What can you expect from us?
We’re committed midwives and aim to be in tune with you and your partner as much as we can, so that we can offer you exactly what you need. You’ll get all the space you need to make your own choices; we like to think along with you. Because we have a small team of three permanent midwives and a lot of time during the check-ups we can get to know each other well.
We make sure you’ll get the most up to date information to make your decisions about prenatal screening, healthy eating and living, maternity care and birth, amongst others. We will discuss all the options with you: where you wish to give birth, at home or at the hospital, in a bath or on a birthing chair, with or without pain relief. You decide for yourself, we’re right next to you and are there for you. We take care of the right way to guide you, if need be also with other healthcare providers.
If you live in the area of Halfweg, Zwanenburg, Spaarndam, Haarlem, Boesingheliede or Lijnden then you can register with our Midwifery practice for the guidance of your pregnancy, delivery and maternity period.
We have consultation hours at locations in Haarlem, Zwanenburg and Spaarndam. If you are interested in our ways of working, or would you like to get acquainted first, please contact us!
- Guarding the natural process
- Available day and night
- Personal care
- Evening consultation
- Small team
- Safe medical care
Our locations
Onze locaties
Who we are
Elisabeth Zwiers
In 2006 i was sworn in as a midwife. Time seems to fly by! 2007 was the year i started Duo practice for obstetrics. It has always been my wish to work in a small practice. I know that this gives the best possibilities providing care. The level of care connecting to the personal wishes during you’re pregnancy. Guiding the timeframe when you are pregnant, the birth and young parenthood keeps me intrigued! I am so proud of all the parents going through this proces, I look forward meeting you all!
- Family: boyfriend Jon, daughters Lena and Lucie
- Favourite drink: lots of (black) tea
- Favourite snacks: potato chips, nuts, dates, vighs and rosemary breadsticks
- Makes me happy: drawing, painting, craftwork like knitting, cooking and baking with my girls
- Favourite time of the day: evening when my best ideas come up.
Did you know; that Nikkie and Elisabeth visited the same high school? They know each other already from Waldorf School in Haarlem since they were teenagers!
Big number; 29065697603
Nikkie Koper
Since 2013 I am working as a midwife. I am a so called late bloomer because before this I have studied arts and economics. For a few years I worked in the cultural sector. Every year together with my boyfriend we make a nice trip and during one of those trips I decided to forfill my childhood wish of becoming a midwife. 4 years later i was sworn in and I guided my first solo home birth as an observer midwife with Duo practice for obstetrics. As from 2017 i am an official partner in our practice and Elisabeth and me form a duo. I love having lots of time for you as a client. This gives me the feeling that you feel comfortable and you can discuss anything!
- Family: boyfriend Deen and son Fitz
- Favourite drink; coffee and green tea
- Makes me happy: to travel and discover the worlds beautiful places, reading books, singing, watching series, holiday preferably to tropical destinations where a different world feels so magic.
- Favourite time of the day: the evening
Did you know that Nikkie saw her first birth together with Elisabeth and after that decided to study obstetrics.
Big number: 49917258803
Zoila Aartsen
After finishing my midwifery studies at the Amsterdam Academy of Midwifery in 2002, I worked as a midwife in Amsterdam for ten years. In 2012 my husband and I decided to move to the U.S. with our then 13-month-old daughter and our son on the way.
After nine wonderful years with rich experiences, we returned to the Netherlands in the beginning of 2021. Once we were back, I couldn’t wait to continue with my beautiful profession of midwifery.
Duo is unique in its size. It is a small practice that emphasis on creating time and space that allows
parents to receive the highest quality of midwifery care. During this special time in your life, we will work with you to provide a personal level of care that will best suit your needs. I believe it is important that you feel supported with empathy and attention during your pregnancy, birth and postpartum. And that you take away a positive experience. Everyone is unique and I am looking forward meeting you.
