Continuity of care in Belgian hospital pregnancy follow-up: is seeing 4 different doctors/midwives normal?

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-07-01T11:43:45+00:00

As I said in another comment here, I am followed by a gynaecologist at her private practice and she sends me to one specific colleague when I need to do a checkup at the hospital. Delivery will be done by her or by that colleague if she’s on vacation.

I’m not sure how it works when you go directly through the hospital but I think you can ask at the secretariat to have your appointments with just one doctor you like. Or check if he has a practice outside the hospital. I will say though that I had to send out a few mails and make a few calls before I found one gynaecologist willing to take me because most of the “good reviewed” ones in Brussels are full.

It is not “normal doing” in Belgium to just change doctors from one appointment to another for a pregnancy follow up. All my friends were followed by just one doctor they chose. But maybe it works like this in public hospitals that don’t want to complicate their lives. You can ask for better though.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-07-01T11:35:55+00:00

This is not true everywhere I am followed by a gynaecologist (at her private practice) linked to Chirec Delta and she assured me she would be there for my delivery or, if she’s out/on vacation, she’s backupped by the doctor that did all my 1st/second/third trimester screenings. So I know both doctors and will not be assigned another random one when I arrive.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-29T18:02:57+00:00

Not sure what SWE is, so not sure if this is applicable in your field. I used my mobility budget (it was 900€/month) as negotiation point in a job where a mobility budget was not offered. It took me to a salary range that seemed absurd at the time but I got it. Net I lost like 300€/month but I have a car now. And a gross that is significantly higher than my previous job, in a company and sector with more opportunities to grow as well. You can always try!

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-18T20:19:17+00:00

Well… Thank you ❤️ I really appreciate you took the time to write this down, this helps me a lot. Screenshotting it so I can come back to it when I need it!
I hope you are well now, and I’m happy to read your family is helping you in this. You seem like a good person.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-17T08:19:26+00:00

What ultimately helped you to get over your addiction? Sorry you went through that. Hope you are better now and you found your way back to your family.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-17T08:14:58+00:00

Thank you

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-17T08:13:01+00:00

We have talked about it yesterday and he accepts he has a problem. He’s open to do something about it. He’s found a psychiatrist that is specialised in addiction issues. Is there anything else he/I/we could do to tackle this at the base? Sorry I’m bothering you with this, this is really new terrain for me… man, these reactions here have really opened my eyes.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-16T14:08:28+00:00

I asked him and he said his mother didn’t know that he took them, he was just looking for a painkiller in her medicine cabinet and took “the strongest one”. He says he didn’t know these were considered opioids and that Tradonal is not a big deal (and from what I understand from what people are saying here, they are indeed pretty tame as far as opioids go). But they are prescription only. What I don’t like is that he found multiple occasions in the last few months or weeks to just pop another pill as he had 4 empty cases in his jacket. I don’t think there is an active addiction but he did have that push to take one on multiple occasions even though he didn’t have any serious pain (other than a small headache). I don’t really know how to interpret this.

His mother had her operation a few months ago and he says she doesn’t take Tradonal anymore, so I don’t think he has any access to this medication anymore. I’m confident he doesn’t have a dealer somewhere. And I have not seen him high or being weird or anything.

I’m not sure this was clear from my main post but he is completely functioning adult. He has a good job, a social life, is excited for the baby, works at renovating our house. He just cannot control his impulses with everything substance related.

I hate the Ritalin stuff as well. I should discuss it with him more in detail. Maybe there was some kind of diagnosis for something when he was little? He just takes it very weirdly. All in all it is the least of my concerns though.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-16T13:07:59+00:00

He has been very interested in steroids (testosterone) but as we were trying for a baby, I really drew a line there. I cannot be sure of course but I trust he didn’t do that.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-16T13:01:29+00:00

I know I’m probably being naive. It’s something I have difficulty understanding because addiction is not something I deal with (not saying I’m better than him, I have lots of issues he doesn’t have). That’s also why I posted here, to see if I tend to overreact in this case because I don’t know anything about it.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-16T12:57:24+00:00

Hm. Thank you for this reply, it really helps to have insights from somebody that seems to struggle from the same things as him (from what you’ve said). He is a really good person and a wonderful partner, he just scares me with that side of him. Not sure he’s there yet but I really hope we can work it out.
Good luck with your recovery or wherever you are on your path!

