Just arrived, just pregnant, just figuring it out

I moved to Amsterdam from Brussels in September, excited to explore my new city and find my next job.  Just two months later, I found out I was pregnant. Moving to a new country is already a big change. Looking for a job here is challenging. And being pregnant on top of all that? Well, that brought a whole new set of questions and emotions. 

The news was exciting — the baby was so welcome — but also came with tired days, low energy, and uncertainty. Navigating the Dutch system — which, if you’re wondering, is probably quite different from what you know — took some research. It’s an empowering system because you get to make your own choices, but it can feel complicated too. 

With whom shall we speak? Where do we go? Who can help us? And most of all… where’s my village? 

Luckily for me, my research skills, need for community, adaptability, and probably a few extra pregnancy hormones kicked in.  As a pregnant expat, here are the three resources I found super helpful. 

Where I found community and knowledge 

Learning from experts like doulas, midwives, lactation and sleep consultants and psycologists, who genuinely care made all the difference.

As a newcomer, I started by attending a networking lunch at Equals Amsterdam in early October, hoping to meet new people both professionally and personally. That event left me energized, so I became a member.  That’s where I first heard about The Labour Dept. A well structured caring organisation, that organizes courses for parents to be in English, helping them to navigate the Dutch system and get ready for the upcoming change. But, they don’t stop there. They create a strong community!

A few months later, my partner and I joined their course Prepped to Parent intensive weekend course. Reading books about birth and babies can only take you so far (and believe me, I’ve read a few). Learning from experts like doulas, midwives, lactation and sleep consultants and psycologists, who genuinely care made all the difference. Brooklyn, the founder of The Labour Dept, has created a space that feels warm and real and on top of that she cooked and cared for us the whole weekend and beyond! 

It’s not just about the course, which covers birth, breastfeeding, baby medical basics, postpartum and mental health, it is about a community that can last. Mom Hangs, Babies & Business… concepts that feel deeply supportive. It fits perfectly with my need for connection and my desire to understand the why behind everything. 

Where I understood the power of choice

From the start, Penny was encouraged to take an active role in her own pregnancy journey and make her own choices about things like birth location, pain management, and postpartum care.

The Dutch culture, the people, and of course the medical system here are truly unique. 

In the Netherlands, pregnancy and birth care are largely midwife-led, which is quite different from many other countries. From the start, you’re encouraged to take an active role in your pregnancy journey and make your own choices about things like birth location, pain management, and postpartum care. Although this can feel a bit overwhelming, especially as an expat, it’s also empowering because it respects your independence and trusts you to decide what’s best for you and your baby. 

The midwives here are highly trained, attentive, and available 24/7. You meet more than one since you never know which one will be “on duty” when you go into labor. Their straightforwardness—a well-known Dutch trait—and their views on topics like 

home birth (which happens in about 15% of births, quite high compared to other Western countries) have been clear and sometimes a little surprising. 

Although I definitely won’t be choosing, for example, a home birth (epidural is my only birth plan so far — six weeks to add a few more details!), It’s reassuring to know the system supports many different paths, even if mine is different. 

Where I found other pregnant mothers to celebrate and complain together 

My research (and some of the lonelier moments, being an expat, a newcomer and a new mom all in 3 months) led me to the Peanut app, a social network for women connecting through fertility, pregnancy, motherhood, and beyond. 

I downloaded it out of curiosity and ended up finding friends and a beautiful, supportive community. Mostly international moms-to-be like me, all figuring things out together. One of them even took the Prep to Parent course with me. Pregnancy isn’t always smooth, but having a group to share symptoms, frustrations, and the first kicks with, makes you feel less alone, and that makes a huge difference. 

Balance, Community, and Parenthood: 

Moving to a new country and navigating pregnancy at the same time has been a journey full of surprises and challenges. While these three resources have been incredibly helpful, it goes without saying that the love and encouragement of my partner and family have been my biggest support every step of the way. 

If you’re new to the Netherlands, pregnancy, or both, it just might take a bit of research, courage, and reaching out to find your own village. It’s possible to embrace this new role without losing yourself. For me, this experience is about more than just preparing for a baby. It’s about finding balance, building community, and holding on to all the parts of myself. Because yes, I’m becoming a parent, but I’m still me. (and hopefully I will stay that way) 

Cheers to new beginnings, meaningful connections, and staying true to yourself along the way, cheers with actual bubbles, soon!