Big number: 279057863803
Astrid Berkhout
I have been a midwife since 1990 and have seen a lot of changes in the perception of pregnancy during those years pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood. However, what does not change at all is the need for someone who is there for you, who listens to you and sees you. Who takes control when you let go can or want to leave. I love working at Duo now and being that person for you are. With time and attention for what is important. I have a nice background with experience in my own midwifery practice in Haarlem and 14 years working as a midwife at the AMC and then the Spaarne Gasthuis. In addition, in my own practice, I guide women (and sometimes men) who are very anxious about it the birth or have had a bad experience surrounding a previous birth.
BIG number: 29028516703
The Process
Pregnancy
During your pregnancy we’ll discuss all the important subjects to prepare you for the birth, motherhood, the changes in your life and the postpartum period. We think it’s important to work with you and your partner to find out what you want, what’s important to you, and what you need for you to trust your body during this special period.
As a practice, we have decided to stay small, which also means that we schedule extra time during our consultation hours. Of course it may happen that you have more to discuss during your appointment, in which case we are happy to schedule some extra time for you.
The first ultrasound will be planned around 10 weeks, after your first check-up. This will take place at one of our partner ultrasound centres in the area.
Topics that will be discussed:
- Experiencing your pregnancy, uncertainties, emotions, parenthood
- Prenatal screening options such as the NIPT, the combined test and the 20 weeks ultrasound.
- Decisions on breastfeeding and formula feeding
- Practical choices such as postnatal care, the recognition of the unborn child and parental authority
- Choices about birth locations; at home or at the hospital
- We will discuss your wishes regarding birth
- At around 30 weeks we will discuss the delivery. We often notice that it’s reassuring to talk about this at an earlier stage; do let us know and we’ll discuss the right moment for you.
- Information regarding courses, how to deal with contractions and the postnatal period.
- Advice regarding supplements based on orthomolecular knowledge.
Naturally, there are often many more topics we can discuss, we always make sure there is room for this. If you have a lot of questions, do let us know and we’ll plan a double consult for you!
Birth
For most parents the moment of birth is often a special but also a tense moment. During your pregnancy we prepare you for this as best as possible. A good preparation can help you face birth with confidence. There are a lot of things to think about or to decide upon. For instance, you may decide for yourself whether you want to give birth at home or in the hospital. You can even decide upon or change this at the time. We are always prepared for a home-birth and always have a birthing chair with us. We are quite experienced in guiding water births, you can even rent a bath from us!
What you can expect from us:
- During labour and birth we’re there for you and won’t leave you, unless you prefer to be alone.
- We’re available both day and night and can visit you whenever you need us.
- You can use pain relief options such as an epidural, Remyfentanil (morphine pump) and nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in the hospital.
- We are experienced in the use of Rebozo (shaking-technique with Mexican shawl).
- You decide where you want to give birth, at home or at the hospital.
- We monitor the natural process and progress of your labour with due observance of your wishes, in a way that is non-obtrusive to you.
- Strong cooperation with hospitals Spaarne Gasthuis (location South) and OLVG (location West).
We are available 24/7 via phone number: 06-50494811. We also use whatsapp but only check this during the day, so in case of emergency always call!
Postnatal period
With the birth of your child a whole new period starts – you’ll have become parents (again). It’s a period in which your body needs to recover and you will have to get used to your new roles, as parents. With many new impressions coming your way, it can also be a tense period. Together with the maternity nurse we will guide you during the maternity week.
The first few hours after the birth you will be helped by us and the maternity nurse. Even after a hospital birth you are generally allowed to go home after a couple of hours, if everything goes well. You will be alone with your newborn baby for the very first time. Fortunately, in the first week the maternity nurse will teach you everything you need to know about taking care of your baby. In addition, the maternity nurse will help with feedings, and will relieve the new mother and her partner, so you can optimally recover from the birth and enjoy your baby as much as possible. During the first week we’ll be visiting you every other day to hear how things are going and to make a plan in case things aren’t going so well. In addition, we’ll be available to you 24/7 during the maternity weeks!
