Roadmap for a healthy pregnancy
All pregnancy checkups will take place at the practice. Of course your partner will be also invited. In addition to answering your questions, the growth and position of the baby is checked, we listen to the baby’s heartbeat and measure your blood pressure. Furthermore, we discuss how you feel, how you experience the pregnancy and discuss any concerns during each check-up. In the third trimester, around 35 weeks, labour and birth will be discussed during a double appointment. We discuss your preferences, wishes & expectations regarding the delivery. Do you dread the delivery or would you rather talk about the delivery with us earlier, please discuss this with us. We are happy to adapt our care to your wishes.
If there are indications that complications may arise, we will request additional tests such as blood tests or ultrasounds, and refer them to a specialist, such as a gynecologist in the hospital of your choice if necessary.
4+ weeks
Pregnant!
Congratulations you are pregnant! Inside your body, amazing developments are taking place. The tiny ball of cells dividing in your womb (uterus) is now an embryo, and is about the size of a poppy seed. As soon as you find out you are pregnant and you live in Amsterdam or Amstelveen, you can sign up at our practice. Don’t forget to take prenatal vitamins like folic acid daily. Read more on what to eat and what food/drinks to avoid during pregnancy.
6+ weeks
viability scan
From of 6+ weeks onwards you can do an early scan to check the viability. If you can wait a little longer until 7-8 weeks the scan is more reliable as the risk of an early miscarriage is more present at 6 weeks than 7-8 weeks. A little note: scans in the first trimester of your pregnancy are often internal.
8 - 9 weeks
First midwife appointment
You’ll have your first midwife consultation around now. There’ll be a lot to cover at this appointment so it may take around an hour. We’ll ask you about your medical history, job and lifestyle. Your midwife will explain what (prenatale screenings) tests and care you can expect during your pregnancy. You’ll have of course plenty of time to ask all questions you may have.
10 - 11 weeks
Dating scan
Your baby’s heart is now fully developed, and beats about 180 times a minute. The due date scan measures the estimated date of delivery (EDD). Only 3% of women give birth on their due date so just a little note to not fixate too much on the given date. To do: after this scan it’s important to apply for kraamzorg. There are a lot of kraamzorg companies (i.e. De Kleine Amsterdammer, de Baker, Kraamvogel and many more). Would you like to sign up for NIPT? Send us an email after your due date scan.
11+ weeks
NIPT
You can choose to have your unborn child checked for a number of congenital disorders. This is called prenatal screening. You can select two tests: the prenatal screening for Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome (NIPT test); and testing for physical abnormalities (Anomaly Scan). You determine if you want to undergo these tests. At your first midwife appointment we will give you extensive information, and we will answer all your questions. Besides the NIPT test, all pregnant women in the Netherlands will receive a routine blood test in the first trimester at our practice to check for iron deficiency, hep B, HIV, syphilis and to check your blood type, rhesus c and D factor. The NIPT laboratory is situated inside our ultrasound centre Echo Amsterdam. You can just walk in during opening hours.
13+ weeks
EXTENDED EARLY SCAN, FROM 14 WEEKS ONWARDS INCL GENDER
After you’ve seen your baby at the dating scan, it’s officially time to take a big sigh of relief. However, we can imagine you are eager to see your baby once more and check that everything is progressing as it should be. From of 14 weeks we can also determine if you’ll be having a little girl or a little boy.
16 weeks
Midwife appointment
As you are now in your second trimester, we will monitor your health and the fetal growth and heartbeat closely. During every midwife consultation there is time to discuss possible discomfort/ailment due to the pregnancy and your overall experience of the pregnancy. Of course there will also be time to answer all questions you may have. To do: did you arrange kraamzorg (maternity assistant after birth) and apply for your kraampakket (box with disposables for after birth) at your insurance company? If not, please do so this week. Also check the information about the whooping cough vaccination and plan an appointment if you wish to do so at the GGD.19 - 21 weeks
Anomaly scan
The anomaly scan will evaluate the anatomy of your baby. Brain, head, face, spine, heart, stomach, intestines, kidneys, bladder and limbs will be checked. The size of the baby will be measured, the placental position and the amniotic fluid will be assessed. This scan is completely covered by your insurance company.
