Intake

Intake Appointment & Early Ultrasound

First Appointment (7–8 weeks pregnant)

Your first check-up takes place around 7 to 8 weeks of pregnancy. During this intake, we’ll note your personal information, medical history (yours and the baby’s father’s), work situation, any other children, and relevant family history.
We also provide you with extensive information about pregnancy and related topics.

We assess whether your pregnancy can be managed within primary midwifery care, or whether a referral to a hospital (secondary care) is necessary due to medical reasons.

What We’ll Discuss During the First Visit

Prenatal Screening

You will receive information about prenatal screening options. In the Netherlands, you can choose to test whether your baby has an increased risk of Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, or Patau syndrome using the NIPT test. You may also opt for ultrasound scans to detect physical anomalies (13-week and 20-week scans).

NIPT

The Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) analyzes DNA in the mother’s blood to detect chromosomal abnormalities. The test can be done from 10 weeks of pregnancy onward. The DNA in the blood includes that of the mother and the placenta (which usually matches the baby’s DNA).

In addition to detecting Down, Edwards, or Patau syndrome, the lab may also find other chromosomal anomalies—in the baby, the placenta, or rarely, in the mother. These are called secondary findings. You decide in advance whether you want to be informed about these.
More info: www.pns.nl/nipt

13-Week Ultrasound (ETSEO)

This early anomaly scan can detect physical abnormalities such as an open skull or large abdominal wall defects between 12+3 and 14+3 weeks of pregnancy.

This scan does not replace the 20-week scan—they complement each other. While the baby is still small at 13 weeks, some serious abnormalities may already be visible. If anything unusual is found, you may choose early follow-up testing. This also gives you more time to consider your options.

Participation Requirements

  • A counseling session is mandatory before scheduling this scan

  • You must give informed consent during that session

  • The scan is only available between 12+3 and 14+3 weeks—no exceptions can be made (e.g., for holidays)

  • We will schedule the scan after your dating scan

  • This scan is part of a nationwide scientific study and is free of charge

More info: 13-week scan – PNS

Dating Ultrasound (10–12 weeks)

This scan determines your due date, regardless of your last menstrual period. It is performed at our practice between the 10th and 12th week of pregnancy.

Blood Tests

In early pregnancy, we test your blood for:

  • Blood type and Rh antibodies

  • Irregular antibodies

  • Iron levels (Hb, MCV)

  • Glucose (blood sugar)

  • Hepatitis B (HbsAg)

  • HIV

  • Syphilis (Lues)

  • Rubella (German measles) – to check for immunity

More info: rivm.nl

Nutrition Advice

Some foods should be avoided during pregnancy:
🚫 Raw meats (e.g., rare steak, filet americain, ossenworst)
🚫 Soft cheeses made from raw milk (unpasteurized)
🚫 Vacuum-packed smoked fish

✅ Safe options include well-cooked meat, non-vacuum-packed smoked fish, fresh raw fish (from a fishmonger), and cooked shellfish.
⚠️ Limit liver to one portion per day due to high vitamin A levels.

If you eat a healthy, varied diet, supplements aren’t usually needed. If you prefer, you can take prenatal vitamins—these contain less vitamin A and more iron.

More info:

Folic Acid

If you’re trying to conceive, it’s advised to take folic acid daily, ideally starting three months before pregnancy and continuing until 10–12 weeks into the pregnancy.

If your pregnancy was unplanned and you found out later (e.g., at 8–9 weeks), you can still benefit from taking folic acid for a few more weeks.

Exercise During Pregnancy

Staying active during pregnancy is healthy—as long as you listen to your body and avoid pushing your limits.
From 16 weeks onward, we recommend avoiding contact sports such as football, hockey, or handball.