What you can expect from us:
- available 24/7 in cases of emergency and for questions
- a home visit every other day is standard in the first week, this can be more or less as needed
- support and advice with breast- and bottle feeding
- the possibility to have the tongue-tie cleaved by one of us
- the possibility to borrow a breast pump
We are available 24/7 via phone number: 06-50494811. We also use whatsapp but only check this during the day, so in case of emergency always call!
Contraception
It is possible fall pregnant just 4 weeks after having given birth. By that time your body hasn’t yet fully recovered from the pregnancy and delivery; for this your body needs around 9 months. If you don’t want to risk getting pregnant (yet) you may want to consider contraception.
We will happily provide you with reliable information on the several options. The options differ, depending on whether you breastfeed or bottle-feed. If you opt for a coil (IUD) after giving birth, you can have it fitted at our practice. We’ll discuss the options during the maternity week and follow-up and can plan an appointment for the coil from 12 weeks after the delivery. You can choose between the copper coil (t-safe) or a coil that contains hormones (Mirena or Kyleena). We are happy to advise you so you can make the right decision.
Would you like more information on the options? Have a look at www.anticonceptie.nl
Miscarriage
Sadly, not all pregnancies go well. Sometimes something goes wrong in the early stages of the development of a pregnancy which can cause a miscarriage. When you think you are having a miscarriage you can always contact us.
We speak of a miscarriage when a pregnancy aborts before the 16th week. Your body rejects the unborn foetus either because it has stopped growing or because something was ‘wrong’ from the outset with the child’s development. Miscarriages occur regularly (1 in 10 pregnancies). About 1 in 5 women experience blood loss before the 16th week. For half of these women the blood loss will stop spontaneously and their pregnancies will continue normally. In the other half of the women the blood loss will end in a miscarriage.
Options in case of miscarriage:
- Waiting
You can opt to wait. Within two weeks after the first blood loss, your body will usually start to reject the foetus. The benefit of waiting is that a natural course is best for your body in general.
The chance of complications occurring is the smallest. Sometimes, when a miscarriage is incomplete, treatment is still necessary. In case you choose to wait we’ll stay in touch with you either by phone or by making an appointment. - Medication
You can also choose to (further) induce the miscarriage by means of medication. For the medication we will refer you to one of the hospitals we work with. You will then receive medication which you can administer (vaginally) yourself at home. This way your body will receive a signal to start inducing the miscarriage. Sometimes it is still necessary to clean the uterus more thoroughly through the means of a curettage. You will get an extra check up at the hospital in case the blood loss is too heavy or if the miscarriage still doesn’t occur. - Curettage
A curettage is a medical procedure that takes place at the hospital (or specialised clinic). During a curettage the uterus is being ‘cleaned’, this happens under light sedation.
Recovery after a miscarriage
In general, the recovery after a miscarriage is smooth. During 1-2 weeks you may experience blood loss or brown discharge. As soon as the blood loss has stopped your body has recovered enough for a new pregnancy. There is no medical need to wait for a menstruation before getting pregnant. We do however notice that many women need some time to process the miscarriage.
A miscarriage is often a stressful event. It means a sudden end to the plans and fantasies about the expected child. That’s quite something! Anger, grief and disbelief are therefore common. With a subsequent pregnancy we often notice a lot of women are more apprehensive and anxious. Share your feelings with us, we are here to help and support you during this process.
You are of course always welcome to come in for a follow-up.
Experiences
Contact us
Contact/ Bereikbaarheid
Wij zijn 24/7 telefonisch bereikbaar op 020-2440431 We maken gebruik van een keuzemenu. Lees hieronder welke keus voor jou van toepassing is:
Wat is wat en wie krijg je aan de telefoon?
Keuze 1: SPOED
Je krijgt de dienstdoende verloskundige aan de telefoon (Astrid, Nikkie of Elisabeth)
- Als de bevalling is begonnen
- Bij bloedverlies welke termijn dan ook
- Als je je zorgen maakt
- Als je je kindje minder voelt bewegen
Ben je een collega? Toets dan 1 dan krijg je ons direct aan de lijn.
