Episode 14: Hospital Birth? That WAS the Plan…
Naghieli’s Story, Part 1
Pregnancy in a new country can feel overwhelming—especially when you don’t know the system, your options, or who to trust.
In this episode of Pregnant in the Netherlands, we speak with Naghieli—an expat mama, feminist, and creative force—who shares her powerful journey from planning a hospital birth to choosing an empowered home birth.
Her story is full of honesty, growth, and the kind of insights that make you think: “Wow, I needed to hear this.”
Navigating Pregnancy as an Expat
Finding out you’re pregnant in a new country often comes with one big question:
👉 “What do I even do now?”
Naghieli describes the early days of pregnancy in the Netherlands as confusing and overwhelming:
Not knowing how the healthcare system works
Unsure who to contact first (GP? midwife?)
Feeling alone without a familiar support system
Like many expats, she turned to:
Facebook groups
Social media
Online communities
This is how she eventually discovered something she hadn’t even known existed before:
➡️ A doula
“I Didn’t Even Know What a Doula Was”
At first, Naghieli assumed a doula was the same as a midwife.
👉 “I thought it was just another word for midwife.”
But after one conversation, everything shifted.
She realized that a doula provides:
Continuous emotional and physical support
Guidance through pregnancy and birth decisions
Support for both her and her partner
What started as curiosity quickly became clarity:
👉 “It was the best decision we could make.”
Why Support Matters More as an Expat
Being pregnant far from home adds an extra layer of vulnerability.
Naghieli shares that as an expat, she felt:
More alone
Less informed
More anxious about the unknown
Having a doula created a sense of relief:
Someone to ask questions anytime
Someone to guide her through decisions
Someone present during birth
👉 “It was like… okay, I can relax a little.”
Changing Her Mind About Home Birth
Coming from Venezuela, home birth wasn’t even an option in her mind.
👉 “That’s just for crazy hippie people.”
At the beginning, she was clear:
She wanted a hospital birth
She didn’t want to hear about alternatives
But something interesting happened.
As she explored her preferences, she realized she wanted:
No unnecessary interventions
Minimal people in the room
Freedom to move and follow her body
A calm, uninterrupted environment
Her partner pointed out something simple—but powerful:
👉 “All of that sounds like a home birth.”
And slowly, her perspective shifted.
The Power of Information
One of the biggest turning points in Naghieli’s journey was education.
She began to:
Listen to positive birth stories
Follow midwives and doulas online
Research different birth approaches
This helped her move from fear to trust:
👉 “My body created this baby… it makes sense that it can birth it.”
Her key message:
💡 Make decisions based on knowledge—not fear
Preparing for Birth (Mentally and Practically)
Naghieli’s preparation went far beyond reading books.
She approached birth as both:
A learning process
A mindset shift
Some of the ways she prepared:
Deep research into birth and the Dutch system
Following trusted professionals online
Using her midwife’s materials as a starting point
Working closely with her doula
But just as important was the internal work.
Learning to Love Her Changing Body
Pregnancy brought up body image challenges—but also transformation.
Instead of resisting the changes, Naghieli made a conscious decision:
👉 To embrace and appreciate her body
She also communicated clearly with her partner about her needs:
No comments about weight
Sensitivity around body image
Active emotional support
The result?
Feeling more confident
Feeling supported
Actually falling in love with her pregnant body
Preparing Her Partner for Birth
One of the most powerful parts of this story is how intentionally Naghieli involved her partner.
She didn’t assume he would “just know” what to do.
Instead, she:
Shared information with him
Practiced birth positions together
Watched videos of labor support
Set clear expectations for his role
👉 “This is something we will do together.”
This transformed birth into a team experience, not a solo one.
Communication Is Everything
Throughout pregnancy, Naghieli prioritized communication—especially around:
Emotional changes
Hormones
Expectations for birth and postpartum
She even prepared her partner for moments like:
Sudden tears
Mood swings
Emotional overwhelm
👉 “I told him… this might happen. Be ready.”
This created:
More understanding
Less conflict
Stronger connection
Redefining Roles in Parenthood
As a feminist, Naghieli was intentional about creating a different dynamic in her relationship.
She didn’t want:
To carry the entire mental load
To be the only one responsible for parenting
But she also recognized something important:
👉 These roles don’t automatically change—you have to build them
Together, they:
Created their own model of partnership
Actively involved her partner in learning and decision-making
Challenged traditional expectations
👉 “We didn’t have a role model—we had to create one.”
The Reality of Involving Your Partner
Naghieli is refreshingly honest about this part:
Partners don’t always engage at the same pace
You may need to share information more actively
It can feel like extra work at first
But over time:
➡️ It becomes a true partnership
👉 “At some point, it clicks—and then it’s amazing.”
Key Takeaways
Pregnancy as an expat can feel isolating—but support changes everything
Many people don’t know what a doula does (but it can be transformative)
Birth preferences often evolve with education and information
Trust in your body grows when fear is replaced with knowledge
Communication with your partner is essential—for birth and beyond
You don’t have to follow traditional roles—you can create your own
Support for Your Pregnancy Journey
If you’re preparing for birth in the Netherlands and want guidance along the way, you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Explore your options:
What Was Your Biggest Takeaway?
Every birth story offers something different.
Did this episode change how you think about birth?
Are you considering a different kind of support or birth setting?
Reach out or send a message—we’d love to hear your thoughts.
