The embryo grows about a millimeter a day in the 10th week of your pregnancy and develops at least as fast. The eyelids almost cover the entire eye, its nose gets relief and the upper lip is formed. The head is also becoming more rounded. His little face thus starts to look a little more human.

And it is not only in its face that it becomes more human. The “flippers” between the fingers and toes disappear, separating them and allowing the little hands to touch each other. Even the tail that made him look like a tadpole is gone at 10 weeks pregnant. The heart is getting stronger and beating regularly now, at about 150 heartbeats per minute. To get your own heart beating like that, you have to run up a few stairs first.
It’s time to think about whether or not you want to have prenatal tests done on the child’s health.

The main organs and body systems of your baby are now developed, and in the coming months, they will continue to refine. Over the past 3 weeks, your baby has more than doubled in length. The baby is also moving more in the amniotic fluid and is now recognizable on an ultrasound as a mini-human! The hands and feet now have separate fingers and toes, with even nails beginning to form. Even now, the milk teeth are already forming under the gums.
By this time, your blood test results are likely available, and you probably know your blood type. Pregnancy symptoms, such as nausea, often start to subside. Consider whether you have adequate insurance coverage for healthcare costs. Have you arranged maternity care yet? Ask us about the options available in our region!

This is the beginning of the second trimester, and we can now listen to your baby’s heartbeat with the Doppler. For many women, this is the most enjoyable period of their pregnancy! Usually, the discomforts become less prominent, and you have more energy, allowing you to enjoy the experience more. Your belly starts to grow, just like your baby’s hair. The ears are becoming more defined, and the nostrils are forming at the tip of the nose. The tongue and palate are also developing. Your baby can now swallow and drink amniotic fluid. It’s time to start exploring options for childcare or pregnancy courses. If you’re not married and don’t have a cohabitation agreement, it’s time to consider officially arranging the acknowledgment of your child by your partner. At work, you may be asked for a pregnancy certificate. You can receive this during your appointment or have it sent to you through our assistant.

After 16 weeks of pregnancy, your baby develops a fatty protective layer on its skin. The waxy substance protects your baby from the harmful effects of the amniotic fluid. Your little one is developing the sucking reflex and can now suck its thumb.

Do you want to know if it’s a boy or a girl? From the 16th week, you can determine the baby’s gender. Are you very curious? Then, make an appointment for a gender-determining ultrasound at the ultrasound center. Of course, you can also wait until the 20-week ultrasound or be surprised at birth!

Your baby is moving all day long, so it’s likely that you’ll feel your baby kicking for the first time in week 18 of your pregnancy. Sometimes it may take a little longer. The baby is practicing breathing, sucking, and swallowing. At this point, your baby is about 20 cm long and weighs 200 grams, which is roughly the size of a bell pepper and the weight of a wallet. Your baby can even yawn when tired. You may notice that you have quite a bit of energy during this stage of pregnancy. Above all, keep moving and stay active. Are you planning to take a pregnancy class? Now is the time to sign up. We would be happy to tell you about the courses available in your area.

Congratulations, you’re halfway through your pregnancy! Around this time, you can have the Structural Echoscopic Examination, the 20-week ultrasound. If you’re having a girl, she already has 2 million eggs in her ovaries, which she will carry with her for much of her life. For a boy, the testicles are now beginning their descent. In both cases, the genitals continue to develop over the next few months. Your baby is drinking more and more amniotic fluid during this period, which is good exercise for their digestion. This helps them start producing meconium, which is your baby’s first stool. Additionally, the kidneys are already working at full capacity and producing urine.

Your baby is now viable, and the part of the brain responsible for perceiving movements continues to develop. This means your little one can actively sense your movements and may even begin to respond to your touch and the sound of your voice. Talking, singing, and moving all become familiar to your baby. Around this time, additional blood tests may be performed if necessary, such as a glucose test. Have you thought of a name yet?

Your baby’s eyebrows, eyelids and lips are becoming more distinct, and teeth continue to develop. In the lungs, the various “branches” of the airways are developing. In addition, the lungs are getting ready to fill with air soon. The brain grows rapidly at this stage and the taste buds are also in the making. Are you already preparing for your delivery?

Try to think about your needs ahead of time. Breastfeeding is recommended as the best food for your baby. Start thinking about the possibilities and challenges of feeding your baby! Get informed or take a breastfeeding course if you are unsure. Should you decide that you would rather not or cannot breastfeed, learn more about the different artificial feeds on the market! We are happy to help you get your bearings on feeding and will always support you in your choice, whether you choose breast or artificial feeding!

