5-11 weeks
Take a USB stick with you to the ultrasound!
By 11 weeks your baby is now the size of a plum. At this stage of the pregnancy your body is working hard to lay the foundation for your growing baby. You may experience some pregnancy symptoms during this stage. Around 7 weeks you are welcome to have an early ultrasound and in any case you will have your intake interview with us around 10 weeks.
Ultrasound 1st trimester
Our practice offers ultrasounds at both locations in Utrecht, most of our midwives are also a sonographer.
Early ultrasound
Especially during the early stages of pregnancy you can worry if the pregnancy is intact or not. To provide an answer we offer an early ultrasound around 8 weeks, also called a viability ultrasound. This ultrasound checks if the pregnancy is intact, if the baby has a heartbeat, if the embryo has nestled in the right place (not ectopic) and if it concerns a single or multiple conception. A viability ultrasound is performed internally where a probe is inserted into the vagina. This ultrasound is usually payable. But if you have suffered blood loss or a previous miscarriage, then your health insurance will cover the cost.
Dating ultrasound
The dating ultrasound takes place between 10 and 12 weeks, it determines how far along you are in the pregnancy and calculates your due date. Sometimes results are unclear and the ultrasound needs to be repeated. The dating ultrasound also shows if your baby is developing well. This is an exciting moment for many prospective parents as the ultrasound can provide peace of mind and good results mean a much lower chance of a miscarriage. If the scheduled dates for either the early or dating ultrasounds are inconvenient or we have no availability, no problem. Please contact Focus Midwifery Centre to book an appointment.
The intake
Your first appointment (intake) lasts approx. 1 hour and takes place around week 10. Around this time you will also have your first ultrasound. Sometimes the ultrasound coincides with the intake, other times it will be a later appointment. Please ring us if you have any concerns (e.g. blood loss) or questions, even if you have not been for your first appointment yet!
During this intake you and your partner will be asked about your general health and lifestyle. We will also discuss any health issues in your direct family, hereditary conditions and/or abnormalities. Where necessary, we consult with the gynaecologist so that a personalised care plan can be set up to give your baby the best possible start in life. We will discuss with you the option of prenatal screening. Furthermore we will take your blood pressure and give you a blood test. The test will determine your blood type, check for any infectious diseases, antibodies, your glucose and iron levels. We will schedule your follow-up appointments and discuss your expectations.
Prenatal screening
There are different kinds of prenatal screening offered during pregnancy. It is important to read as much information as possible about these tests so you can make an informed decision. Most pregnancies are healthy. Although a small percentage (4%) of babies are born with a hereditary condition or a birth defect. Less than 0.5% concerns a serious defect. All pregnant women in the Netherlands are given the option of prenatal screening. This type of screening is designed to detect possible abnormalities early on. You are given choices such as treating these abnormalities (where possible) or terminating your pregnancy.
NIPT
This is a blood test where the chromosomal pattern of the pregnant woman and child are examined and can be performed from week 11 of the pregnancy. This test screens for Down-, Edwards- or Patau’s syndrome. This test can also screen for other chromosomal abnormalities should you wish to. For more information check pns.nl
First trimester SEO
From September 1, it is possible to opt for a 13-week ultrasound (first trimester SEO). The 13-week ultrasound is a medical examination that you can have between 12+3 and 14+3 weeks. This ultrasound is intended to investigate early in the pregnancy whether your child has serious physical abnormalities. Some serious abnormalities can already be seen at a 13-week ultrasound and this makes it possible to investigate this early in the pregnancy. This will give you more time to decide what to do with this result. The 13 week ultrasound is an addition to the 20 week ultrasound, they do not replace each other. Read more here to make a good choice about the 13-week ultrasound together. For more information check pns.nl
SEO
The 20-week ultrasound, also known as the ‘anomaly scan’ (SEO) is another type of prenatal screening. This ultrasound is mainly intended to check if your baby has an open skull or open back. This ultrasound is also able to detect other physical abnormalities. It is the most extensive ultrasound during pregnancy. Sometimes this anomaly scan also detects soft markers. For mor information check pns.nl
Prenatal diagnosis
Unlike a prenatal screening test, a diagnostic test is designed to confirm the existence of an abnormality in a child with an increased risk of such a defect.
We speak of a increased risk when:
- the NIPT shows a high likelihood of Down’s Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome or Patau syndrome
- certain hereditary disorders run in your family, e.g. a child with an open back (spina bifida)
- the 13week and/or 20 week ultrasound indicates a possible birth defect.
If the NIPT and/or the 13 and/or 20 week ultrasound do not show any likelihood of birth defects, no other tests will be offered.
Read more about prenatal diagnosis
Centering Pregnancy
Join the Centering Pregnancy initiative for extra support during your pregnancy! This means that your checkups consist of 10 ‘meetings’ with 10 other pregnant women, all of whom are expecting their child around the same time as you, each session lasts approx. 2 hours. There is plenty of opportunity to share and learn from matters important to your individual pregnancies. In a casual and fun way you are likely to build a bond with members of your group, a bond that can be beneficial for years after the birth. Of course there is also a dedicated place for partners within the CenteringPregnancy initiative. Feedback has shown that women who have taken part often recall their pregnancy and the birth as a positive experience, something we wish for every woman. When registering at our practice you are given the option to join the CenteringPregnancy initiative.