Prenatal screening
During pregnancy, you can choose to have a number of examinations, also known as prenatal screening. If you would like more information, we will explain these options during a consultation.
You can then decide for yourself whether you would like to have these examinations.
The following examinations are offered:
Pregnancy Care and Checks
You can find more information and details here.
Pregnancy Blood Tests
The blood test checks for conditions that could make your baby ill, even before birth. In most cases, it is possible to treat these conditions during pregnancy and protect your baby. That is why the blood test is offered early in pregnancy, usually during one of your first appointments. This allows any necessary treatment to be started as soon as possible.
The laboratory examines your blood and determines:
For more information, please visit this website.
The laboratory examines your blood and determines:
- what your blood group is: A, B, AB or O;
- whether you are Rhesus D negative or Rhesus c negative;
- whether your blood contains antibodies against blood groups that you do not have yourself;
- whether you are infected with one of the infectious diseases Hepatitis B, HIV or Syphilis (Lues);
- your haemoglobin (Hb) level (if it is too low, you may have anaemia and are often prescribed iron tablets);
- for some women, there is an indication to also check glucose (blood sugar levels).
For more information, please visit this website.
NIPT
The NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Test) is a blood test that screens for chromosomal abnormalities in the baby. If you choose to have the NIPT, a blood sample will be taken from you. Your blood is then tested for chromosomal abnormalities that can have serious consequences for your baby’s health, such as Down syndrome.
Why choose the NIPT?
You can choose the NIPT if you would like to know during pregnancy whether your baby may have a chromosomal abnormality. This blood test can be performed from 10 weeks of pregnancy onwards. If the blood test indicates that your baby may have a chromosomal abnormality, further testing is needed to confirm whether or not your baby actually has this condition.
Sometimes something goes wrong during the development of the chromosomes. This is called a chromosomal abnormality.
There are three types of chromosomal abnormalities:
Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome are examples of chromosomal abnormalities. Down syndrome is a condition that a child is born with and it does not go away. People with Down syndrome have an intellectual disability, and the condition is often recognisable by physical characteristics. Children with Down syndrome develop more slowly and differently compared with average development.
Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome are much less common than Down syndrome. They are very serious conditions, and most babies with these conditions die before or shortly after birth.
For more information, please visit this website.
Why choose the NIPT?
You can choose the NIPT if you would like to know during pregnancy whether your baby may have a chromosomal abnormality. This blood test can be performed from 10 weeks of pregnancy onwards. If the blood test indicates that your baby may have a chromosomal abnormality, further testing is needed to confirm whether or not your baby actually has this condition.
Sometimes something goes wrong during the development of the chromosomes. This is called a chromosomal abnormality.
There are three types of chromosomal abnormalities:
- There is an extra whole chromosome.
- There is an extra piece of a chromosome.
- There is a missing piece of a chromosome.
Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome are examples of chromosomal abnormalities. Down syndrome is a condition that a child is born with and it does not go away. People with Down syndrome have an intellectual disability, and the condition is often recognisable by physical characteristics. Children with Down syndrome develop more slowly and differently compared with average development.
Edwards syndrome and Patau syndrome are much less common than Down syndrome. They are very serious conditions, and most babies with these conditions die before or shortly after birth.
For more information, please visit this website.
13-Week Ultrasound Scan
With an ultrasound scan around 13 weeks of pregnancy, it is possible to examine whether your baby has certain physical abnormalities.
Examples of possible physical abnormalities include:
The sonographer also examines the placenta and checks whether the amount of amniotic fluid appears normal.
During the 13-week ultrasound scan, the sonographer may sometimes see an abnormality that can also occur in a child with a chromosomal abnormality (or another hereditary condition). It is important to know that not all serious chromosomal abnormalities are associated with abnormalities that can be seen on a 13-week ultrasound scan.
If you would like to have your baby screened for Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome or Patau syndrome, you can choose the NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Test).
