Pregnancy

Who will follow your pregnancy?
 

You have the choice:
 

• Either your gynecologist at the clinic or in a private practice in collaboration/alternation with a midwife.
   
• Or follow-up at the ONE, available in Uccle: a gynecologist from the ONE in collaboration with a PEP (parent/child partner) and alternated with a midwife.
   
• If necessary, you will have access to consultations in endocrinology/diabetology, dietetics, pediatrics, anesthesia, cardiology, osteopathy, psychology, lactation specialists, sexologists, and smoking cessation specialists.

When will we meet you?
 

At the beginning of your pregnancy, we will meet once a month, with more frequent visits starting from the third trimester and at the end of the pregnancy. If your condition or that of your baby/babies requires it, you will have more frequent follow-ups.

How will a consultation go?
 

he consultation allows us to monitor the progress of your pregnancy for both you and your baby(ies): we will check your blood pressure, weight, heart rate, and the growth of your baby(ies). During some consultations, additional exams may be conducted. You will receive useful information and necessary explanations to help you prepare for this new adventure. We will address your questions, doubts, and concerns.
It is recommended not to consume tobacco, alcohol, or drugs throughout your pregnancy.
If necessary, we can assist you and connect you with, for example, the smoking cessation specialist at the hospital or elsewhere.
You will receive an informational brochure at the start of your pregnancy.

Prenatal Diagnosis
 

Blood Tests
You will have regular blood tests to monitor your health and immunity.

• At the beginning of the pregnancy, we will check the composition of your blood, your blood type, and your immunity, including rubella, toxoplasmosis, and CMV. We may also check the functioning of your kidneys, liver, and thyroid. We will also check your urine through a urine culture. Additional tests will be performed based on your medical history
   
• Between 11 and 14 weeks, we recommend a NIPT (non-invasive prenatal testing), which analyzes the fetal DNA circulating in your blood, allowing us to screen for the most common chromosomal abnormalities, such as trisomies 13, 18, and 21. Additionally, if you wish, you can learn the sex of your baby(ies).
   
• You can also undergo a PIGF test to screen for preeclampsia.
   
• Around 26 weeks, we will prescribe a glucose tolerance test (gestational diabetes screening).

Ultrasounds

Three ultrasounds are planned and reimbursed by INAMI: at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters.

• Between 11 and 14 weeks, we will check the vitality of your baby(ies), their heart rate, size, and perform the first examination of their morphology, including, among other things, the nuchal translucency.
   
• Between 20 and 24 weeks, the "morphological" ultrasound will provide a more detailed analysis of the fetal anatomy, the umbilical cord, and the placenta.
   
• Between 30 and 34 weeks, we will check the proper growth of your baby(ies), their position, and the proper functioning of their organs.
   
• If you go past your due date, we will perform a final ultrasound at 40 weeks to check the amount of amniotic fluid, fetal weight, and fetal well-being, to give you time before potentially inducing labor up to 10 days past your due date.
   

Each consultation room is equipped with an ultrasound machine. Therefore, your gynecologist can quickly perform an ultrasound during the consultation if needed.

Urine Tests

A urine dipstick is used for quick medical analyses, such as screening for urinary tract infections and preeclampsia...

Pap Smear

Between 35 and 37 weeks, the midwife or gynecologist will perform a pap smear to check for the presence of Group B Streptococcus in the vagina. Group B Streptococcus is a bacteria that can be present in the vagina of some women without causing symptoms. This bacteria can lead to infections in the newborn after delivery. If you are a carrier, you will be given antibiotics during labor.

Fetal Monitoring 
 

Recording the fetal heart rate and contractions allows us to monitor the well-being of your baby(ies). This will be done 2 to 3 times a week if you go past your due date, or at any other time during pregnancy if your gynecologist or midwife recommends it.
This is a typical schedule, but for medical reasons, your gynecologist or midwife may always adjust it on a case-by-case basis to ensure optimal follow-up.

Vaccinations

• Whooping Cough: Whooping cough can be a very serious illness for young babies and potentially deadly:
   
  • Adults (including parents) can catch whooping cough and unknowingly transmit it to their children.
     
  • Even if you have had whooping cough or are vaccinated, protection against the disease decreases over time.
     
  • Adolescents and adults need a booster vaccination to prevent catching whooping cough and passing it on to unprotected infants.

Your baby will be vaccinated against whooping cough according to the basic vaccination schedule (8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks). However, until your baby completes the full vaccination program (16 weeks), they remain at risk of contracting whooping cough.

To protect your baby against whooping cough during this critical period, the superior health council recommends vaccinating all family members (cocoon vaccination): The expectant mother can receive the vaccine between 24 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, which allows her to pass on antibodies against whooping cough to the baby via the placenta. Vaccination is not mandatory, and you can choose to accept or decline it.

Please note that the inactivated vaccines used in Belgium to protect you against whooping cough are safe during pregnancy and have been used for many years.

The partner and all other adults in regular contact with the baby during the first 6 months of life should be vaccinated before the baby is born. The prescription for the partner can be requested from your primary care physician. The vaccine is reimbursed by your health insurance. For more information, you can consult your doctor, gynecologist, or midwife.

• Influenza: Influenza vaccination is recommended for all pregnant women, regardless of the stage of pregnancy. You are at risk of developing a severe form of influenza due to changes in your immune system, the increased workload on your heart, and reduced respiratory capacity. This risk is high during pregnancy and for two weeks after birth. Vaccination during pregnancy protects the baby against the disease for some time after birth. The inactivated vaccines used in Belgium to protect you against influenza are safe during pregnancy and have been used for many years.
• COVID-19: Vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended for all pregnant women. Please consult your gynecologist.