 😅)
Disinfectant solution
Sterile gauze, cotton pads, tape, and bandages
An umbilical cord ring
A bottle of 70% alcohol, among other items.
It’s quite complete and practical. In the video below, I’ll show you the contents of the kraampakket I just received for baby #3.
In my previous two deliveries, where I gave birth in a hospital, I didn’t end up using most of the items in the kraampakket, except for the postpartum pads and mattress protector. The other items ended up in our medicine cabinet and have come in handy later on, like the alcohol, bandages, and disinfectant.
My experience with the maternity package in my third pregnancy.
This time, I’ve been told that the third labor can go faster than expected and that I might not make it to the hospital in time. In the Netherlands, when labor begins and contractions are regular, you call the midwife, who comes to your home and arranges transport to the hospital if that’s where you prefer to give birth. Interestingly, the Netherlands has one of the highest rates of home births in the Western world—around 30%.
I guess it’s during that transfer that you realize if you’re not going to make it to the hospital in time, right? 🤪 We'll have to wait and see!
Having a kraampakket at home is important, especially if the birth ends up happening at home, even if you didn’t plan it that way. This kit ensures that the midwife has what she needs to handle the birth at home in safe conditions and with as little stress as possible. That’s where I can see the real use of the umbilical cord ring 😅.
If you’re pregnant in the Netherlands and also an expat like me, don’t worry. Request your kraampakket and check out its contents with curiosity. Best of luck, and from UnuPana, we wish you a smooth and safe delivery! 🥰
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