Pregnancy is a special time in the life of a woman, and a couple. Pregnancy, which lasts nine months, or 40 weeks, is associated with many physical changes. Many questions arise. You get to know yourself in a new way.

We are happy to be at your side during this time. In the case of an uncomplicated pregnancy without risk factors, the planned check-ups take place at four-week intervals up to the 30th week of pregnancy. From the 30th week of pregnancy, more frequent checks every 2 weeks are recommended.

Your partner is of course welcome to the preventive examinations.

We provide you with comprehensive advice on nutrition, prenatal diagnostics, vaccinations during pregnancy, measures against nausea, heartburn, etc.

Together we will decide the place of birth and register you for the birth at the hospital of your choice. If you have private/semi-private insurance and would like to go to the Bethanien Hospital, Klinik im Park or Hirslanden, then we would be happy to provide you with competent attending physicians who will look after you for the birth.

We would also be happy to advise you on recommended vaccinations, folic acid prophylaxis and examinations before a planned pregnancy.

In Switzerland, two screening ultrasound examinations are generally recommended for all pregnant women and paid for by the health insurance company. These take place between the 11th and 14th weeks of pregnancy and again between the 20th and 22nd weeks of pregnancy. Additional examinations are only necessary for medical reasons or as part of the care of high-risk pregnancies.

We offer both of these screening examinations in our Practice. It is important for you as an expectant parent to know that all examinations are an offer or recommended, and that you can choose your own path at any time and have a “right not to know”. Ideally, you should consider early in your pregnancy the extent to which you would like to carry out prenatal diagnostic tests and what any abnormal results would mean for you personally. There is a wide range of considerations here that are shaped by your personal experiences and that only you can decide for yourself.

However, we are happy to support you if you have any questions, or in the event of any abnormalities, to refer you to experienced colleagues in prenatal diagnostics and/or genetics. It is also important to know that there is no guarantee that the child will be healthy, despite carefully carried out examinations, a malformation may only become apparent after birth.

First trimester test/ETT 
This is offered as part of the 1st trimester screening, and is part of the preventive examinations (covered by the health insurance company) and is primarily used to rule out the 3 most common chromosomal abnormalities: trisomy 13, 18 and 21. The ETT is a risk calculation: If the risk is increased (<1:1000), further, initially non-invasive diagnostics are offered (NIPT). If the risk is not significant (>1:1000), no further examinations will normally be carried out unless you request this. Further examinations will then be carried out at your expense.

The following values are included in the risk calculation of the ETT:
– age of the mother
– width of the nuchal fold
– two values that are determined from the mother’s blood: PAPP-A and free beta-HCG

NIPT = Non Invasive Prenatal Test 

Cell-free DNA from mother and child is examined in the mother’s blood. This means that the most common chromosomal disorders (trisomy 21, 18 and 13) can be ruled out with a very high degree of probability. NIPT is only recommended if there are abnormal ETT results. However, it can also be carried out on request. Please note
that a positive test result must always be confirmed by invasive diagnostics, as false positive results can occur in rare cases.

Ultrasound screening 2nd trimester (20th-22nd week of pregnancy) “organ screening”
– detection of malformations and fetal growth monitoring. If desired, the gender of the child can be communicated to you.
– Position of the placenta and, if necessary, Doppler ultrasonography to measure blood flow
– Measurement of the cervix length (= length of the cervix)

Procedere following an abnormality in the Ultrasound 
If an abnormality is discovered during the ultrasound, we will discuss together how to proceed. In order to assess this in further detail, we would refer you to an ultrasound expert in accordance with the four-eye principle. If necessary, you will be offered further invasive inverventions: this could be, for example, an amniocentesis (examination of the amniotic fluid in the womb) or chorionic villus sampling (biopsy of the placenta).

Certain diseases can be treated in utero. Others, if already known about during the pregnancy, mean you can plan the birth in advance (e.g. if paediatric care is necessary immediately after the birth) as well as any other necessary interventions after the birth, and be prepared for it. If there is evidence of a serious, incurable problem in the child, the question may also arise as to whether you want to continue with the pregnancy. In this case, we will also look after you together with colleagues who specialise in this area and support you in your decision.