Pregnancy is a journey filled with anticipation, milestones, and quiet moments that often feel bigger than they seem. This is my personal account of how my appointments, scans, and tests unfolded in the Netherlands: from the first midwife visit to late-pregnancy growth scans, written while the memories are still fresh in my mind.
One of the first steps was finding a midwife service near us. I compared the distance from home and Google ratings before choosing Verloskundigenpraktijk Haarlemmermeer & Bollenstreek. We also registered on zwangerenportaal.nl, which created an integrated file for my pregnancy, storing all appointment details, scans, and checkups in one place. Having everything in one organised system made me feel more prepared, even in those early, uncertain weeks.
Before pregnancy, we didn’t have a GP because most practices were full or only accepted Dutch-speaking patients. At our first midwife appointment, she suggested two practices that were newer and might have openings. Thanks to her guidance, we were finally able to register with a GP, which made future healthcare access much easier.
My first midwife appointment happened at 6+3 weeks, so there was a 1–2 week wait after finding out I was pregnant, which was unnerving, especially since in India, I would have contacted a gynaecologist immediately. During the visit, we shared our family medical history: Rishi had a hole in his heart at birth, which healed naturally without surgery, and I have a family history of diabetes. The midwife noted everything carefully and explained the next steps, making me feel reassured even though I was still adjusting to the slower pace of care here.
Because I am underweight, the midwife recommended iron and diabetes tests. I didn’t develop gestational diabetes, but my iron level was low, so I had to take supplements and get tested every few weeks, with prescriptions provided for the following appointments. Although it felt a bit like extra attention at first, this careful monitoring gave me confidence that everything was being handled thoughtfully.
In the second trimester, the midwife suggested we see a dietitian due to my being underweight. We attended three appointments, but most of the advice overlapped with what we were already doing. Since the midwife didn’t send a referral directly, the sessions weren’t covered by insurance, making them unexpectedly costly. After realising this, we cancelled the remaining follow-ups, but the first session did provide a diet chart adapted to Indian tastes.
Our first ultrasound at 8+4 weeks finally made everything feel real — seeing the tiny heartbeat sank in that I was truly pregnant. At 10+6 weeks, the midwife measured the baby’s size. The 13-week scan was longer and more detailed, checking all external growth—hands, legs, and other limbs—to ensure everything was present and developing properly. Each scan brought both relief and amazement, reminding me how quickly things were progressing.
Around this time, my first-trimester symptoms intensified. I struggled with nausea and couldn’t tolerate the smell of food. Rishi took over all the cooking while I hid on another floor under a blanket, eating cold food to avoid vomiting. Living on air fresheners became my strategy to survive, and thankfully, I only vomited 10–12 times during the entire pregnancy. My symptoms gradually eased by week 18, giving me a sense of relief and normalcy for the first time in months.
At 19 weeks, a routine midwife scan was scheduled, but because of Rishi’s hole in his heart at birth, we were referred to Amsterdam UMC for extra care. The scan checked all the baby’s organs to ensure they were developing properly. The detailed examination and the extra attention were reassuring, and we finally asked about the baby’s gender. They gave us an envelope with the ultrasound picture and the gender inside, which we kept for our gender reveal celebration later — a small moment of excitement amid the structured medical process.
At 31+4 weeks, a routine growth scan showed our baby’s weight was slightly below expectation. This led to a referral to Spaarne Gasthuis, and our care transitioned from the midwife to a gynaecologist. From then on, I had weekly scans to monitor blood flow in the baby’s head and umbilical cord. While it was more intensive than earlier appointments, it reassured me that both the baby and I were being carefully monitored as we approached the final weeks.
Toward the end of the pregnancy, we also attended a birthing class conducted by our midwife and filled out a birth plan form. It was my first real taste of planning for the day our baby would arrive, and it helped me feel slightly more in control while still leaving room for the unexpected. These small preparations were a gentle bridge from routine scans to the anticipation of birth itself.
Documenting each scan, test, and appointment reminds me how quickly pregnancy passes and how every detail matters. These moments captured not only my baby’s growth but also my own journey into motherhood — the patience, trust, and wonder that shaped the first chapters of our story together.
