Routine check-ups

Routine Check-Ups During Pregnancy

At each routine appointment, we discuss your health, your baby’s development, and any questions or preferences you may have. During every visit, we perform an ultrasound to check on your baby, listen to the heartbeat, measure your blood pressure, and assess your uterus size. We also review any blood test results when relevant.

16 Weeks

By 16 weeks, your baby’s sex is fully developed. This is a great time for a gender reveal scan, which is standard for all clients (if desired).
If you’d rather not know the sex, please let us know before the scan starts.

Not a client? No problem—you’re still welcome to book a gender scan with us.

If you had gestational diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) in a previous pregnancy, you are at higher risk of developing it again. In such cases, we perform a glucose tolerance test (OGTT). If the first test is normal, we repeat it around 27–28 weeks, as gestational diabetes can still develop later.

24 Weeks

From 22 weeks onward, it is recommended to receive the pertussis vaccine (whooping cough). In winter months, this is often combined with the flu vaccine.

During this visit, we’ll explain the maternity vaccination program in detail. More information is available at: www.22wekenprik.nl

Around this time, most women begin to feel regular fetal movements. We’ll discuss what’s normal and when to contact us if changes occur.

27–28 Weeks

This check-up covers several important topics:

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT):

  • Performed if indicated, to detect gestational diabetes

  • Referral to Atal Medial for a local test

  • If the first test was done early, this may be a follow-up

Blood Tests for Rhesus D or c-Negative Clients:

  • If you're Rhesus D-negative or Rhesus c-negative, we’ll check if your baby has a positive or negative blood type

  • We also screen for antibody production

At the same time, we draw blood for your 30-week check-up (iron and glucose levels).

Monitoring Baby’s Growth:

  • From this point on, fetal growth is closely monitored

  • If there are concerns, a growth scan will be performed around 32 weeks

30–31 Weeks

Time flies—the birth is getting closer! This is a good moment to start preparing.

Childbirth Course & Maternity Care Intake:

  • Consider taking a prenatal course, either solo or with your partner

  • Around this time, you’ll likely have your intake appointment with the maternity nurse (kraamzorg)

Blood Test at 30 Weeks:

  • If not already done, we check your iron and glucose levels to detect any deficiencies or signs of gestational diabetes

Anti-D Injection (Rhesus D-Negative Only):

  • If you're Rhesus D-negative and your baby is Rhesus D-positive, your body may produce antibodies

  • To prevent this, you’ll receive an Anti-D injection around 30 weeks

  • After birth, you’ll receive a second injection within 48 hours, unless the baby is also Rhesus D-negative

33–34 Weeks

For some, maternity leave starts around now! Leave begins between 34 and 36 weeks. You’ll need a pregnancy certificate, which you received earlier in pregnancy.

Now is also a good time to have your maternity kit (kraampakket) ready—this may be covered by your insurance or purchased independently (e.g. via Bol.com).

You’re likely well into your prenatal course, or perhaps you’ve started writing your birth plan.

During this visit, we’ll:

  • Discuss your birth preferences and expectations

  • Address any questions or concerns

  • Talk about pain relief, previous birth experiences, or anxiety

35–36 Weeks

The final stretch! This appointment focuses on preparing you for birth and checking how both you and your baby are doing.

We’ll check:

  • Whether your baby is in the head-down position (a position scan may be done if unclear)

  • If the baby is in breech, we’ll discuss options, such as an external cephalic version (ECV)

We also assess whether the baby has "dropped" into the pelvis:

  • This may make breathing easier but can increase pelvic pressure

  • It often happens earlier in first pregnancies, but later or even during labor in subsequent pregnancies

We'll also review when to call us—including signs of labor, water breaking, or reduced fetal movement.

37 Weeks and Beyond

From 37 weeks, your pregnancy is considered full-term—your baby could arrive at any moment!

In these final weeks, we:

  • Closely monitor you and your baby

  • Pay special attention to blood pressure to detect pregnancy-related complications like pre-eclampsia

  • Discuss how frequently and strongly you feel your baby move

    • If movement decreases, additional tests may be needed