During your pregnancy you can have various tests done to examine the health of you and your baby. The results of these tests can reassure you, but they can also cause unrest.

You will be offered some tests as standard, such as a blood test. You will only receive other tests if medically necessary. With many tests you can decide for yourself whether or not you want to have them performed. This applies, for example, to the 20-week ultrasound. If you would like to know more about the options for prenatal screening, we will provide you with more information during the intake.

Blood tests during your pregnancy

After the term ultrasound, you will receive a form from us to have blood taken from the laboratory. If this test shows that your baby is at risk of becoming ill, in most cases you can seek treatment to protect the baby. The blood test should be carried out as early as possible in the pregnancy, but in any case before the 16th week.
The laboratory examines the following things in your blood: hemoglobin level (iron content), blood group, rhesus c and D, other antibodies against red blood cells, syphilis (lues), hepatitis B, HIV, glucose level and on indication also other infectious diseases. More information about the blood test can be found on www.pns.nl

Prenatal screening

During your pregnancy you can learn more about the health of your baby through various tests. Every study has advantages and disadvantages and we think it is important that you are aware of them, so that you can make a well-informed decision.

Screening for Down, Edwards and Patau syndrome

You can have it tested (screened) to see whether there are indications that your child has Down, Edwards or Patau syndrome.
The NIPT (Non Invasive Prenatal Test) is a blood test for pregnant women. It can be performed from the 10th week of pregnancy.
More information can be found at  www.pns.nl

13 week ultrasound

You can have it examined whether your child has a physical abnormality. A physical abnormality means that part of the child's body looks different than normal. The 13 week ultrasound is very similar to the 20 weeks EchoIn both studies, a sonographer with an ultrasound device or your child has physical abnormalities. For detailed information, see www.pns.nl.

20 weeks Echo

Research into certain physical abnormalities of the baby can be done with a 20-week ultrasound, also called structural ultrasound examination (SEO).

This examination takes place around the 20th week and is reimbursed by your health insurance. This ultrasound examines the development of your child's organs. The baby's growth and the amount of amniotic fluid are also assessed. The 20-week ultrasound is a reasonably reliable method for detecting serious congenital abnormalities. However, this examination is no guarantee for a healthy child, because not all conditions can be seen on the ultrasound. If abnormalities are found during the ultrasound, the consequences for the baby are not always clear, which can cause concern. Do you want to know more? Read more on www.pns.nl

Follow-up research

If the NIPT results show that your baby has an increased risk of Down, Edwards or Patau syndrome, you can opt for follow-up testing. A follow-up examination provides more certainty, but may entail risks. Chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis are options. There is a small chance of a chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis miscarriage as a result of the investigation. An extensive ultrasound is also sometimes done; this examination does not entail any risks.

Extensive ultrasound: the GUO

If something abnormal is seen during the 20-week ultrasound or if you have a medical indication, a more extensive examination is usually offered. A GUO, or advanced ultrasound examination, takes place in an academic hospital. During a consultation with the sonographer and/or gynecologist, you will be extensively informed about the follow-up examination. You always decide for yourself whether or not you want to have (follow-up) research carried out.

The screening may reassure you about the health of your child, but it can also make you worried and present you with difficult choices. You can contact us with all your questions or for support, so that you can make the right choice(s) together.