The birth: what needs to be arranged after giving birth?
You have given birth, congratulations! Enjoy this special time together!
Now that your little one has arrived, many first experiences await you and your baby. In addition, there are immediately a number of practical formalities to take care of, such as applying for birth leave for your partner, looking for household support, or making sure you receive your start-up allowance and growth package.
Practical matters such as postnatal physiotherapy and breastfeeding breaks may also come into play. We are happy to help you get started.
Just had a baby? Register your child and arrange your maternity leave
Within 15 days after the birth, you must register your child with the civil registry. Afterwards, you will receive a copy of the birth certificate.
- Are you married? Then either parent can register the child individually.
- Unmarried parents must register the birth together. If the father or co-parent has legally acknowledged the child during the pregnancy, they can register the birth individually after the birth.
Don’t forget to bring these documents:
- identity card of the father or co-parent
- identity card of the mother
- baby’s birth certificate
- birth notification form
- marriage certificate booklet (if you are married) or a copy of the acknowledgement deed (if you are not married)
Have you registered your child with the municipality and received a copy of the birth certificate? Also register your child with Helan via the birth file.
- Have you already started the benefit application file for your maternity leave or your partner’s birth leave? Then you can indicate this in the form.
- Have you not yet started either benefit application file? You can also indicate this in the form.
Also upload the following documents:
- A copy of the birth certificate you received when registering your child with the municipality.
- The registration application
After registering with Helan, you will receive:
- Up to €300 birth premium if both parents are affiliated with Helan
- Health insurance stickers in your child’s name (after 10 days)
- An ISI+ card for your child via MyGov
Are you unable to complete the birth file digitally?
Then send us the documents mentioned above by post to Helan Independent Health Insurance Fund, Boomsesteensweg 5, 2610 Wilrijk.
Have you not registered your child with Helan 45 days after the birth?
The hospital will then arrange this automatically. Your child will automatically be registered as a dependent on the mother’s file. Download the document automatic registration of a newborn for Helan here.
Thanks to birth leave (formerly known as paternity leave), dads and co-parents can also be absent from work for 20 days within 4 months after the birth.
To take birth leave and receive an allowance, you must be a co-parent and have an employment contract. Co-parents or dads who work as employees or self-employed workers are therefore eligible, but unemployed people are not:
- Employees request birth leave from their employer and subsequently receive an allowance from Helan for the days they did not work.
- Self-employed workers must apply for it through the social insurance fund with which they are insured.
Did you already apply for the start-up allowance and growth package during your pregnancy? Then you do not need to do anything else. The start-up allowance and the monthly growth package will automatically be paid into your account.
Apply for the start-up allowance and growth package after all
You can find all the information about this on the page Reimbursement of a hospital admission.
Physiotherapy and maternity care are optional
To avoid experiencing long-term complaints after your pregnancy and childbirth, it is recommended to follow postnatal physiotherapy in addition to prenatal physiotherapy. During these sessions, special attention is given to your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles.
Are you wondering when it is best to start postnatal physiotherapy? Ideally, you should start as soon as your gynaecologist considers it medically appropriate. This is often around six weeks after giving birth.
Do you have a prescription from your gynaecologist? Then you will be reimbursed for 9 sessions of prenatal or postnatal physiotherapy. If you have not yet used all your prenatal physiotherapy sessions, you can use the remaining sessions after giving birth.
Maternity care is also available to you after you have given birth. Need help with the laundry, a freshly prepared meal, or someone to give your baby a bath while you quickly run some errands?
- Due to long waiting times, it is best to apply for maternity care before your 6th month of pregnancy.
- However, you can still use maternity care up to 3 months after giving birth.
- Each affiliated parent is entitled to a reimbursement of €5 per hour with a maximum of €150 per year. If both parents are affiliated with Helan, you are therefore entitled to €300.
Are you, as a mother, co-parent or father, considering spending more time with your child(ren)?
Have you not yet applied for parental leave during your pregnancy? No worries, parental leave can be requested until your child turns 12.
Good to know
The birth file is an online collection point for documents related to the birth of your child. Wait until after the birth before creating and completing this file.
Would you like to stay informed about reimbursements by email? Check in My Helan whether the option 'Reimbursement or allowance' under 'Preferences' is selected.
Helan birth benefits
Helan also means extra benefits and reimbursements for you and your baby. Here is a selection of our offers during your pregnancy and after the birth:
Up to €300 for maternity care or a doula
Maternity care supports you from 1 month before until 3 months after the birth. Each affiliated parent receives a reimbursement of €5 per hour, with a maximum of €150 per year.
Up to €300 birth premium
Pamper your little one even more. Our birth premium of €150 per affiliated parent gives you a financial boost.
€200 breastfeeding allowance
With the €200 breastfeeding allowance, we want to support parents who choose to give breastfeeding a chance. You are therefore eligible for the allowance from the very first day of breastfeeding.