Keuze 2: telefonisch spreekuur
Tussen 9-13u hebben wij telefonisch spreekuur
- Voor kleine vragen die ook kunnen wachten
- Het aanvragen van de NIPT of combinatietest
- Het aanvragen van een zwangerschapsverklaring
- Het maken of wijzigen van een afspraak
- Het plannen van een afspraak voor het plaatsen van een spiraal
Het kan zijn dat er meerdere mensen bellen en dan kan het zijn dat je in de wachtrij komt. Wij zullen je zo snel als mogelijk te woord staan. Spreek je liever een bericht in? Kies dan voor optie 3.
Keuze 3:
Direct een voicemail bericht inspreken,
- als je bijvoorbeeld niet andere vragen hebt, maar iets aan ons door wilt geven
- Alleen een zwangerschapsverklaring aan wilt vragen
- Buiten telefonisch spreekuur belt en je afspraak wilt wijzigen
- Je graag teruggebeld wilt worden
Ben je zwanger en wil je een afspraak maken voor een eerste controle? Via de website kan je aangeven wanneer wij je kunnen bellen voor het inplannen van een eerste afspraak, maar je mag je ook telefonisch aanmelden. Kies hiervoor optie 2, en indien na 13u optie 1.
Wil je ons een whats app bericht sturen? dan kan dat op 06-50494811. Let op, wij reageren alleen overdag op gestuurde berichten.
Neem contact op
Contact/ Bereikbaarheid
Wij zijn 24/7 telefonisch bereikbaar op 020-2440431 We maken gebruik van een keuzemenu. Lees hieronder welke keus voor jou van toepassing is:
Wat is wat en wie krijg je aan de telefoon?
Keuze 1: SPOED
Je krijgt de dienstdoende verloskundige aan de telefoon (Astrid, Nikkie of Elisabeth)
- Als de bevalling is begonnen
- Bij bloedverlies welke termijn dan ook
- Als je je zorgen maakt
- Als je je kindje minder voelt bewegen
Ben je een collega? Toets dan 1 dan krijg je ons direct aan de lijn.
Keuze 2: telefonisch spreekuur
Tussen 9-13u hebben wij telefonisch spreekuur
- Voor kleine vragen die ook kunnen wachten
- Het aanvragen van de NIPT of combinatietest
- Het aanvragen van een zwangerschapsverklaring
- Het maken of wijzigen van een afspraak
- Het plannen van een afspraak voor het plaatsen van een spiraal
Het kan zijn dat er meerdere mensen bellen en dan kan het zijn dat je in de wachtrij komt. Wij zullen je zo snel als mogelijk te woord staan. Spreek je liever een bericht in? Kies dan voor optie 3.
Keuze 3:
Direct een voicemail bericht inspreken,
- als je bijvoorbeeld niet andere vragen hebt, maar iets aan ons door wilt geven
- Alleen een zwangerschapsverklaring aan wilt vragen
- Buiten telefonisch spreekuur belt en je afspraak wilt wijzigen
- Je graag teruggebeld wilt worden
Ben je zwanger en wil je een afspraak maken voor een eerste controle? Via de website kan je aangeven wanneer wij je kunnen bellen voor het inplannen van een eerste afspraak, maar je mag je ook telefonisch aanmelden. Kies hiervoor optie 2, en indien na 13u optie 1.
Wil je ons een whats app bericht sturen? dan kan dat op 06-50494811. Let op, wij reageren alleen overdag op gestuurde berichten.
Frequently asked questions
Folic acid supports the cell division process in the body. This is very important for the forming and development of the fetus. Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects in the child. In an unborn baby the neural tube is the beginning of the spinal cord and the brain. When something goes wrong in the forming and development of the neural tube, abnormalities can develop in the spinal cord or brain during the pregnancy. This means the baby could have a split spine, an open skull, cleft lip or cleft palate.
