During her working visit on September 30, American Senator Maggie Hassan expressed admiration for the Dutch maternity care system at Amsterdam UMC, particularly the couplet care for mothers and babies and the low cesarean section rates in the Netherlands. Her visit was motivated by concerning statistics in the U.S., where maternal mortality is relatively high, especially among Black women, and one in three women gives birth via cesarean section. Accompanied by U.S. Consul Katherine Nanavatty and her team, Senator Hassan aimed to learn from European maternity care models.
The delegation was welcomed in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department, where Christianne de Groot, a former AR&D director and affiliated with our research institute, and Ank de Jonge, a board member and affiliated with our research institute, presented the Dutch maternity care system alongside Anton van Kaam, who is also a board member and affiliated with our research institute. The American guests were particularly impressed by the collaboration between different care levels, risk selection methods, and the availability of postpartum care, noting the favorable outcomes for mothers and infants compared to the U.S.
The visit included a tour of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), led by Anton van Kaam. Each child now has a private room, allowing parents 24/7 access, which enhances privacy. A color-coded light system above each door indicates the presence of parents or medical staff. The delegation was particularly intrigued by the couplet care rooms that provide combined care for mothers and their babies. Their visit concluded at the First-Line Birth Center, where they observed birthing rooms equipped with birthing tubs, noting their wish for similar facilities in the U.S. maternity care system.
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