50% discount on your baby essentials at the Healthcare Shop
Helan wants to give you a great start with a 50% discount on baby items purchased at the Helan Healthcare Shop. This discount is subject to a maximum of €150 per child.
Extra gift worth €30
Do you purchase your baby essentials with the 50% discount mentioned above? Then you will also receive an additional gift worth €30: a Suavinex baby care set or MOES play tower blocks.
Stay active with Moving Moms by Jims
Exercise in a small, safe group with other mums and under professional guidance, with a discount thanks to Moving Moms in collaboration with Jims.
Frequently asked questions after birth
Did you not use all your prenatal physiotherapy sessions before giving birth? You can still use them now as postnatal physiotherapy sessions.
Ask your family doctor to create a Global Medical Record (GMD) for your child. This way, you will be reimbursed once a month for all co-payments for consultations with your family doctor or specialist, with the exception of the €30 deductible that you pay once per calendar year. This benefit ends when your child turns 7 years old.
Did you choose a hospital birth? The invoice must always be sent to your insurer. If you have hospitalisation insurance with Helan, send us your reimbursement request together with the required supporting documents, such as invoices. You can do this digitally via My Helan or by post to Helan health insurance fund, Boomsesteenweg 5, 2610 Wilrijk.
Did you choose a home birth?
- Helan Hospitalia provides a fixed allowance. Send your reimbursement request together with proof of your home birth.
- In addition, you are also entitled to reimbursements from Hospitalia Assist, provided you request these within 30 days after the birth and you are insured through Hospitalia Medium or Plus. You can apply by calling +32 2 560 47 86.
Sick children do not belong in daycare or childcare. Through Helan, a professional childcare provider can be arranged within 48 hours. You can use a maximum of 10 childcare days per year, per child. And it costs you only around €3 per hour.
Bsit is a handy app that helps you find a reliable babysitter near you in just a few clicks. ‘Sharing and collaboration’ are at the heart of the Bsit system. You can easily find the favourite sitters of your friends or network, and sitters receive ratings so you can leave your children with peace of mind. As a customer of Helan Health Insurance Fund or Helan Childcare, you receive a discount.
Are you affiliated with Hospitalia, Hospitalia Medium or Hospitalia Plus? Then your newborn baby can also be registered immediately. This can be done without a waiting period and without a medical questionnaire*. This way, your little one is well insured from day one.
*Please note: This rule only applies if you, as a parent, have been affiliated with a Hospitalia insurance plan for more than 6 months, or if the waiting period does not apply.
Do you have Dentalia Up or Dentalia Plus? Then your child's teeth are also covered free of charge until the age of 3.
Yes, Helan customers receive up to €50.40 back each year for administration costs at Helan Childcare.
Looking for information after the birth? Helan offers advice
Pregnancy newsletters
Not yet subscribed to the pregnancy newsletters? Our tips can still be useful after giving birth. Sign up now and receive regular emails in your inbox until your child is 2.5 years old.
Subscribe to the pregnancy newsletters (in Dutch)
Pregnancy consultant advice session
Informing your employer, applying for your maternity allowance and parental leave. As an expecting parent, there is a lot to arrange. Do you have questions? We provide clear answers.
Baby chats
Suddenly, you are a mum or dad and you want to care for your little one in the best possible way. But what temperature should the bath water be? How do you hold your baby safely? What if your baby cries? This workshop provides answers to frequently asked questions.
Follow an online workshop (in Dutch)
Pregnancy checklist
We have gathered all practical information about your pregnancy, childbirth, leave arrangements and returning to work in a printable checklist with your rights and obligations.
Download the pregnancy checklist
More about the practical arrangements after the birth
Congratulations, you’ve become a mum or dad! Enjoy this blissful time, but don’t forget to sort out the necessary practical arrangements.
Discover everything about pregnancy
Also check the central file: everything about pregnancy.
Track and manage your benefit file on My Helan
- initiating your benefit file
- track your benefit payments
- add documents to your benefit file digitally
- request holidays, return to work, voluntary work
- and so much more!
Helan Independent Health Insurance Fund is the insurance agent (n° CDZ 5006c) for ‘MLOZ Insurance’, the VMOB of Independent Health Insurance Funds, (Register of Legal Entities in Brussels, 422.189.629, recognised under no. CDZ 750/01 for branches 2 and 18). View the data sheet and the General Terms and Conditions. Belgian law applies to the insurance contract. The term of the contract is whole life. In the event of any complaint, contact the complaints department of Helan Health Insurance Fund or the insurance ombudsman. For more information about purchasing this/these product(s), please contact Helan Health Insurance Fund. Helan Onafhankelijk ziekenfonds, Boomsesteenweg 5, 2610 Wilrijk, 0411.696.011, RPR Antwerpen, www.helan.be.