Prenatal screening

The Health Council of the Netherlands recommends offering pregnant women an ultrasound as early as week 13 of pregnancy as a part of the programme for prenatal screening. Many abnormalities that are currently detected during the ultrasound at week 20 of pregnancy could in fact be detected earlier. The benefits and possible harms of an early ultrasound do still need to be evaluated, as well as the way women experience it. That is the Health Council’s advice for the minister of Health, Welfare and Sport.