We advise you to take a folic acid tablet of 0,4 – 0,5 milligrams daily up to the 11th week of your pregnancy. You can get folic acid tablets at the drugstore or pharmacy without a prescription. It will take about 4 weeks for your body to absorb the extra folic acid. Therefore, it is advised to start taking folic acid the moment you want children. Is your pregnancy unplanned or are you pregnant sooner than expected? Start with folic acid tablets as soon as you can.
A couple of things are wise to arrange in time when pregnant, here’s a little list to help:
- sign up for maternity care (you can opt for an organisation or a self-employed carer)
- Recognition of the unborn foetus (preferably before the 24th week)
- Request a maternity package from your health insurer or purchase it yourself
- You could look into adjusting your health insurance (check carefully whether the costs of the additional insurance are in proportion to what you may be using). A restitution policy could come handy.
- Parental authority (only when you are not married). This can only be arranged after the birth of your baby.
You can get one from us once the due date has been determined through the use of the term ultrasound.
We are always available for you. We are available day and night in case of contractions, emergencies, concerns or urgent questions. Should you wish to make or change an appointment or do you have a question that’s not urgent, please call us weekdays 12:30 and 13:30 (during our telephone consultation hour) on 06-50494811 (also the emergency number).
If you are unable to reach us on this number and you need to get in touch with us urgently, please call our back-up number: 06-18513806.
- Is your pregnancy in the very first stages and are you having blood loss? You may always call us. Especially when you think the loss of blood is excessive, do feel free to contact us.
- Call us immediately when you are 12 weeks along or more and have blood loss.
- If the blood you lose is bright red we would like you to call us immediately. During contractions you may lose a little bit of mucus-like blood, this is normal and is called “tekenen” (“bloody show”). If you have any doubts about this and we’re not with you yet, you can always consult us. Did you lose the mucus plug but do not have contractions yet, there’s no need to call us as it’s no indication of whether or when you will go into labour.
When you eat healthy you won’t need to take extra vitamins during your pregnancy. If you do want to use multi-vitamins, choose multi-vitamins for pregnant women and preferably a brand that uses natural vitamines. In this case it is important to look at the amount of folic acid they contain. If the amount is 0.4-0.5 milligrams you won’t need to take any additional folic acid.
We advise you further to take enough vitamin D3 and B12. The “Gezondheidsraad” (Dutch Health Council) advises pregnant women to take an extra 10 micrograms of vitamin D as a precaution. This can help reduce fatigue and is beneficial for the development of your child.
A maternity package contains everything you’ll need during labour and birth but can also be very useful during the postpartum period. So even if you plan on giving birth at the hospital a maternity package is essential. You can order a maternity package from your health insurer. If your insurance only covers the basic needs you may not have it reimbursed. You can purchase the maternity package as well from a drugstore or pharmacy.
The contents of your suitcase should foremost make a day+night admission more pleasant. So think of 1 set of clothes, nightwear, toiletries and 2 sets of clothes for the baby, in 2 different sizes for instance. Furthermore, think of comfy socks, sweatpants and a charger for your phone.
Are you considering a water birth? We’re happy to hear! Giving birth in a warm bath provides additional relaxation. As a result, delivery often goes more smoothly because you produce less stress hormones and more endorphins (natural relaxants). The transition from the uterus to the outside world goes very smoothly because of the water. The baby is supplied with oxygen via the umbilical cord and therefore can stay underwater for a bit after the birth. Breathing will only start when its face comes into contact with the colder air.
You cannot always give birth in a bath in the hospital. In the “Bevalcentrum West” (birthing centre at OLVG-west) and in Spaarne Gasthuis, location south, there’s the possibility to have a water birth as long as your admission is non-medical.
It’s not possible to give birth in a normal bath. These are often too narrow, preventing us from helping you for instance when the baby is being born with difficulty. Of course you can use a regular bath during the dilation contractions. If you really want to give birth in a bath it is possible to rent a special birthing pool. Let us know if you’re interested in renting our birthing pool!
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