Desire to have children

As soon as you want to have children, it is wise to stop smoking and drinking, start taking folic acid and eat healthy. For tips on healthy eating, you can visit the website of the nutrition center.

Positive test

Congratulations! You are pregnant. Are you already taking folic acid? If this is not the case, you can still take it. You will continue to have folic acid until the 11th week of pregnancy. It is also important to start taking vitamin D, vitamin D is for healthy bone building of your child. You can also opt for a multivitamin especially for pregnant women. This contains vitamin D as folic acid. 

Register with the midwife

Now that you know you are expecting, it is time to register with the midwife. This can be done as soon as you know you are expecting. You can register via the registration form.

Early ultrasound

At 8 to 9 weeks you have the first appointment with the midwife. This appointment lasts 30 minutes. We will then make the first ultrasound and inform you about the possibility of prenatal screening.

Term Echo

At 10 to 11 weeks we schedule the second appointment. During this appointment, we will make a term ultrasound. This ultrasound is to determine the exact due date. This is necessary for the further course of the pregnancy and the scheduling of appointments for prenatal screening. This is also a good time to arrange maternity care if you have not already done so.

NIPT & blood test

During the second appointment, we will take blood from you for an overall blood count.
If you opt for the NIPT test, we can also have it determined immediately.
With the NIPT test you can have it examined whether your child has Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome or Patau syndrome. Would you like to read more about this research? Then go to this website.

13 week ultrasound

The 13-week ultrasound looks for the presence of an open back or an open skull. The sonographer also looks at the development of the child's organs. The ultrasound is performed at our practice by the medical sonographer who works at the practice 1 day a week. For more information about the 13-week ultrasound, you can look at this website.

Check-up with the midwife

Between 13 and 20 weeks you have a regular appointment with the midwife. This appointment lasts 15 minutes. We listen to the baby's heart and measure your blood pressure. Can't wait until the 20-week ultrasound to know the sex of the baby? Then this is the time to schedule a gender ultrasound as well.

20 week ultrasound

The 20-week ultrasound looks for the presence of an open back or an open skull. The sonographer also looks at the development of the child's organs. The ultrasound is performed at our practice by the medical sonographer who works at the practice 1 day a week. For more information about the 20-week ultrasound, you can visit this website.

About half way

You're halfway through your pregnancy. From now on, you will have a regular appointment with the midwife every 4 weeks. 

22-week jab

All pregnant women have been offered a whooping cough vaccination since December 2019. In this way, babies are best protected until they are old enough to be fully vaccinated themselves. The vaccination is given from the 22nd week of pregnancy. Want to read more about the 22-week shot? Then click here.

Third trimester

 From now on, you will have a regular appointment with the midwife every 2-3 weeks. 

Birth plan & position ultrasound

In week 34 to 35 of pregnancy, we make a position ultrasound to see if your baby is lying with its head down and is ready for birth. We will also go through your birth plan. 

Maternity leave

At 34 to 36 weeks you go on maternity leave. From week 36 to 37 you will also go to the midwife for a weekly check-up. 

The Birth

You can give birth from week 37. Most deliveries take place between weeks 40 and 41. You can give birth up to and including week 42.

Maternity week

After the birth, the midwife will visit you every other day for the first week to see how you and your baby are doing. 

Follow-up & contraception

6 to 8 weeks after giving birth, you will come by again for a follow-up check-up. We can also schedule an appointment for the placement of an IUD or implanon. More information about different forms of antoconception can be found here .