For me, the strength of the group was in sharing experiences, listening, being listened to and feeling that I am not alone with my thoughts, feelings and experiences. There was room for tears and laughter.

It was nice to meet some other moms who were dealing with similar circumstances about being far away from your home and family, navigating cultural differences and managing your life with little babies.

Having two different facilitators and one of them being a mother also gave more legitimacy to the discussion and trust.

I feel completely comforted by meeting like-minded mothers who were growing in their new roles in a new country.

I hoped to meet other first-time mothers-to-be and learn a lot about having a baby in the Netherlands. My expectations were far exceeded: I learned a lot and met great people, thank you!

The series helped me find my way in the Dutch maternity care system. It helped me ask the right questions and find solutions to some of the problems that arose.

The atmosphere was friendly and understanding. I felt I could safely share my personal experiences.

It gave me the opportunity to participate, speak and actively engage in conversations with other women, exchange ideas and experiences and learn from them. In addition, the specialists provided information that I did not know before. It was a valuable experience, both emotionally and practically.

Meeting other internationally pregnant women, especially those who have gone through IVF processes, gave me a stronger sense of connection.

It gave me more awareness and a positive, effective way of thinking.