pregnancy
At the beginning of your pregnancy, you often have a lot to deal with. In addition to discovering the big news, your body is undergoing major changes and you are suddenly faced with a lot of information and choices.
You're pregnant! And now?
During the pregnancy check-ups, we closely monitor your health and that of your baby, provide you with relevant information step by step, and answer all your questions.
We discuss an individual care plan with each pregnant woman, tailored to her health and wishes. The number of check-ups or ultrasounds may vary from person to person. However, if you have any complaints or uncertainties, you are always welcome to come in for an earlier check-up. Please feel free to contact us by telephone. We can then assess whether it is necessary to visit you at home or whether you should come to the practice.
The diagram below provides a general overview of what you can expect during your pregnancy, in terms of check-ups, information and administrative matters, for example.
As soon as you find out that you are pregnant, it is a good time to contact us. We will ask you for some information over the phone. Based on this information, we will schedule the first two appointments, namely the intake interview and the first ultrasound scan.
After registering, you will receive an email from us containing important leaflets and documents that you should read and complete before your first appointment.
We understand better than anyone that the beginning of your pregnancy can be a long and uncertain period. If you need us while waiting for your first appointment, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Pregnancy portal
You will receive an invitation by e-mail to create an account for Pregnancy Portal. This will allow you to access the Pregnancy portal website log in and view (part of) your medical records. In addition, you will receive appointment confirmations of your appointments.
Folic acid
You probably already take folic acid, but if not, we recommend you start with this and continue until at least 10 weeks of pregnancy. Take a tablet of 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.
Folic acid is important for the development of the baby's nervous system. It reduces the risk of spina bifida, cleft lip, jaw or palate (schisis), premature birth and low birth weight. Tablets of folic acid are available from drugstores.
Vitamin D
Your body absorbs vitamin D through food and sunlight, but often not enough. Therefore, the advice is to take 10 micrograms of vitamin D every day throughout pregnancy. Vitamin D helps with the absorption of calcium and magnesium. This is needed for the development of the baby's bones, teeth and muscles. Vitamin D also lowers the risk of low birth weight and gestational diabetes.
Nutrition
During pregnancy, it is important to eat a healthy and varied diet. In addition, there are some foods that are best avoided for now, such as soft cheeses made from raw milk. On the website of the Nutrition Centre is a lot of information on nutrition in pregnancy. Highly recommended is the app ZwangerHap where you can easily find which foods are safe during pregnancy.
Exercise and sports
Getting enough exercise is good for your health and pregnancy. The advice is to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. For example, walking, cycling, swimming or fitness.
If you are used to exercising, you can continue to do so when you are pregnant. In doing so, it is important to listen to your body. If you develop symptoms or notice that you cannot keep up, slow down. Contact sports are not recommended during pregnancy. These are sports with a high risk of falling, colliding or bumping. Such as boxing, horse riding, skiing, hockey or football.
Alcohol, smoking and drugs
It is important not to drink alcohol, use drugs, smoke or vape, or inhale other people's smoke.
Do you find quitting smoking or vaping difficult? You can get help with this. Discuss this as soon as possible with your midwife or GP. They can make a plan of action together with you. You can also call Smoke-free parents for free help with quitting smoking or vaping. Their telephone coaches are there especially for people who want to get pregnant, are pregnant or have a child.
Activities
Try to avoid these activities during pregnancy:
Do you need an examination involving X-rays? Tell the doctor you are pregnant. They can then discuss with you whether it would be better to postpone the examination.
Medicine
In the first three months of pregnancy, all of the baby's major organs are built. During this time, medicines can inhibit or seriously interfere with organ development. But drugs can also have a harmful effect in the last months of pregnancy. The child's brain grows throughout pregnancy and even well after birth. So, even in the last months of pregnancy, medicines can have a harmful impact on brain development.
If you do need or use medication, always consult your GP and/or midwife about whether you can take it during pregnancy. In some cases, it is better to take medication rather than do nothing.
Mothers for Mothers
Until the 16th week of pregnancy, you can help other women who are having problems getting pregnant. You can do this by collecting your urine. The Mothers for Mothers Foundation organises this. You can sign up for this from 6 - 11 weeks of pregnancy. For more information www.moedersvoormoeders.nl
Not read it yet?
On All About Pregnancy are various leaflets related to pregnancy, birth and the period surrounding it.
These brochures are also available in English.
And also on The midwife is a lot of reliable information.
Vitality scan (7-8 weeks)
Having a baby is a unique and special event.
After a positive pregnancy test, many people want nothing more than to know that everything is okay. That is why we offer the option of having a check-up at around 7 weeks.
The vitality scan is an early scan performed around 7 to 8 weeks.
(At least 2 weeks after a positive pregnancy test).
This ultrasound scan is only reimbursed on medical grounds and otherwise costs 50 euros.
During the vitality scan, we examine:
Unlike the term ultrasound, a vitality ultrasound is too early to accurately determine the due date. Sometimes waiting for the term ultrasound seems to take a very long time, and this early ultrasound offers the possibility of a little more clarity after a positive pregnancy test.
The vitality scan is usually performed internally, as the image is still too unclear when performed through the abdomen. Would you prefer not to have an internal scan? In that case, a scan before 10 weeks is too early and we recommend that you wait until the term scan.
Initial consultation (6-10 weeks)
The initial consultation is more extensive than the follow-up appointments. This appointment lasts approximately 45-60 minutes.
We will map out topics related to your health, lifestyle, medical history, any previous pregnancies and possible hereditary diseases in your family. If you are taking any medication during your pregnancy, please bring it with you or write down the name of the medication and the dosage.
