Upon the discharge of a baby from the hospital, several practical and administrative matters must be arranged. More information about the associated administrative procedures can be found on this page.
Administration
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Maternity care
Maternity care at home consists of two main parts: medical support provided by the midwife and non-medical assistance by the maternity care assistant.
MEDICAL SUPPORT
The midwife provides professional guidance regarding questions and uncertainties related to the baby and the mother. After discharge from the hospital, a midwife visits the home to continue monitoring both mother and baby. Medical support from a midwife can be provided up to one year after birth, and payment is usually arranged through the health insurance fund.
Click here to find a midwife who provides home visits.
NON-MEDICAL ASSISTANCE (maternity help)
A maternity care assistant can help with baby care and certain household tasks such as cooking, ironing, grocery shopping etc. Maternity help can be provided from 1 month before the expected due date until 3 months after birth. If the baby must stay on the neonatal unit after birth, an exception can be made and the period can be extended. This also applies for twins or triplets. To qualify for such an exception, a document from the hospital stating the baby’s discharge date is required.
It is important to apply for maternity help on time (starting from the 6th month of pregnancy), as several formalities must be completed before assistance can start. The cost of maternity help depends on the net income and family composition. In general, lower income results in lower costs. Some health insurance funds and insurance providers offer partial reimbursement for maternity care. Verification with the health insurance fund and the insurer is recommended.
Maternity help can be requested from expertisecentrum kraamzorg, familiehulp, Ferm thuiszorg, I-mens and some health insurance funds.
Care allowance
Some children require additional support to develop. For these children, an extra care allowance can be provided in addition to the basic amount within the Groeipakket. This concerns the care allowance for children with specific support needs. A child can receive the care allowance if the following conditions are met:
- the general conditions for entitlements to the Groeipakket are fulfulled
- a disability or medical condition is present and specific criteria are met
Preterm infants who remained in the hospital for longer than three months are automatically entitled to a care allowance for the period of hospitalization. For infants who spent less than three months in the hospital, each situation is assessed individually. If infants require additional support after returning home (e.g. therapy, care at home etc.) they may also qualify for the care allowance in certain situations. A clearly defined disability is therefore not always required to be eligible for the care allowance.
When it is suspected that a child may qualify, contact must be made with the payment providers of the Groeipakket. Parents must complete an online questionnaire, supplemented by reports from the hospital and, if applicable, other care professionals. The application is then reviewed by a physician who assesses the child’s specific support needs. The amount of the care allowance depends on the extent to which the child requires more support than peers of the same age.
Click here to see how the care allowance can be applied for.
Home care for sick children
When a sick child cannot attend regular childcare, home care can be arranged. Various services and organizations like health insurance funds, OCMW’s and municipalities sometimes provide home childcare for sick children. Several options are listed below.
Familiehulp
In West Flanders, Familiehulp offers in-home childcare. The service provides high quality care and supervision for acutely ill children up to 12 years old.
3W+
In Flemisch Brabant, 3W+ provides home care for sick children up to 14 years old.
I-mens
The home care service of I-mens temporarily takes over the care of sick children, allowing parents to continue working with peace of mind.
Health insurance fund
Some health insurance funds allow applications for home care for a sick child. It is recommended to check with the relevant insurance fund whether this service is offered.
Employer
Certain employers also provide home care options. Contact with employer is recommended for more information.
Ferm
Ferm, in collaboration with CM, offers home care for sick children.