11-16 Weeks
The first 3 months have already passed. For many, these are the most exciting. Most pregnancy discomforts associated with the first trimester will disappear. You will feel less tired, and the nausea you may have experienced will likely gradually subside. Your baby has also grown rapidly and has already developed the most important organs by this time. Around 16 weeks, your baby is about the size of a donut, and you can see them better during the term ultrasound. They already have the shape of a tiny human being.
13 Week ultrasound
The 13-week ultrasound is also called the first trimester structural ultrasound (ftSEO). It is performed between 12+3 and 14+3 weeks of pregnancy. The examination includes checking the skull, heart, abdomen, arms and legs, spine, nuchal fold, placenta, and amniotic fluid volume.
Sometimes it can be difficult to assess everything properly because the baby is still small. If this is the case, we may suggest performing a transvaginal ultrasound. If visibility is still limited, we will check again during the 20-week ultrasound, unless there is suspicion of an abnormality.
If an abnormality is detected, we will refer you to a specialist hospital for another ultrasound. They can inform you whether there is actually an abnormality and what the follow-up process will be.
Administrative matters
During pregnancy, various matters need to be arranged. We have listed the most important things for you in a row.
Blood Tests
During the first check-up, we will provide you with a referral for a comprehensive blood test. We conduct this test for all pregnant women to ensure the best possible start to the pregnancy. The blood is analyzed for:
- blood type/rhesus factor
- irregular antibodies
- Hb (iron level), glucose (sugar level), Ferritin, MCV, platelets
- rubella
- hepatitis B (liver disease)
- syphilis (sexually transmitted disease)
- HIV (sexually transmitted disease)
(The above is the basic examination; if more tests are needed, we will inform you)
We recommend having the examination done at the hospital where you would like to give birth or where you are already registered. We will discuss the test results with you during the second appointment.
Arranging Maternity Care / Maternity Package
Once it’s clear how many weeks pregnant you are, it’s very important to engage a certified maternity care agency. They can help with the care you need after giving birth. Midwifery Practice Margriet has an extensive network and therefore knows many certified maternity care agencies in The Hague. We also have our own maternity care agency within our practice, called
It’s also important to request a maternity care package from your insurance as soon as possible. The maternity care package contains necessities for before, during, and after delivery. This includes maternity pads, underpads, umbilical cord clamp, alcohol, sterile gauze, etc. If a maternity care package is not covered by your health insurance, we recommend purchasing one yourself. You can get a ready-made package from the pharmacy or Prenatal, or you can buy everything separately from the drugstore.
Recognition / Naming
If you’re not married or don’t have a registered partnership, but want to share responsibility for your child together? Then arrange the ‘recognition of the unborn child’ before the 24th week of pregnancy. You can arrange this at the city hall where you are registered. This ensures your child will have two legal parents from birth. The child can also receive the correct surname immediately.
After your appointment, you will receive the certificate. You must bring this certificate to the appointment for registering your child after birth. Since 2023, during recognition, you both automatically receive parental authority over your child.
Childcare
In The Hague and Westland, there is a long waiting list for childcare. This is something you need to arrange quickly. It’s always reassuring for parents to know their child will be in a place where they feel comfortable. This way, you can return to work with peace of mind.
Maternity Leave / Parental Leave
As a pregnant employee, you are entitled to 16 weeks of maternity leave. You can choose when to start your leave: this can be 6 weeks before the due date, but you must take leave at least 4 weeks before the due date. During this period, your salary will be paid in full.
If you give birth after your due date, you are entitled to extended leave. The duration of leave after delivery is at least 10 weeks. If you are self-employed, you can apply for the ZEZ benefit through the UWV.
Working parents have a legal right to temporarily work fewer hours. These hours will be partially paid or unpaid depending on agreements with the employer. Read more
The 22-Week Vaccination
You can choose to get vaccinated against whooping cough around 22 weeks of pregnancy. This vaccination is intended to protect your baby against whooping cough in the first weeks after birth. Would you like a whooping cough vaccination? Then you can make an appointment at the CJG.
Bed Risers
During delivery and the postpartum period, you need bed risers to elevate your bed. This allows us and the maternity nurse to work at a comfortable height. You can borrow these risers from a home care shop like Medipoint from 37 weeks onwards. If it’s not possible to put your bed on risers, you can alternatively use empty beer crates to elevate your bed.
Pregnancy discomforts
Unfortunately, various discomforts can occur during pregnancy, both physical and mental. Fortunately, there’s often something that can be done about them. Discuss these discomforts with us or check the following links for more information: the midwife and how about mom.
Midwife appointments
During the intake, we looked together at how we can best guide you through this pregnancy. There is the traditional way, where you visit the midwife for 15 minutes at the beginning of each month. There is also a modern approach called centering pregnancy, where all your appointments are in group form with other mothers who will give birth around your due date. If you choose this form of care, you will receive all appointments during the second appointment at the counseling session.
If you prefer care in the traditional way, our appointments typically last 15 minutes. In early pregnancy, you come in approximately every four weeks. From 24 weeks, you come every three weeks. From 30 weeks, you come every two weeks, and at the end of pregnancy, you come for weekly check-ups. If necessary or desired, it’s always possible to come for more frequent check-ups. Feel free to contact us to discuss these wishes!
What Do We Do?
During both centering pregnancy and traditional check-ups, we discuss how the past weeks have been for you and check your blood pressure. We also perform external examinations to check your baby’s growth and position, and we listen to your baby’s heartbeat.
From 28 weeks of pregnancy, we can determine the baby’s position. In the last month, we also check how the head has descended into the pelvis. At the end of pregnancy, around 33 weeks, we make an appointment to discuss the delivery. We then create a personalized birth plan. At the next appointment, we provide delivery instructions, such as when to call us.
