If you're pregnant and giving birth in Belgium as an expat, understanding the healthcare system, administrative steps, and maternity care options can feel overwhelming.

Fortunately, Belgium offers excellent prenatal care, highly trained midwives, and strong postpartum support. This guide explains everything you need to know about pregnancy, birth, and maternity care in Belgium.

Pregnancy in Belgium: Quick Overview for Expats

If you're new to the Belgian healthcare system, here are a few key things to know:

Belgium has excellent prenatal and postpartum care supported by a universal healthcare system
Most pregnancy care is provided by gynaecologists and midwives working together
You can book directly with a gynaecologist or midwife without a GP referral
Prenatal care and childbirth are partially reimbursed through your mutualité (health insurance fund)
Postpartum support often includes midwife home visits and in-home family support services
Most births take place in hospitals, though home birth with a midwife is also possible for low-risk pregnancies

Watch the video version of this guide: https://youtu.be/C-beDKCeFjQ

How the Belgian Pregnancy Care System Works

Belgium has a universal healthcare system and joining a health insurance fund (called mutualité in French or ziekenfonds in Dutch) is essentially mandatory if you want to access the public health insurance system. A large portion of your medical costs, including prenatal care and childbirth are reimbursed through your health insurance fund. It’s important to inform your mutualité as soon as you know you’re pregnant, as this step unlocks access to:

maternity benefits
birth allowance
postpartum reimbursements

Pregnancy care is often shared between a gynaecologist and midwives, with hospital midwives providing much of the hands-on care during labour and postpartum.

Once you suspect you’re pregnant, you can book an appointment directly with a gynaecologist or midwife. A referral from a GP is not required.

Gynaecologist (OB-GYN) – oversees your medical care
Independent Midwife – provides prenatal care, labour and birth support and care, postpartum follow-up and can support you to birth your baby at home
General practitioner (GP) – sometimes involved in early pregnancy care

Many pregnancies in Belgium are gynaecologist-led but midwives play an increasingly important role in prenatal and postnatal care. Some women choose a combined approach, seeing a gynaecologist for medical monitoring and a midwife for additional support.

It is also possible to receive all pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care from an independent midwife if you have a low-risk pregnancy.

Choosing a Gynaecologist or a Midwife

One of the first decisions you'll have to make is who will provide your primary pregnancy care.

Gynaecologist (OB-GYN)

Most expats start their pregnancy care with a gynaecologist. They:

monitor your pregnancy medically
perform ultrasounds
identify potential complications
deliver babies in hospitals

In many Belgian hospitals, births are attended by your gynaecologist or the doctor on duty. So, the gynaecologist you see during pregnancy may not necessarily be the one who delivers your baby.

Independent Midwife (sage-femme/vroedvrouw)

Midwives provide more holistic pregnancy support and often spend more time with parents. Their services can include:

prenatal check-ups
birth preparation classes
labour and delivery support and home birth
postpartum home visits
breastfeeding guidance

If you have a low-risk pregnancy, you may choose primarily midwife-led care.

Many expats find that working with both a midwife and a gynaecologist provides the best balance of medical care and personal support.

Additional Information on Choosing your Caregivers

Finding English-Speaking Care Providers

Many healthcare providers in Belgium speak English, particularly in larger cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, and Ghent. However, it’s still a good idea to confirm language preferences when booking appointments.

You can often find English-speaking gynaecologists and midwives through:

expat forums and community groups
recommendations from other parents
international clinics or hospitals

Independent midwives working with expat families are also often comfortable providing care in English.

Timeline of Prenatal Appointments in Belgium

Pregnancy care in Belgium follows a structured timeline, though individual schedules may vary slightly depending on your doctor or hospital.

First trimester (0–12 weeks)

Your first prenatal appointment usually happens between 8 and 12 weeks. During this visit, your doctor or midwife will:

confirm the pregnancy and estimate your due date
review your medical history
order initial blood tests
perform or schedule your first ultrasound

You’ll also receive information about prenatal screenings and begin scheduling regular follow-up appointments.

Second trimester (13–27 weeks)

During the second trimester, appointments are typically once per month. These visits usually include:

blood pressure checks
weight monitoring
listening to your baby’s heartbeat
ultrasounds to track development

The 20-week anatomy scan is one of the most detailed ultrasounds and checks the baby’s organs, growth, and overall development.

Third trimester (28–40 weeks)

As your due date approaches, appointments become more frequent—often every two to three weeks, then weekly in the final month.

Your provider will monitor:

your baby’s position
growth and movement
signs of labour preparation
your overall health

This is also the stage when many parents attend birth preparation classes and finalize their hospital plans.

Prenatal Tests in Belgium

Belgium offers a wide range of prenatal screening tests designed to monitor your and your baby’s health.

NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Test)

The NIPT test is commonly offered around 10–12 weeks of pregnancy. It screens for certain chromosomal conditions, including:

Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)
Trisomy 18
Trisomy 13

In Belgium, this test is partially reimbursed by health insurance, making it widely accessible.

Ultrasounds

Belgian health insurance reimburses three key ultrasounds:

first trimester dating scan
mid-pregnancy anatomy scan (around 20 weeks)
third trimester growth scan

Some gynaecologists also perform additional ultrasounds during routine visits.

