Veel aanstaande ouders vragen zich af of hun kind gezond zal zijn

The Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) is used to research whether your child may have Down- Patau and Edwards syndrome (trisomy 21, 13 and 18). You may also choose to have other chromosome abnormalities tested with the NIPT. A blood sample is taken from your arm, and genetic material from the baby's placenta is examined in this blood. A reassuring result of the NIPT is very reliable (99.9%), but when the NIPT indicates that the baby may have a chromosome abnormality, this is not always conclusive. Further research is then needed by ultrasound examination, chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Every pregnant woman in the Netherlands can choose to have the NIPT done. NIPT is safe for you and the baby, you cannot get a miscarriage because this test. The NIPT is paid for by your health insurance.

As with the 20-week ultrasound, an sonographer uses an ultrasound device to check whether the child has any physical abnormalities through the abdomen. The big difference with the 20-week ultrasound is that 13-weeks is still early in the pregnancy. The child is smaller and less developed. There is less visible compared to the 20-week ultrasound, but some abnormalities can already be seen. These are often major abnormalities. The sonographer will tell you the results immediately after the ultrasound. In 95 out of 100 pregnancies, the sonographer sees no indication of an abnormality. Follow-up testing is then not necessary, but you can have the 20-week ultrasound done a few weeks later. At the 13-week ultrasound, the sonographer is not allowed to tell you whether you will have a daughter or a son The 13-week ultrasound is performed between 12+3 weeks and 14+3 weeks and is reimbursed by your health insurance. In the Netherlands you can only opt for the 13-week ultrasound if you participate in the scientific IMITAS study . This study investigates the advantages and disadvantages of the 13-week ultrasound. For more information read: pns.nl/13weeksecho

The purpose of the 20-week ultrasound is to detect structural (anatomical) abnormalities; the baby is checked from head to toe. It is also checked whether the baby is growing well, whether there is enough amniotic fluid and where the placenta is located. In addition and on request, the sonographer can check whether you are expecting a boy or a girl. ​ If there is a suspicion of an abnormality in the baby, you will be offered further testing. This happens in about 5 out of 100 20-week ultrasounds. We will then refer you to colleagues in the OLVG or AMC. The 20-week ultrasound is performed between 18 and 21 weeks and is reimbursed from the basic insurance. ​

​In a number of cases you are directly eligible for these invasive tests: You have previously had a child with a detectable condition. In your immediate family, a child was born with a detectable condition. You had an increased risk with the combination test or the NIPT gave an abnormal result. At the 20-week ultrasound there were indications of abnormalities. With chorionic villus sampling (11-14 weeks) a number of cells are taken from the placenta, with amniocentesis (after 16 weeks) a small amount of amniotic fluid is examined. ​ First of all, a rapid test is done for the most common chromosomal abnormalities, the result is available after about 5 working days. Then, if indicated, a more extensive test is done for many more abnormalities in the chromosomes. You will get this result after about 3 weeks. Both tests have a small risk of causing a miscarriage of about 2 in 500.