In English
Midwives in Leuven who speak English
Are you expecting a baby in or around Leuven and would you rather talk about your care in English? All of our midwives speak Dutch, English and French. We support you from the wish to become pregnant until your baby’s first birthday, as much as possible with the same midwife.
What a midwife in Belgium does
In Belgium, a midwife can follow up a healthy pregnancy on her own, or together with your GP or gynaecologist. For ultrasound scans we refer you to a gynaecologist or an ultrasound centre. After the birth, the midwife visits you at home to look after you and your baby.
That includes medical check-ups as well as following up on mental health.
How we can help
- Wishing to become pregnant: we look at your cycle, your health and what you can do yourself.
- During pregnancy: antenatal check-ups in our practice in Kessel-Lo, with time for your questions and how you feel.
- After the birth: home visits every day up to and including the fifth day after the birth, and follow-up until your baby is one year old. Breastfeeding support is part of this care.
- Later on: a check-up around six weeks after the birth with advice on contraception, questions about your pelvic floor and sexuality after giving birth, and baby massage.
- When things go differently: after a miscarriage or stillbirth you can turn to us, even if we have not met before.
Help with practical matters
Having a baby far from home can be a lot to figure out. How does childcare (crèche) work in Belgium? How do you apply for the birth allowance (the “startbedrag” of the Groeipakket)? Adriënne, our social worker, helps you find your way with these and other practical questions. If you are followed up in our practice, a conversation with her is free. Contact us on 0495 04 78 21 or info@ashifaa.be.
Our midwives
- Paola van der Staak speaks Dutch, English and French. About Paola (in Dutch)
- Heleen Mesellem speaks Dutch, English, French and Swedish, and understands Spanish. About Heleen (in Dutch)
Where we work
Our practice is at Martelarenlaan 89/001, 3010 Kessel-Lo. We make home visits in Leuven, Bierbeek, Boutersem, Oud-Heverlee, Korbeek-Lo, Linden and Lubbeek. Do you live somewhere else? Send us a message and we will see what is possible.
Your first appointment
Please bring your identity card and your pregnancy booklet if you already have one. You can book a consultation in our practice online. To arrange a home visit, call or email us.
Costs
Your health insurance fund (mutualiteit) pays most of the cost of midwife care. We bill that part directly to your fund, so you do not have to pay it in advance. Our midwives are not conventioned, which means you also pay a personal share (remgeld) and a supplement. If you are entitled to increased reimbursement (verhoogde tegemoetkoming), you pay no supplement, and in a difficult financial situation we can apply a social rate. There are a few additional costs, such as a one-off file fee. See our rates (in Dutch) or ask us for the exact amounts.
Hospitalisation insurances tend to pay back all or most of the extra costs of a midwife.
How to reach us
Our secretariat is available every day from 9 am to 1 pm on 0495 04 78 21, or email info@ashifaa.be. For urgent matters, call the same number, also outside these hours. In a life-threatening situation, call 112.
Please register during your pregnancy if you would like us to visit you at home after the birth. Already given birth and no midwife yet? Contact us anyway. We will try to fit you in!