24 weeks
Midwife appointment
Your baby now weighs up to 600g (1.3lb) and is starting to fill the space in your womb. From head to heel he/she now measures about 30cm. In week 24 you also have a midwife appointment where we discuss the results of your anomaly scan. The checkup will be done by phone because the pandemic. If you are at risk for gestational diabetes we will refer you to the lab to take a glucose tolerance test (GTT). The GTT involves two blood tests. You’ll be asked to fast before the first test, then drink a sugary mixture before the second. You should get the results within a few days. If indicated we will also refer you for a growth scan. To do: In legal terms, if you are unmarried or not in a registered partnership, your child only has one parent: the biological mother. The father or co-parenting mother must first acknowledge the child in order for them to become the child’s legal parent. To acknowledge a (unborn) child, you must go to a City Office in person. You must make an appointment for acknowledgement and registering a birth.26 - 28 weeks
4D Live babyscan
At your 3D 4D scan you will have the chance to see your baby in real time. Watch your baby yawn, hiccup or wriggle around! Our technician will take the time to make beautiful images of your baby using the special 3D 4D function of our ultrasound equipment. Of course she will give you these very realistic images on a USB-stick to take home.
27 - 28 weeks
Midwife appointment
The end of this week marks the start of your third trimester. Your baby can now open and close his eyes, and he sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. During the midwife appointment we measure your blood pressure and check the growth, position and heartbeat of the baby. If indicated we will refer you for an extra growth scan. If you wish a scan upon request, you can always book yourself a scan at any time. With the first trimester blood test we checked your blood type and whether your blood contains antibodies to foreign blood groups. During pregnancy and childbirth, red blood cells from your baby can enter your own bloodstream. If your child has a different blood group to your own, your body may produce antibodies to this ‘foreign’ blood group. If the blood test reveals any risk, it is often possible to provide treatment during pregnancy to protect your baby. The results of the blood test will be ready at around 30 weeks.31 weeks
Midwife appointment
Your iron level will drop a little during the pregnancy with its lowest point around 30 weeks. Your body goes through significant changes when you become pregnant. The amount of blood in your body increases by about 20-30 percent, which increases the supply of iron and vitamins that the body needs to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to other cells in your body. Mild anemia is normal during pregnancy due to an increase in blood volume. At 30 weeks your iron level is on its lowest point, that’s why we will check your iron at this appointment at the practice. After 30 weeks towards 40 weeks your iron level will increase a little again.
35 weeks
positioning scan
During pregnancy, the baby rotates around your womb and assumes different positions. At the end of your pregnancy, from 32 weeks onwards, most babies lie with their heads down to get ready for birth. During the midwife appointments we always feel the position. With the ultrasound we can check whether the baby is indeed lying with its head down. This ultrasound is covered by the insurance.34 - 35 weeks
Midwife appointment
Your womb has reached it’s highest point by this week. You may be feeling as though you’ve run out of room – your womb has grown to many times its original size, and is now up under your ribs. This can make you more breathless than usual. Running up the stairs can make you feel out of breath quickly. Your checkup will be double, as it will be a medical checkup at the practice and by zoom we’ll discuss your birth wishes and will note these in your file. To do: has the kraamzorg booked in a home visit with you? If not, give them a call to plan this. Also if your kraampakket has not been delivered by now, ask your insurance company when they will.37 weeks
Midwife appointment
Your baby is now officially full term, and could be arriving any day now. His movements might feel a little different as he runs out of room, but he should still be wriggling and kicking as often as before. You will have weekly midwife consultations from now on. As your due date approaches, the painless and infrequent Braxton Hicks contractions you may have been feeling since midpregnancy sometimes become more rhythmic, relatively close together, and even painful, possibly fooling you into thinking you’re in labor. Not sure when to call us? Click here.
38 weeks
Midwife appointment
Your baby is ready to greet the world, and you’ll soon be looking into those adorable eyes. At this stage, your baby is still building a layer of fat to help her control her body temperature after she’s born. Try to relax and rest during the day if sleeping at night isn’t going so well anymore.39 weeks
midwife appointment
The big day is almost here and it won’t be long before you’re able to cuddle your baby. But try not to worry if you’re still waiting at the end of the week. Only about four per cent of babies are born on their expected due date, though most arrive within a week either side. At the practice we will check the growth and position of the baby, listen to the fetal heartbeat and measure your blood pressure.40 weeks
Midwife appointment
It’s your due date! A date you have had in your mind for the past 9 months. Remember only 4% of babies are born on their due date. Most women go overdue as most baby are born about a week after the due date. You will have your regular checkup at the practice.41 weeks
Midwife appointment
After months of anticipation, your due date goes by, and… you’re still pregnant. It’s a frustrating, but common, situation. If you’re running out of patience, it may help to remind yourself that your due date is only an estimate. From of 41 weeks we will check you and the baby every other day, offer a membrane sweep and together we will decide when an induction is needed.