Dam Parenting

For the very first time on Dam Parenting, both parents are here — together. Liam and Vivi join me to share not one birth story, but two. Two children, two completely different births, and a journey that shows what can happen when you stop being afraid to learn.
Vivi is a Greek mum building her own community space in Amsterdam. Liam was previously on the podcast speaking about the vulnerabilities of fatherhood. Together, they talk about the real experience of preparing for birth in the Netherlands — hypnobirthing, doula support, the midwife-kraamzorg-doula team — and what changed between their first and second birth when they truly invested in preparation.
This episode is about knowledge as power. It's about what a woman's body can do when she believes in it. And it's about the extraordinary role a partner can play.
Two births. Both on their due dates. Both in the Netherlands. One family, transformed by learning.

If you want to reach out to Vivi - you can find her at GreekMama on Instagram - she is always up to new nad wonderful things!
Liam can be found as a supporting member of so many projects, including - Dads Do Art - Connecting dads & families through creativity and play in Amsterdam Nieuw West. And of course his own Instagram page where you can find out more about his upcoming comedy projects. And soon enough this podcast also!
And if you wan to find out more about their wonderful Doula - her instagram is Toni Muller Doula .

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.