If you were not under our care during a previous pregnancy and you have information about this, it would be helpful if you could bring it with you to the intake interview or send it to us in advance.
During the intake interview, information will be provided about examinations, lifestyle habits, administrative matters, and nutrition. Finally, we will measure your blood pressure and, of course, there will be plenty of time for questions!
Prenatal screening
During your pregnancy, you can have tests to see if there are any indications that the child in your belly has a chromosomal abnormality or physical defect. We call this prenatal screening. You can opt for this from 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Two types
There are two types of studies:
1. Screening for chromosomal abnormalities: the NIPT (non-invasive prenatal test). This is a blood test.
2. Screening for physical abnormalities: the 13-week ultrasound and the 20-week ultrasound.
Counselling session
Want to know more about these tests? We will discuss these tests with you during a counselling session. In this conversation, together we look at what you need to make a choice that suits you. You can also ask your questions.
Prepare for the interview
Before the interview, read information about the tests. Retrieved from www.pns.nl find more information, for example:
- A leaflet on NIPT, the 13-week ultrasound and the 20-week ultrasound.
- A short video about the NIPT and video about the 13-week ultrasound and 20-week ultrasound.
- Questionnaires that can help you choose.
To investigate or not to investigate: that's up to you
The NIPT, 13-week ultrasound and 20-week ultrasound are not compulsory. You choose whether to have one or more tests done and what to do with the results. You can also stop the test at any time.
Term ultrasound scan
The term ultrasound is preferably performed around 10 to 12 weeks of pregnancy. This ultrasound is covered by insurance.
We are looking at:
From 10 weeks onwards, this ultrasound can be performed via the abdomen. We will ask you to come with a full bladder. This can help to produce better ultrasound images.
Settlement matters
Every two weeks, we have a consultation with a gynaecologist from Spaarne Gasthuis Hospital. During this consultation, we discuss which care is best suited to each individual pregnant woman and whether there are any specific wishes that need to be taken into account.
During the follow-up check-ups, we will go through the care pathway with you and discuss how you/both of you are doing and how your pregnancy is progressing. During these check-ups, we will measure your blood pressure and perform an external examination of your abdomen to check the growth of your uterus and, later in the pregnancy, the growth and position of your baby. From 12 weeks onwards, we will also listen to your baby's heartbeat.
The inspection schedule is generally as follows:
up to 24 weeks: every 4 weeks
24-33 weeks: every 3 weeks
33-39 weeks: every 2 weeks
39-41 weeks: every week
The 13-week scan (or First Trimester Structural Ultrasound Examination/FTSUE) can be performed between 12+3 and 14+3 weeks of pregnancy.
There is no charge for the 13-week scan.
It is a medical examination to check for physical abnormalities in your baby. The 13-week scan is very similar to the 20-week scan. The purpose of the 13-week scan is to identify any major physical abnormalities in the baby early on in the pregnancy.
Detailed information about the 13-week scan can be found in the national brochure from the RIVM. Or view the animated video with an explanation of the 13-week and 20-week ultrasounds.
In the Netherlands, you can only opt for the 13-week ultrasound if you participate in the scientific IMITAS study. This study examines the advantages and disadvantages of the 13-week ultrasound scan.
The sonographer will tell you the results immediately after the scan. Did the sonographer see anything abnormal? You can then choose to follow-up study.
Important to know
You decide whether you want to have this ultrasound scan performed.
The 13-week scan is not a fun scan, but a medical examination. It is best to come to the scan with your partner only. No photographs or video recordings may be made during the scan.
The 20-week scan (or Second Trimester Structural Ultrasound Examination/STUSE) can take place between 18 and 21 weeks, but preferably in week 19 of the pregnancy. This is because we cannot see some abnormalities clearly before or after this period.
The 20-week ultrasound scan is covered by insurance.
The 20-week ultrasound is used to check for physical abnormalities in the unborn child. This ultrasound takes a detailed look at the development of the baby's organs. It also checks whether he or she is growing well, where the placenta is located and whether there is sufficient amniotic fluid.
Detailed information about the 20-week scan can be found in the national brochure from the RIVM. Or view the animated video with an explanation of the 13-week and 20-week ultrasounds.
The sonographer will tell you the results immediately after the scan. Did the sonographer see anything abnormal? You can then choose to follow-up study.
Important to know
You decide whether you want to have this ultrasound scan performed.
The 20-week scan is not a fun scan, but a medical examination. It is best to come to the scan with your partner only. No photographs or video recordings may be made during the scan.
Around 33 weeks into their pregnancy, every pregnant woman has the opportunity to schedule a consultation with the gynaecologist/clinical midwife or doctor's assistant at Spaarne Gasthuis. This is a regular pregnancy check-up, during which you will have the opportunity to ask specific questions and meet the midwives at Spaarne Gasthuis.
We would like to take a little longer for this check-up, as it is focused on the birth.
We will discuss your wishes and needs regarding the birth, possibly using a form with your birth preferences. We will also explain the birth process: what to do when you call, what you can expect from us, how the birth will proceed and, for example, the options for pain relief.
As your due date approaches, you may have many questions. We are happy to answer them!
Approximately 80% of women give birth 3 to 10 days after their due date.
At 41 weeks, we will check the amount of amniotic fluid with an ultrasound scan. In consultation with you, we will usually also perform an internal examination to check whether you are already dilated and whether the cervix is ripe. Based on this, we will discuss your wishes and options with you until the due date.
We would love to meet you.
Let us hear from you using the contact form below or call 023-5714437.
Welcome to Het Ooievaarsnest practice: your midwife in the Heemstede area.
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