Ultrasounds

Vitality ultrasound

In our practice you can opt for a vitality ultrasound. In the early stages of pregnancy, we can already check with the ultrasound whether the pregnancy is in the womb and whether the baby's heart is beating. It is best to schedule this appointment when you are between 7-8 and 10 weeks pregnant. The examination takes about 10 minutes. This ultrasound can often be done through the abdomen, but we often have a better picture with a vaginal ultrasound.

The period between the first positive pregnancy test and this ultrasound can be an uncertain period. are. For example, if you have (a little) vaginal bleeding, we can check earlier with the ultrasound. Unfortunately, these very early ultrasounds are a snapshot and it is difficult to predict whether the blood loss is a precursor to a miscarriage. It is often necessary to repeat these ultrasounds after 10-14 days.

• At 5 weeks we often see: an amniotic sac with or without a yolk sac. The embyro is not yet visible.
• At 6 weeks we often see: an embryo of 4-5 mm. (white spot) with a blinking heart. (but if you are a few days less pregnant, the heart may not be beating yet, because the embryo is younger).
• At 7 weeks the embryo can be seen as a white spot of about 9-10 mm. with a blinking heart and a yolk sac.
• At 8 weeks the embryo is about 14 mm and the heart is always visible if it is a good pregnancy, even if you are unexpectedly less pregnant.
• At 9 weeks the embryo is already 22 mm
• At 10 weeks the embryo is already 31 mm

Very important: We look at a very small bubble in the uterus, so we want the best possible ultrasound image. What can help is:

• Do not apply lotion, cream or oil to your abdomen from one week before the planned ultrasound.
• Don't go to the toilet to urinate before the ultrasound. A full bladder gives a better ultrasound image in a young pregnancy if the ultrasound is made through the abdomen.
• Keep in mind that we can ask for a vaginal ultrasound, which often gives us a clearer picture.
• For a vaginal ultrasound, we ask you to go to the toilet at our practice so that your bladder is empty.
• In order to be able to concentrate properly, it is not allowed to bring small children or babies to the medical ultrasound examination.
• It is also not possible to make (video) calls during the ultrasound examination.
• Because of privacy legislation (GDPR) it is not allowed to film or make video calls.

The sonographers for the vitality ultrasound are midwives and sonographers: Miriam van Oosteinde and Michelle Beijerinck or sonographers: sonographer from STAR-Shl or (Mr) Louwbert Janse.

13 week ultrasound

From 1 September 2021, pregnant women can also participate in the 13-week ultrasound in addition to the 20-week ultrasound. This is done in the context of the national, scientific IMITAS study.

The 13-week ultrasound is a medical examination that you can have done if you are between 12 weeks and 3 days and 14 weeks and 3 days pregnant. The 13-week ultrasound is not mandatory. With the 13-week ultrasound, you can have your child examined early in the pregnancy to see whether your child has serious physical abnormalities. During a 13-week ultrasound, the sonographer looks at the skull, heart, abdomen, arms and legs, spine, nuchal fold and placenta, among other things. The sonographer also checks whether the amniotic fluid is normal. At the 13-week ultrasound, your baby is smaller and less developed than around 20 weeks of pregnancy. That is why there is less visible than with the 20-week ultrasound. But some often serious abnormalities can already be seen, for example an open skull. Some abnormalities are less visible, such as heart defects. Sometimes the sonographer thinks he sees an abnormality, but after additional examination it turns out that there is no abnormality. It can also sometimes take a long time before there is clarity. The 13-week ultrasound may therefore make you (unnecessarily) anxious or insecure.

NOTE: If the sonographer has not been able to assess everything properly, he/she will perform a vaginal ultrasound. to offer. You will receive it immediately. If you do not want a vaginal ultrasound, you can refuse this. If not everything can be visualized with the vaginal ultrasound and there are no indications of abnormalities, the sonographer will write down what was not (yet) clearly visible. You can then choose to look again at the 20-week ultrasound at 20 weeks. It will then be later in the pregnancy and more will be visible.

You pay nothing for the 13-week ultrasound.

If you opt for the 13-week ultrasound, you will participate in a scientific study of the 13-week ultrasound (IMITAS study). By signing the consent form, you consent to the use of your data for the scientific study of the 13-week ultrasound. The data is stored in your care file and in the national database (Peridos www.pns.nl).

• No longer apply lotion, cream or oil to your abdomen from a week before the scheduled ultrasound.
• Don't go to the toilet to urinate before the ultrasound. A full bladder gives a better ultrasound image in a young pregnancy if the ultrasound is made through the abdomen.
• Keep in mind that we can ask for a vaginal ultrasound, which often gives us a clearer picture.
• For a vaginal ultrasound, we ask you to go to the toilet at our practice so that your bladder is empty.
• In order to be able to concentrate properly, it is not allowed to bring small children or babies to the medical ultrasound examination.
• Because of privacy legislation (GDPR) it is not allowed to film or make video calls.

The sonographer for the 13-week ultrasound is a sonographer from STAR-Shl or (Mr) Louwbert Janse.

More info?

Prenatal screening