Many expectant parents wonder if their baby will be healthy. This is understandable. Fortunately, most babies are born healthy.

There are also children born with (serious) disorders. From the prenatal screening programme, you have the option as a pregnant woman to have your unborn child tested. This can be done using the NIPT, 13-week ultrasound and the 20-week ultrasound. You are free to choose whether or not to do this. If the results are abnormal or if something abnormal is detected, you can have follow-up testing carried out.

Read here about the NIPT, 13-week ultrasound and the 20-week ultrasound.

The 13-week and the 20-week ultrasound are performed by Midwifery and Prenatal Centre Fara in Ederveen.

After the intake, prenatal screening, if desired, will be discussed in detail with you and a referral can be arranged. You always have the choice not to have prenatal screening.

NIPT
You can opt for NIPT (non-invasive prenatal test) if you want to find out during pregnancy whether your child has a chromosomal abnormality like for example Down’s syndrome, Edwards’ syndrome or Patau’s syndrome.
People with Down’s syndrome have a mental handicap. Someone is born with it. Some are more severely affected than others. There is no way of knowing in advance.
Edwards’ syndrome and Patau’s syndrome are much less common than Down’s syndrome. They are very serious conditions. Most children die before or around birth.

Click here for more information about NIPT.

13-week ultrasound
The 13-week ultrasound is a medical examination for physical abnormalities in your child. A physical abnormality means that part of the child’s body looks different from normal. You choose whether you want the 13-week ultrasound.

See here for more information about the 13-week ultrasound.

20-week ultrasound

The 20-week ultrasound is a medical examination for physical abnormalities in the child. You choose whether you want this test. You can have a test to see if your child has a physical abnormality. A physical abnormality means that part of the child’s body looks different from normal. Examples of physical abnormalities are spina bifida, open skull, hydrocephalus, heart defects, hole in the diaphragm, hole in the abdominal wall, abnormality of the kidneys or abnormality of the bones.

Look here for more information about the 20-week ultrasound.