Examples of possible physical abnormalities include:
- Open skull
- Open spine (spina bifida)
- Severe abnormalities of the brain
- A defect or large opening in the abdominal wall
- Severe facial abnormalities
- Heart abnormalities
- Abnormalities of the arms or legs
The sonographer also examines the placenta and checks whether the amount of amniotic fluid appears normal.
During the 13-week ultrasound scan, the sonographer may sometimes see an abnormality that can also occur in a child with a chromosomal abnormality (or another hereditary condition). It is important to know that not all serious chromosomal abnormalities are associated with abnormalities that can be seen on a 13-week ultrasound scan.
If you would like to have your baby screened for Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome or Patau syndrome, you can choose the NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Test).
Around 13 weeks your baby is smaller and less developed than at 20 weeks. Many abnormalities cannot yet be detected at this stage. However, some abnormalities, often serious ones, can already be seen. These may be so severe that the baby may die during pregnancy or shortly after birth.
The sonographer cannot see everything. If no abnormalities are detected, this does not guarantee that your baby is completely healthy.
If a (suspected) abnormality is found, you will be referred to a Prenatal Diagnostic Centre. In this region, this will be either MMC (Veldhoven) or MUMC+ (Maastricht).
Practical Information
We kindly ask you not to bring children with you to the 13-week ultrasound scan. Please note: the baby’s gender is not assessed during this scan. If you would like to know the gender, you can book a keepsake ultrasound (private ultrasound).
The scan takes approximately 30 minutes. A specially trained sonographer will perform the scan at our practice.
Sometimes the sonographer is unable to see everything clearly and may recommend a transvaginal (internal) ultrasound. If you do not want an internal ultrasound, you can decline this. If it is not possible to see everything, the remaining assessment will be performed during the 20-week ultrasound scan.
The 13-week ultrasound scan is covered by insurance. You do not have to pay for it yourself.
If you choose to have the 13-week ultrasound scan, you will also take part in the IMITAS study.
IMITAS Study
The scientific IMITAS study investigates, among other things, how often physical abnormalities are detected during the 13-week ultrasound scan and which abnormalities these are. If you choose to have the 13-week ultrasound scan, you will automatically participate in the IMITAS study.
For more information, please visit this website.
The sonographer cannot see everything. If no abnormalities are detected, this does not guarantee that your baby is completely healthy.
If a (suspected) abnormality is found, you will be referred to a Prenatal Diagnostic Centre. In this region, this will be either MMC (Veldhoven) or MUMC+ (Maastricht).
Practical Information
We kindly ask you not to bring children with you to the 13-week ultrasound scan. Please note: the baby’s gender is not assessed during this scan. If you would like to know the gender, you can book a keepsake ultrasound (private ultrasound).
The scan takes approximately 30 minutes. A specially trained sonographer will perform the scan at our practice.
Sometimes the sonographer is unable to see everything clearly and may recommend a transvaginal (internal) ultrasound. If you do not want an internal ultrasound, you can decline this. If it is not possible to see everything, the remaining assessment will be performed during the 20-week ultrasound scan.
The 13-week ultrasound scan is covered by insurance. You do not have to pay for it yourself.
If you choose to have the 13-week ultrasound scan, you will also take part in the IMITAS study.
IMITAS Study
The scientific IMITAS study investigates, among other things, how often physical abnormalities are detected during the 13-week ultrasound scan and which abnormalities these are. If you choose to have the 13-week ultrasound scan, you will automatically participate in the IMITAS study.
For more information, please visit this website.
20-Week Ultrasound Scan
Just like with the 13-week ultrasound scan, you can have an ultrasound around 20 weeks of pregnancy to examine whether your baby has any physical abnormalities. At 20 weeks, your baby is naturally much bigger, which allows the sonographer to examine more details.
The sonographer examines your baby from head to toe and also checks the amount of amniotic fluid, any particular features of the placenta, and whether your baby is growing well. The sonographer can often also see whether you are expecting a boy or a girl. If you do not want to know the gender, that is of course completely fine please let us know.
The sonographer cannot see everything. If no abnormalities are visible, this does not guarantee that your baby is completely healthy.
