The earliest phase of life presents the greatest opportunity for health improvement. This is now well understood. But what does that mean for the care surrounding childbirth, for both mother and child? What do expectant mothers themselves need? The answer seems to lie in greater continuity and collaboration within the community. Thus, a new model for "barrier-free maternity care" is taking shape - not in, but from Amsterdam UMC.
"We are a wealthy country, but when it comes to infant mortality around childbirth, we are not doing so well," begins Christianne de Groot, gynecologist, head of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, division chairwoman for Women/Child, and also affiliated with the Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute. "5 out of 1,000 children die in the Netherlands during pregnancy or childbirth, or in the first 28 days after birth." This puts us in 14th place within Europe - not an enviable position. If we want to change these numbers, we need to change the system, believes De Groot.
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