Who can support me?

The midwife supports parents from the desire to conceive until one year after childbirth. A midwife provides medical, informational, and emotional support. When additional or specialised assistance is required, the midwife will refer to an appropriate healthcare professional, such as a lactation consultant. Some midwives are also certified baby‑wearing consultants. Baby‑wearing supports and strengthens the attachment between parent and child.

Useful links/website

https://www.vroedvrouwen.be/in...

https://www.vroedvrouwen.be/zo...

https://www.draagconsulenten.b...

A gynecologist provides primarily medical and informational support, but can also offer emotional support by providing a listening ear.

General practitioners also sometimes provide guidance during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The GP can serve as a point of contact for informational, medical, and emotional support and can refer to other healthcare providers and/or organizations when necessary.

The pediatrician or neonatologist visits the ward regularly and is responsible for the medical follow‑up of the baby in the neonatal unit. After discharge, the pediatrician can continue to monitor the baby’s growth and development. The pediatrician provides informational and medical support and also offers a listening ear when concerns arise regarding the baby.

The neonatologist usually does not take on the long‑term follow‑up of the baby. In such cases, parents are referred to a pediatrician.

The admission of a baby to the neonatal unit has a significant impact on parents and is accompanied by many emotions. The discharge of the baby can also bring uncertainty and anxiety. Attention to the emotional and mental well‑being of parents, and talking about their feelings, is therefore essential. Psychological or therapeutic support may be appropriate when challenges arise.

Kind & Gezin serves as a point of contact for families with young children. Its services are free of charge, multidisciplinary, and tailored to each family. Support is offered during pregnancy and continues after birth through a combination of home visits and follow‑up consultations at a Kind & Gezin centre. During these contact moments, both medical and psychosocial topics are addressed.

Useful links/websites:

https://ww.kindengezin.be/nl/...

For all non‑medical support, families can contact a home‑care service that provides specialised maternity care for the baby, the mother, and the rest of the household.
The maternity care assistant supports the care of both the baby and the mother. Practical help and guidance are offered on feeding and caring for the baby. The assistant may, for example, watch the baby while parents rest or take a shower, help with household tasks, run errands, accompany other children to school, or prepare a meal.
This service requires a payment, calculated based on family income and composition. In some cases, the health insurance fund or the hospitalisation insurance may cover part of the costs.

Cleaning assistance visits regularly to help with household tasks, allowing parents more time for each other and for the baby.
This is a paid service that can be partially deducted through the tax system. Cleaning assistance provides mainly practical support, such as cleaning the home, laundry and ironing, and, if needed, cooking and grocery shopping.
Self‑employed mothers can receive 105 free service vouchers through the social insurance fund.

The health insurance fund also offers informational support related to pregnancy and childbirth. It provides reimbursements for certain medical expenses and maternity care, and lends baby equipment such as breast pumps. In addition, many health insurance funds offer brochures and guidance on pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period.

Healthcare providers in the hospital have provided the necessary care for days, weeks, or even months and have come to know both the baby and the parents well. They prepare the parents step by step for discharge. If questions or uncertainties arise after the baby has gone home, the neonatal unit can still be contacted.

Specific home‑support services exist to assist families who have experienced a difficult or unusual start with their baby, including a stay in the neonatal unit. These services help families make the transition from hospital to home. They support parents in interacting with their baby and in finding calm and confidence. They also act as a sounding board and guide families in accessing appropriate forms of care and support. Assistance with administrative matters is also provided. Some home‑support services offer specialized programs for premature babies (see links). These teams are multidisciplinary and may include physiotherapists, child psychologists, educational specialists, and others, allowing them to address the baby’s specific physical and psychosocial needs. Other services focus on more general concerns and are listed on the website of the Association for Parents of Preterm Infants (VVOC).

Useful links/websites:

• Flemish Brabant: Resonans vzw (KOKOOS)

KOKOOS prepares the baby’s return home together with the parents. The service strengthens the bond between parent and child and supports parents in recognising and responding to the needs of their child. The child’s development is monitored across different domains, and support is provided based on the questions and concerns that may arise.

• East Flanders: Fiola vzw (BROOS)

Broos supports parents for whom the arrival of a baby has been more challenging than expected. The service offers parents a sounding board for their feelings after this unusual start. In addition, parents are supported in establishing a daily routine and receive guidance on how to care for and interact with their baby.

• Antwerp: Heder (DE KLEINE BEER)

De kleine beer supports parents of a premature baby in various ways. The service monitors the child’s development, strengthens the bond between parent and child, assists in the search for suitable childcare or schooling, and guides parents through the extensive administrative procedures. The team also has a referral function.

• Limburg: Dienst Ambulante Begeleiding (DAB) – High-Risk infants

DAB teaches parents how to stimulate their child’s development in a playful manner. The service provides tips and advice to help daily care run as smoothly as possible and offers support on both emotional and administrative levels.

• West Flanders: 

       ’t Spoor (ANDERE START)

’t Spoor supports parents during the transition from hospital to home. The service monitors the child’s development and helps parents better understand the signals and cues of their baby.

        START West-Vlaanderen

Start West-Vlaanderen provides home‑based support for children with developmental delays or with a (suspected) intellectual disability and their families. Together with the parents, the service works with a support package that includes parenting advice, developmental stimulation, communication strategies, inclusive education, and related areas.