Dam Parenting

An episode over 2 years in the making, and finally it's here. It's not a full comprehensive episode, we dont want to bog you down with everything all at once, but Dr Marenne Van Hangel Budde joins Dam Parenting to discuss tthe foundational elements of the Netherlands health care system for children.
We discuss why the system can feel confusing to immigrants, who is who in this system (Huisarts, Consultatiebureau, Kinderarts, SEH, HAP) .
We have quick fire rounds to answer real examples of who to reach out to when our little one might need help.
We touch on insuarnce, referrals and costs also relarted to our children.

On Wednesday , I rereleased the episode with Dr. Koen Deurloo — the OB-GYN who pioneered the mother-assisted cesarean at Diakonessenhuis Utrecht. You saved it, shared it, and sent it to friends who needed it.
Today, we hear from the other side of that operating table.
Geri had her youngest child with Dr. Deurloo as her gynaecologist, and in this episode she walks us through everything — the moment she first heard about the MAC, the decision-making process, her pregnancy, her preparation, and the extraordinary experience of lifting her own baby into the world with her own hands.
This is an honest, emotional, and deeply human birth story. And it is for every mother who has ever wondered whether she is allowed to want something different.
In this episode:— Why Geri chose a mother-assisted cesarean and how she made that decision— What the preparation and pregnancy journey looked like— A step-by-step account of the day itself — walking into the hospital, the operating room, the moment of birth— Recovery, the emotional aftermath, and what she knows now that she wishes she had known before— What she would say to a mother sitting somewhere right now, wondering if this could be right for her
Whether you are planning a cesarean, hoping to avoid one, or simply want to feel prepared for every possibility — this episode will stay with you.
Follow Geri on Instagram here moedergeassisteerdekeizersnede
Listen to our Dr. Koen Deurloo episode for the full clinical picture — linked in show notes. @kldloo on Instagram
DAM Parenting is a weekly podcast for international families navigating pregnancy, birth and parenthood in the Netherlands. Every Wednesday (plus an extra here or there!)

April is International Cesarean Awareness Month — and I can think of no better time to bring back one of our most-loved episodes.
In the Netherlands, the cultural weight around birth can make a cesarean feel like a deviation from the "right" path. But what if a C-section could still be a deeply empowering, connected, and beautiful birth experience? Dr. Koen Deurloo, OB-GYN at Diakonessenhuis Utrecht, is proof that it absolutely can.
Dr. Deurloo is the pioneer of the mother-assisted cesarean — a practice he developed in 2017 in which the birthing parent plays an active, physical role in their own surgical birth. Since then, he has performed around 400 mother-assisted births, published his book Door de ogen van een gynaecoloog, and is now training gynecologists across the Netherlands to bring this option to more hospitals.
In this episode, together with Dr. Deurloo we explore:
What a mother-assisted cesarean actually looks like — and why it's just 4 extra minutes
How the Dutch medical system approaches maternal agency in the operating theater
Skin-to-skin contact, postpartum recovery, and bonding after a cesarean
How to advocate for your birth preferences — even when the system pushes back
Why cesarean births deserve to be honored, not minimized
Whether you're planning a C-section, want to be prepared for every birth path, or simply believe that mothers deserve to feel empowered in every delivery room — this episode is for you.
Find Dr. Deurloo:📱 Instagram: @kldloo💻 Expert at Ouders van Nu & How About Mom

I thought I’d feel better by now.
The days are longer. The light is back.
But instead of feeling energised… many parents feel exhausted, heavy, and behind.
In this episode, I’m sharing what it really feels like to come out of winter in motherhood—
the emotional backlog, the pressure to re-engage, and why spring isn’t always a fresh start.
If this is where you are right now, this episode is for you.

Cancer as an expat in the Netherlands hits differently.
In this episode of DAM Parenting, we speak with Katherine, founder of Cancer Support Netherlands — a Dutch non-profit offering English-language, community-based support for internationals navigating cancer.
Being diagnosed with cancer can turn life upside down.
But for those living far from home — expats, immigrants, international families — the experience can feel even more isolating.
Navigating treatment in a different language, without your usual support systems, while trying to process the emotional weight of illness… can be overwhelming.
Cancer Support Netherlands was created to bridge this gap.
In this episode, we explore:
• What it means to face cancer while living abroad
• Language barriers in the Dutch healthcare system
• The emotional reality of illness without family nearby
• Support for partners, caregivers, and families
• The importance of English-language peer support
• How community spaces can change the experience of cancer
Cancer Support Netherlands offers:
• Confidential peer support groups
• English-language community spaces
• Events, workshops, and expert-led sessions
• Support for patients, survivors, and caregivers
• Flexible ways to connect — privately or in community
They welcome:
• Expats and internationals
• Migrants and immigrants
• Refugees
• Binational families
• Long-term residents
• Anyone who feels most comfortable expressing themselves in English
This episode is released in recognition of Daffodil Day — a national day of cancer awareness in Ireland.
Because cancer awareness isn’t just one day a year.
And for those living abroad, the need for support doesn’t follow a calendar.
If you are navigating cancer, supporting someone who is, or part of an international community in the Netherlands — this episode is for you.
No one should face cancer alone.
And language should never be a barrier to support.

Links for suport:
Public Page (Friends & Supporters)
Follow our work, events, advocacy and Hive Network updates:
https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bm2VGKr5b/?mibextid=wwXIfr 

Facebook Private Support Group (confidential space)
For emotional support, connection, and sharing with others affected by cancer:
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1DBabL8fWr/?mibextid=wwXIfr 

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/cancer_support_netherlands 

LinkedIn
https://nl.linkedin.com/company/cancer-support-netherlands