Great Expectations.nl has been set up in The Hague by Tina Keogh, a qualified antenatal teacher since 2001, trained in Brussels by the National Childbirth Trust of the U.K. in conjunction with Luton University.

I am originally from Ireland. I moved to Brussels in 1992 to work for the European Commission where I met my husband Richard, who is Dutch. We married in The Netherlands in 1995. Now a mother of two children, Aoife, and Rían, I know from my own experience what it is like to give birth in a foreign maternity system and the difficulties you may encounter. I empathise with expatriate Mums and Dads and understand that they may have specific concerns. I also have a wide knowledge of maternity systems in the U.K., Ireland, France, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, Austria and the Czech Republic and have contacts with my colleagues in those countries. I hold an up-to-date NCT license to practice as an antenatal teacher in Europe.


In 2006 after much demand from my clients, I decided to train as an infant massage instructor with the International Association of Infant Massage. Infant Massage allows me not only the chance to teach massage, but gives me an opportunity to support Mums and Dads in the postnatal period and hopefully ease that transition to parenthood. For more information on IAIM go to www.iaim.org

Following the demands of my clients again,  I  did my initial training with the Irish Red Cross and completed my training as a St John's Ambulance Training Instructor in the Autumn of 2007.  Last year I was able to offer a number of courses in Emergency Life Support and Basic First Aid for babies and young children including to organisations like Shell and Delft Mama. This Spring I completed my Dutch First Aid qualifications with the LITB and NIKTA.  In co-operation with Blue Umbrella I can now offer Dutch Certified courses for anyone who is taking care of children.  This course is in English! If you are childminder you are required by law to hold a Dutch certified First Aid certificate. We are currently working on an e-learning program in English for the Dutch market.

Teaching is a great joy to me. In sharing my knowledge as an expatriate mother, supported by the relevant training, I hope to provide you with an experience that is both positive and empowering.