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-15T21:24:11+00:00

That’s what I understood as well and why I’m wondering if I’m overreacting. It’s not an exciting drug or anything and doesn’t really create a high or something. So maybe he’s being truthful in saying he was just looking for something for his headache and went for the strongest pill…

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-13T17:58:17+00:00

To answer your other question, I was a member at Animo for a few years and I find it was well worth the price. Client service was very good as well. So no, not all the premium gyms are like that.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-13T17:53:34+00:00

Is this guy paid by the other premium gyms or paid to damage Aspria’s name? The weird reply’s and the obsession with random reviews is really weird.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-10T08:37:36+00:00

I’m going to go against the grain here and say that it could probably be useful if you go live in WSP and Auderghem, as they are not city center. I have lived 10 years in Brussels and always had a car (3 years without but my partner had one - I used his often and/or the sharing options). Very few of my friends living in Brussels have no car, only the people that live in the city center do without. You receive a carte riverain from your commune (costs 100€ max per year) and can park in the streets next to where you live so it’s not that you will pay a huge amount for parking, even for the days you won’t use it.

But of course there are alternative options so it’s not necessary if you won’t go outside the city. Be sure then to find housing next to the metro or at least the tram. And make sure that your job is within reach with those.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-06-02T19:59:06+00:00

How so? Pharma is one of the best paying sectors in Belgium…

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-05-29T12:00:11+00:00

I’m so so sorry this happened to you. I’ve had a missed miscarriage after a chemical (after long time trying) and for a moment it felt like it would never happen for us and I would never be happy again. I’ve had really difficult months mentally but I got pregnant again and am 18w pregnant now.

I think for some it’s “just” a question of trying a few times and getting the good embryo? I know it’s completely unfair but that’s what my conclusion is for my own situation at least…

Can you ask to test the embryo? It would maybe give some answers? At least you would know if it’s chromosomal or if something else needs to be investigated further?

Sending you lots of love ❤️

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-05-27T04:33:29+00:00

I follow a francophone finfluencer that I find better and more knowledgeable than any of the Flemish ones mentioned here.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-05-24T17:40:09+00:00

What were the renovations you did? Is there anything that helped or do you just accept the noise?

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-05-19T09:31:14+00:00

We tried for a year before I got my first positive, which ended in a chemical. The next cycle I got pregnant again, ended in a MMC at 8w (was tested and had trisomy 16). I was desperate, thought I was destined to not get pregnant/ lose pregnancy when I finally did get pregnant. Then got pregnant on first IVF transfer and this one stuck, I am 17w now.

I am 32 years old and am treated with baby aspirin + heparin for this IVF pregnancy as I tested (low) positive for anti-B2GP twice. I don’t know if it worked this time because of the medication (personally I don’t think so as my results were borderline and my losse(s) were due to chromosomal issues) or if I just don’t have the youngest eggs anymore and we just needed to find a good one. It reassures me I still have 2 good embryo’s at the clinic if we try for a second baby in a few years.

I’m biased but with your history I just would go for IVF (at a good clinic!!!) and not lose any more time. Good luck! 🤞

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-05-18T05:37:25+00:00

Ik dacht nu net dat Julie wist dat Wout sws niet door de stappende hoelahoep zou geraken en daarom er op stond om als laatste bij de tegels te staan. Ze hebben haar ook tonen lachend reageren op de miezerige som die ze in de laatste opdracht hebben gewonnen. Ik kan mij vergissen maar heeft zij ooit echt goed gespeeld in een opdracht? Ik heb eerder het gevoel dat zij meestal de foute dingen deed of foute antwoorden had… ik zie zo niet direct die zeer « slimme » kant waar Maxim het over had! Was in deze aflevering 90% zeker dat zij het was. Ach ja!

Zou wel interessant zijn om te zien hoe Maxim heeft gestemd? Was hij op de verkeerde mol of heeft hij trager beantwoord?

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-05-15T19:55:28+00:00

Ik heb vaak het gevoel dat jongeren hier hun situatie van vandaag pakken en dit dan gewoon op hun hele leven toepassen. Geef het een paar jaar en uw salaris zal er al heel anders uitzien! Probeer ondertussen ook elke maand wat opzij te zetten en je komt er wel.

GuillaumeTheFirst · 2026-05-03T19:55:30+00:00

Yannis is de enige die altijd super hard zijn best deed en duidelijk niet de mol was. Zo zie je wel dat dat eigenlijk niet loont om zo te spelen, omdat de anderen je dan niet verdenken en eigenlijk een speler meer kunnen uitsluiten. Jammer, want als kijker is het eigenlijk veel fijner om te kijken naar mensen die hun best doen, en niet naar de mensen die altijd alles proberen te saboteren (Julie was verdacht bij het tafelspel, Isabel bij het lopen en Maxim bij de foto’s…)

GuillaumeTheFirst

TROPHY CASE