A structural ultrasound examination (SUE) is used to determine if your unborn child exhibits any physical abnormalities. The second-trimester SUE (20-week ultrasound) can be performed between the first day of your eighteenth week and the first day of your twentieth week of pregnancy. The optimal time to perform the exam is between the first day of your nineteenth week and the first day of your twentieth week of pregnancy.
Scheduling an appointment by telephone
It is not possible to schedule an appointment for this examination via the client portal, because we have a few questions we want to discuss with you personally. To schedule an appointment, please call us at: 088 - 21 41 149.
You can bring one other person (e.g. your partner) to the 20-week ultrasound. Unfortunately, children cannot be present for the exam.
Why do I need this exam?
We will assess the ultrasound to look for any physical abnormalities in your unborn child. We follow a protocol to take a close look at the development of your child's internal organs. Although the goal of the 20-week ultrasound is not to determine the sex of your baby, it can be visible from the eighteenth week of pregnancy.
What will we do?
For this ultrasound exam, you must lie down on an examination table with an exposed abdomen. The sonographer will place a transducer - a device that transmits and receives ultrasonic sound waves - on your abdomen. The reflected sound waves are translated into images that are shown directly on the monitor. To improve the conductivity of the sound waves, a gel is applied to your abdomen. Scientific research has shown that an ultrasound examination is harmless to yourself and your unborn child. Likewise, the exam is painless. All you will feel is the sensation of the transducer being moved across your abdomen.
In some cases, it will be necessary to perform the exam internally. This is done using a special vaginal transducer. If you require an internal ultrasound examination, we will discuss this with you beforehand.
Duration of the exam
The 20-week ultrasound will take circa 30-40 minutes.
The results
The sonographer can immediately give you the results of the examination. Sometimes, they may first want to confer with the supervising gynaecologist. In that case, you will receive the results later. We will forward the results to your general practitioner, physician or obstetrician. Schedule an appointment with your general practitioner or obstetrician to discuss your results.
Would you like to know more?
Visit the website of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) for more information about the 20-week ultrasound. This website also contains the most recent booklets with detailed information about the various pre- and neonatal screenings available.