Examples of physical abnormalities that may possibly be detected during a 20-week ultrasound scan include:
During the 20-week ultrasound scan, the sonographer may sometimes see an abnormality that can also occur in a child with a chromosomal abnormality (or another hereditary condition). It is important to know that not all serious chromosomal abnormalities are associated with abnormalities that can be detected during a 20-week ultrasound scan.
If you would like to have your baby screened for Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome or Patau syndrome, you can choose the NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Test).
What results can you receive?
You will receive the results of the examination for physical abnormalities immediately after the ultrasound scan. No indication of an abnormality:
This is the result for 95 out of 100 pregnant women.
→ No further examination is needed.
The sonographer would like to perform another ultrasound scan
You will receive this result when the sonographer is unable to see your baby clearly enough. This does not necessarily mean that something is wrong. For example, your baby’s position in the womb may make it difficult to see everything that the sonographer would like to assess.If the sonographer is unsure, you will be asked to return for another scan. → The ultrasound scan will be repeated.
An abnormality has been detected. Further examination is needed to be certain. You will receive this result if the sonographer sees something unusual. Further investigation is needed to find out exactly what has been detected and what this may mean for your baby.
→ You can choose to have further examination at a Prenatal Diagnostic Centre. Depending on the type of abnormality, you will be referred to either MMC or MUMC+ in this region. You decide yourself whether you would like to have further testing.
An abnormality has been detected. Further examination is not needed. You will receive this result if the sonographer sees something that is not serious and that usually resolves on its own.
→ Later in your pregnancy, you will have another ultrasound scan. The sonographer will then check whether it has indeed disappeared.
Practical Information
We kindly ask you not to bring children with you to the 20-week ultrasound scan:
For more information, please visit this website.
- Open spine (spina bifida)
- Open skull
- Hydrocephalus (fluid build-up in the brain)
- A defect or opening in the abdominal wall
- A defect or opening in the diaphragm
- Clubfoot
- Cleft lip (with or without cleft palate)
- Absence or abnormalities of the kidneys
- Abnormalities of the arms or legs
- Abnormal bone development
- Heart abnormalities
During the 20-week ultrasound scan, the sonographer may sometimes see an abnormality that can also occur in a child with a chromosomal abnormality (or another hereditary condition). It is important to know that not all serious chromosomal abnormalities are associated with abnormalities that can be detected during a 20-week ultrasound scan.
If you would like to have your baby screened for Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome or Patau syndrome, you can choose the NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Test).
What results can you receive?
You will receive the results of the examination for physical abnormalities immediately after the ultrasound scan. No indication of an abnormality:
This is the result for 95 out of 100 pregnant women.
→ No further examination is needed.
The sonographer would like to perform another ultrasound scan
You will receive this result when the sonographer is unable to see your baby clearly enough. This does not necessarily mean that something is wrong. For example, your baby’s position in the womb may make it difficult to see everything that the sonographer would like to assess.If the sonographer is unsure, you will be asked to return for another scan. → The ultrasound scan will be repeated.
An abnormality has been detected. Further examination is needed to be certain. You will receive this result if the sonographer sees something unusual. Further investigation is needed to find out exactly what has been detected and what this may mean for your baby.
→ You can choose to have further examination at a Prenatal Diagnostic Centre. Depending on the type of abnormality, you will be referred to either MMC or MUMC+ in this region. You decide yourself whether you would like to have further testing.
An abnormality has been detected. Further examination is not needed. You will receive this result if the sonographer sees something that is not serious and that usually resolves on its own.
→ Later in your pregnancy, you will have another ultrasound scan. The sonographer will then check whether it has indeed disappeared.
Practical Information
We kindly ask you not to bring children with you to the 20-week ultrasound scan:
- The scan takes approximately 45 minutes.
- A specially trained sonographer will perform the ultrasound scan at our practice.
- The ultrasound scan is covered by your health insurance. You do not have to pay anything yourself.
For more information, please visit this website.
