Two Lines on a Dutch Morning - Your Pregnancy Test Is Positive… What Happens Next?
I’ve heard this story from many mothers.
A quiet Dutch morning. Grey skies outside, the smell of coffee in the kitchen, maybe the house is still asleep. In your hand is a pregnancy test and you’re trying not to hope too much.
Then two lines appear.
And suddenly everything changes.
Some people start crying with joy. Others just stare at the test for a few minutes, as if their brain needs time to catch up with what their eyes are seeing. And for many, the first thought is something like this:
“Okay… but what happens next? Especially here, in the Netherlands?”
If you’re in that moment right now, first of all: it’s completely normal if you feel a little lost.
Pregnancy is a big life change. And navigating it in a different country can feel even more uncertain.
Let’s take it step by step..
march
2026
The first surprise: you usually don’t call a gynecologist
For many international parents, this is the first cultural surprise.
In many countries, the first step after a positive pregnancy test is to make an appointment with a gynecologist. In the Netherlands, however, most pregnancies are guided by midwives (verloskundige).
If your pregnancy is low-risk, a midwife will usually be your main care provider throughout the pregnancy.
So the first practical step is simply to find a local midwife practice (verloskundige practice) and contact them to register.
Your first appointment and ultrasound usually take place around week 7 or 8 of pregnancy.
Yes, that can feel like a long wait.
The early weeks often feel like a secret
The first weeks of pregnancy can feel very special. Almost like you’re carrying a small secret with you.
You might notice that:
you feel more tired than usual
certain foods suddenly smell strange
your sense of smell becomes very sensitive
or you simply feel that something in your body has shifted
Your body has already started an incredible process. A tiny life is beginning to grow.
One small thing that matters a lot: folic acid
If there’s one thing healthcare professionals strongly recommend in early pregnancy, it’s taking folic acid.
Folic acid supports the development of the baby’s nervous system. Many parents in the Netherlands choose prenatal vitamins that include folic acid and vitamin D.
You don’t need to have a perfect diet. Just gently start paying a bit more attention to your body and what it needs.
Being pregnant abroad can feel different
This is something we don’t talk about enough.
When you’re expecting a baby in another country, you may suddenly notice how much you miss:
your mother
close friends
the familiar support system you would have at home
And that’s completely understandable.
Many international parents start looking for community during pregnancy - other parents, local groups, or support professionals like doulas who can help them feel more grounded and supported.
You don’t have to go through this journey alone.
Your connection with your baby already begins now
One of my favorite things to share with expecting parents is this:
Bonding with your baby doesn’t start at birth. It begins much earlier.
When you gently touch your belly.
When you imagine meeting your baby.
When you talk to them - even quietly in your thoughts.
These are small moments, but they are meaningful ones.
One thought I always share with expecting parents
Pregnancy is not only about a baby growing.
It’s also about a parent slowly being born.
And that takes time.
You don’t have to know everything right now. You don’t have to be perfect. Just take it step by step.
For today, it’s enough to know this:
Two lines appeared on a pregnancy test.
And a new story has just begun.
