The 13-week ultrasound is a new comprehensive examination of the baby. Between 12+3 and 14+3 days, this ultrasound looks at the abnormalities that can be seen in that period. This is fully reimbursed by your insurance. More information at: pns.nl/13-wekenecho

The 20-week ultrasound (SEO) is used to investigate spina bifida, heart defects and other physical abnormalities in your unborn child. The health insurance reimburses this examination in full. More information at: pns.nl/20-wekenecho.

Please note that not all conditions can be investigated. If prenatal screening shows that there is a small chance that your child has down syndrome or a physical abnormality, this cannot be ruled out. It may also have another condition that goes undetected. The most important question for you: 'Is my baby healthy?' can never be answered with complete certainty with the tests currently available.

The tests may reassure you about the health of your child. But they can also make you worry and make you face difficult choices. Of course you decide (together) whether you want the research and whether you want to have further research done afterwards. The follow-up examination will usually consist of several ultrasounds, but may also mean an amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. These are, in contrast to the NIPT, 13- and 20-week ultrasound, high-risk examinations where the risk of miscarriage is approximately 0.5-1%. You can stop doing further research at any time. But once these tests have started, it is difficult to stop if it turns out that there may be something wrong with your child. Many people experience the follow-up process as physically and psychologically taxing.

At the first appointment we will discuss with you whether you would like more information about the above-mentioned tests. If this is the case, we will provide you with a detailed verbal explanation. This is important and required so that you can make an informed choice. You will also receive a number of folders in which everything is clearly explained again so that you can decide at home whether you want to do one or both tests. You can then make this known during the second check. We arrange the applications for these tests.

The 13 and 20 week ultrasounds take place at Centrum Verloskundig Onderzoek Noord-Limburg (CVONL in Venlo). This centre is a collaboration between the 5 midwifery practices in North Limburg and is located in the Geboortecentrum Venlo on layer 3. An assistant will contact you for an appointment after you have been referred by the midwife. The NIPT can be determined as a blood test with an extra tube if you have the routine blood test carried out on route 11 (blood collection department) in VieCuri.