Which ultrasounds do you get when you are pregnant?

Congratulations, two lines on your pregnancy test. You are pregnant!

During a pregnancy in the Netherlands, you will encounter different types of ultrasounds. These can be divided into medical ultrasounds, which focus on monitoring the health and development of your baby, and elective ultrasounds, which are intended to give you an extra look at your baby without medical necessity.

Medical ultrasounds

Medical ultrasounds are performed to check the growth, development, and health of your baby. The most important medical ultrasounds during pregnancy are:

• Vitality scan (7-8 weeks): This early ultrasound is performed to check your baby's heartbeat and confirm that the pregnancy is viable.

• Dating scan (11-12 weeks): This ultrasound determines the exact duration of the pregnancy and establishes the due date.

• 13-week scan (not always): This ultrasound is offered to detect any physical abnormalities in the baby at an early stage.

• 20-week scan (structural anomaly scan): During this ultrasound, the development of your baby's organs is examined in detail, and any structural abnormalities can be detected.

• Growth scans: These ultrasounds are performed based on medical indication to monitor your baby's growth, especially if there are concerns about growth or if you have previously had a small baby.

• Presentation scan (34-35 weeks) (not always): This ultrasound is performed to determine your baby's position in the womb, which is important for preparing for childbirth.

Elective ultrasounds

In addition to medical ultrasounds, many expectant parents choose to have elective ultrasounds. These ultrasounds have no medical necessity and are intended to help you enjoy your pregnancy even more and admire your baby. Some common elective ultrasounds are:

• Gender determination (from 15 weeks): With this ultrasound, you can find out the gender of your baby.

• 2D elective ultrasound (12-36 weeks): A black-and-white ultrasound where you see a cross-section of your baby, similar to the medical ultrasounds.

• 3D/4D elective ultrasound (26-30 weeks): These ultrasounds provide a three-dimensional image of your baby, where you can even see facial expressions. With a 4D ultrasound, you see moving 3D images in real time.

It is important to know that elective ultrasounds are not covered by health insurance and you must bear the costs yourself. Medical ultrasounds, on the other hand, are usually covered, but this can vary depending on your health insurance. Therefore, always consult your midwife or health insurance provider for more information.

Whether you choose only the medical ultrasounds or also opt for elective ones, both offer a unique opportunity to see your baby and prepare for the arrival of your little one.