Other common screenings

Other tests may include:

blood tests for infections and immunity
gestational diabetes screening around 24–28 weeks
group B Streptococcus testing late in pregnancy

Your doctor will guide you through which tests are recommended based on your health and pregnancy.

**Cost of Pregnancy and Giving Birth in Belgium**

Belgium’s healthcare system makes pregnancy care relatively affordable compared to many countries.

If you are registered with a mutualité, a large portion of pregnancy-related medical costs will be reimbursed. Your final out-of-pocket costs will depend on the hospital you choose, your room type, and any additional insurance coverage.

It is a good idea to request a fee schedule from your hospital and then ask your mutualité and any additional insurances you have what percentage of the costs be will covered and calculate roughly how much you can expect to pay yourself.

Typical expenses may include:

doctor consultations
ultrasounds
blood tests
hospital birth costs

Your out-of-pocket costs will vary depending on:

the hospital you choose
whether you opt for a private room
your additional insurance coverage

Many families purchase hospitalisation insurance, which helps cover extra costs associated with childbirth.

Overall, many expats find that giving birth in Belgium is significantly more affordable than in countries like the United States.

Birth Options in Belgium

Most babies in Belgium are born in hospitals, but there are several birth options available depending on your pregnancy and care provider.

These may include:

hospital birth with a gynaecologist
hospital birth supported by a midwife
home birth with an independent midwife (for low-risk pregnancies)

Some hospitals also offer more family-centered birth rooms designed to create a calmer environment during labour.

Choosing a Hospital for Birth in Belgium

If you plan to give birth in a hospital, you will usually need to register with the maternity ward during your pregnancy.

Hospitals differ in several ways, including:

availability of private or shared maternity rooms
whether your own gynaecologist attends the birth
the level of neonatal care available
hospital policies around birth preferences and partner involvement

You can often take a maternity ward tour during pregnancy to see the facilities and ask questions.

Your gynaecologist or midwife can usually recommend hospitals in your area and guide you through the registration process. Some hospitals require pre-registration several months before your due date, so it’s best to ask your caregiver early in pregnancy.

Preparing for Birth

During the final months of pregnancy, you’ll start preparing for labour and birth. Key steps often include:

choosing your hospital
attending birth preparation classes
discussing your birth preferences with your caregivers
packing your hospital bag

Hospitals typically provide a list of recommended items, which often includes:

comfortable clothing
baby clothes
toiletries
important identification and insurance documents

Hospital stays after birth usually last two to four days, depending on whether you had a vaginal birth or a cesarean section.

After Your Baby’s Born

Belgium offers strong postpartum care. Home visits from midwives are common and can be partially reimbursed by health insurance. But, it is advisable to set this up yourself before your baby is born

Postnatal support

After birth, you may receive support from:

Postpartum Midwife Visits
The midwife checks the health of both you and your baby, monitors your recovery, supports feeding, and answers questions during the early postpartum period. Your health insurance typically reimburses a series of home visits from a midwife (often around 12 visits).
Lactation Consultants
Certified lactation consultants are available to support your breastfeeding journey. They help with latch, milk supply, pain, and other feeding challenges by providing individualized guidance

These professionals help with:

breastfeeding
newborn care
monitoring recovery after birth

You can also seek support and help from

Kraamzorg / Aide Familiale
In Belgium, families can receive in-home support after birth from a kraamzorg (Dutch) or aide familiale (French). These trained professionals help with newborn care, light household tasks, and support the parents’ recovery and adjustment during the first weeks after birth.

You will need to set this up yourself. It is organized through regional services and can help you with:

household tasks
newborn care
recovery support

It’s also worth checking with your mutualité what support they offer as well!

Registering your baby

After your baby is born, there are several administrative steps to complete:

register the birth at the commune your baby is born in within 15 days calendar of birth and is a legal requirement
add your baby to your health insurance fund
apply for child benefits

Many hospitals actually send a civil registrar to the maternity ward, so you may be able to do this before leaving the hospital. So, do take the required documentation with you to hospital. If this service is not available, you will need to complete the registration at the commune where your baby was born. More information on registering your baby

Your Postnatal Admin Checklist

✔ Register baby at commune
✔ Apply for birth allowance
✔ Add baby to insurance
✔ Apply for child benefits

Maternity Leave in Belgium

As a working mothers in Belgium are entitled to 15 weeks of maternity leave, typically divided into:

prenatal leave before the baby is born
postnatal leave after birth

Part of this leave is mandatory after birth. During maternity leave, income is partially replaced through the Belgian social security system.

If you are employed, your employer and mutualité can guide you through the paperwork.

For more information: types of leave:

Final Thoughts

Being pregnant in Belgium as an expat can feel daunting at first, especially if you are navigating pregnancy in a second language or without family nearby.

However, Belgium’s maternity system offers excellent medical care, supportive midwives, and strong postpartum resources.

With the right support and preparation, many expat parents find that Belgium is a wonderful place to welcome a baby.

If you're expecting in Belgium, taking time to understand the healthcare system and building a supportive care team can help you feel confident and prepared for the journey ahead. 👶

Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy in Belgium for Expats (2026): Healthcare, Birth & Postpartum Care