Pregnancy

Healthy pregnancy

Even before you want to get pregnant, you can make sure your child gets a healthy start. If you live a healthy lifestyle, you increase the chances of a healthy pregnancy. This is a good basis for your child’s future. Read more information on the pregnancy planning page.

The first 12 weeks are particularly important. The fertilised egg grows into a complete baby. On this website you can track the development of your baby during this period. So although you may not feel or see much yet, healthy living is crucial at this stage.

The leaflets include general information about your health during pregnancy, how to avoid infections and risks at work, as well as the importance of a pregnancy free from smoking, alcohol and drugs.

If you are pregnant, you can choose a midwife practice that suits you. Register there for an intake interview and midwifery care. Even if you know you will be monitored by the gynaecologist during your pregnancy, you will still register with the midwife for the intake first. The midwife will then initiate care with the gynaecologist.

Intake

Around the 8th week of pregnancy, you will have your first meeting with a midwife. We will discuss a questionnaire about your medical history and about (hereditary) diseases in your family. If necessary, the midwife will gather additional information about your health and draw up a care plan for your pregnancy. Several tests such as blood tests and an ultrasound scan will also be scheduled.

During the intake, prenatal screening for Down’s, Edwards’ and Patau’s syndrome and the 20-week ultrasound may be discussed. If you want more information about this, an appointment will be scheduled. For more information, visit this website or check out the leaflets about screening.

Care plan

A care plan is a schedule of check-ups, tests and information during pregnancy. Every pregnancy has a basic care path. This basic care path may be extended with additional blood or ultrasound examinations, depending on your health and the health of your partner and your family and any previous pregnancies. Your personal care plan will be finalised in a consultation with the midwife and gynaecologist.

The midwife will discuss your personal care plan during the 2nd check-up. You will be told whether you can continue to be monitored by the midwife or whether you need to be monitored by the gynaecologist. You may also receive shared care, i.e. check-ups with both the midwife and obstetrician.

During pregnancy

You will have regular check-ups with the midwife or gynaecologist. During these check-ups, we will discuss how you are doing, check your blood pressure, monitor the baby’s growth and listen to its heartbeat. If necessary, blood tests will be repeated.

For more information, check the leaflets or websites that apply during pregnancy: for example, about the 20-week ultrasound, information about the rhesus blood group during pregnancy, feeling movement, whooping cough vaccination, etc.

You will also register with a maternity care organisation. During labour, a maternity nurse will assist the midwife and after the birth, the maternity nurse will assist you at home.

From 30 Weeks

In this period, your belly is growing fast and the baby is gaining a lot of weight. The delivery is also getting closer. The check-ups are more frequent. You receive information about childbirth and the birth plan.

At this stage, the maternity nurse will contact you for an intake interview or a home visit.

At 35-36 weeks, a positioning ultrasound is made. Sometimes the baby is not lying with its head down, which is called breech presentation. You will then have an additional appointment to discuss your options (e.g. an external cephalic version). Have you decided not to have a version or was it unsuccessful? The midwife will refer you to the gynaecologist for further intervention.

Your baby is due from 37 weeks to 42 weeks; this is called on time. Ensure you have everything ready before 37 weeks and the kraampakket (maternity package) is in the house. You will receive calling instructions from your midwife or gynaecologist for the delivery.

Lees meer op deze websites:

Deverloskundige.nl | NVOG information | Zanzu.nl in multiple languages