You are now in your third trimester. Do you feel jerky movements in your belly? Chances are your baby has hiccups; this is good exercise. This is because this way he is training his little lungs for their most important task outside the womb: breathing. Your baby already opened his eyes, but now he can actually blink his eyelashes.

Growing the baby is now going to take more and more of your energy. The baby is now growing about 200 grams per week and now weighs about 1200 grams. If you have a negative blood type we will check your blood again for antibodies.

Your baby is discovering more and more, grabbing the umbilical cord and feeling his/her face. It can also distinguish the difference between light and dark now more and more. We check the baby’s size around this period not only with our hands but also measure its growth once during a growth ultrasound.

How fast it is going all of a sudden! Only 10 weeks to go… You may be noticing it in yourself, you are getting “nesting urges. The baby’s room is probably taking shape and do you already have a maternity kit in the house?
Your body has produced over a liter of extra blood plasma over the past few weeks. Because of this, the iron level in your blood often drops a bit. We check this again around 30 weeks. Your belly often becomes more sensitive to stimuli. You may start to feel this as hard bellies. These are contractions of the muscles of your uterus. These hard bellows often come irregularly and feel somewhat uncomfortable. Will you also make a birth plan?

When you are 32 weeks pregnant, the space in your uterus becomes smaller and smaller for your baby. As a result, the baby will increasingly lie with its head down, the ideal position for delivery, but still has plenty of time ánd room to turn. Your baby continues to grow rapidly and will become at least twice as heavy as it is now! It is important that you feel your baby move regularly every day.

Some babies move especially in the evening or night when you are nice and relaxed. After all, you are doing together with 1 portion of energy! So take your rest in time as well. Do you already know where and how you want to give birth? At home, in the birth center or in the hospital? In bed, bath or on the birthing stool? You can indicate all this in your birth plan. It might be fun to take a tour of the hospital. Learn more about the options!

Are you already on maternity leave or still winding down? Try to take some extra rest now and then.
Your baby’s nails are now growing to its fingertips and the baby’s head is starting to descend into your pelvis. This sometimes causes stabbing pain at the bottom of your abdomen, radiating to your groin. Your back is also under greater strain. Your baby often moves around a lot and sometimes pushes in your stomach. This can cause heartburn. When you have completed your birth plan, we will discuss it during the consultation hour. Of course, you can add or change things at any time.

You cannot predict exactly how your delivery will go. However, you can learn more about the process your body will go through and how you can deal with the various possibilities that will come your way. Good preparation really makes a difference! The maternity center often contacts you around this time for an intake interview.

Most babies are now lying with their heads down. The head often descends deeper and deeper into your pelvis. This lowers your uterus and gives your lungs and stomach some more room. You can breathe easy again! We do an ultrasound to make sure the baby is ready to start. If your baby is in a breech presentation, you can have a version done.

We will then see if we can turn the baby externally so that it will lie with its head down. We’ll give you a list of call instructions for your labor and with supplies you can prepare. Is your bed on bunks? Around this time, prepare a bag or suitcase to take with you to the hospital, even if you want to give birth at home.

Your baby is ready to be born from 37 weeks but when exactly it starts we cannot predict! It is important that you feel your baby moving regularly. Your body is getting ready for labor. You may experience some preliminary contractions and start losing some mucus from time to time.

Your breasts sometimes leak some fluid and get ready to breastfeed. Sleeping becomes more difficult because you have to urinate often and are no longer as comfortable. In short: the end is in sight!

The last mile … it’s almost here. Get your rest and take care of some distractions.
Your baby is not growing much further in length now, but its brain continues to grow at a rapid pace. Weight is also still increasing. The baby’s skin lubrication starts to release and form flakes in the amniotic fluid. The baby still rotates on its axis, that is, from left to right in your belly. Walking may become a little heavier.

You are due this week but only 4% of babies are born on the due date. Your baby’s skull is still flexible and formed by loose bone plates. These may slide slightly over each other as the baby’s head passes through the birth canal. Right after birth, your baby cannot yet see very well.

It still sees you very blurry. Your voice the baby does recognize immediately, he/she has heard it many times in the womb. The same goes for your partner’s voice! If the delivery is still late, your baby still needs some time to prepare. It is still important that you feel your baby moving regularly. The waiting is getting exciting!

Are you getting impatient already? Understandable, but don’t worry, your baby is having a great time in your belly. About half of all babies are born after the due date. Should your baby not yet be born this week, we can sometimes give nature a helping hand. We will discuss the possibilities with you.

From this gestational age, we can increase the chances of delivery, for example, by stripping. Should your baby still not be born next week, we will make an appointment with the gynecologist to make an ultrasound to assess the baby’s condition. We will discuss with you and the gynecologist how long we can wait for a natural birth or when it would be better to induce.