Many women in the Netherlands still give birth at home. I think the lowest percentage I saw was 30%. Women in our town, Diever, are now required to go to one of the nearby hospitals to give birth, but our insurance company still sent a large kraampakket (birth package) full of things we would need if I was birthing at home. Many of the things will also be useful leading up to the birth and afterward, especially since (if all goes well, knock on wood), they'll send me home from the hospital in a matter of hours after giving birth.
Included in the package is a diaper bag, plastic sheeting for the bed in case my water breaks at night, mattress pads for use during birth, lots of sterile bandages and dressings, a navel clamp for the baby, sterile cotton, antibacterial hand gel, etc.
Oh yeah -- and a racist cartoon character on the box. BONUS! Dutch racism: it's not just for Zwarte Piet anymore!
oh my.
Posted by: Amanda | February 20, 2007 at 08:48 PM
at least they could have used a pig to match the year...
Posted by: crazy cousin eddie | February 22, 2007 at 02:42 PM
Yeah, I hate how they're always depicting green people as happy! ;-)
Posted by: Chad | February 26, 2007 at 03:25 PM
Also, does it seem weird to you that the Dutch name for the birthing kit is a (hopefully) false cognate of "cram packet?"
Posted by: Chad | February 26, 2007 at 03:27 PM
Hee hee ha ha ha!! I just think that's super cool that they sent you a kraampakket. It sounds like something I'd buy at Ikea...and that is just so Dutch/Swedish/Where are you again?
Posted by: Mandy | March 15, 2007 at 03:40 AM