Prenatal Medicine Düsseldorf-Golzheim

Services Prenatal medicine

In our practice for prenatal medicine in Düsseldorf-Golzheim, we offer you comprehensive, sensitive and highly specialised care for the health of mother and child during pregnancy - from careful diagnostics to comprehensive advice and individual treatment. With our many years of experience, modern technology and high level of medical expertise, we create security and trust in every phase of pregnancy.

We also discuss complex issues relating to your pregnancy together with our colleagues from paediatrics, human genetics and psychosocial counselling. We coordinate closely with your gynaecologist in order to ensure the best possible treatment for you.

First trimester-Diagnostics

First trimester diagnostics centres on early detailed diagnostics to examine the organs and measure nuchal translucency. During a first trimester screening, blood can also be taken to calculate the risk of possible chromosomal disorders in your unborn child.

These blood values can also be used to carry out an examination for the early detection of Pre-eclampsia can be carried out. The ideal time for this examination is towards the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, i.e. between weeks 11+0 and 13+6. In most cases, the ultrasound can already be performed via the abdominal wall, as your child is already between five and eight centimetres long at this point.

First trimester screening is not part of the regular maternity screening programme. The costs for the counselling and the corresponding examinations are therefore not covered by the statutory health insurance companies, as it is a individual health service (IGeL).

Prenatal Medicine Düsseldorf-Golzheim
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Prenatal Medicine Düsseldorf-Golzheim
Book an appointment online

Pre-eclampsia-Screening

In addition to the early Ultrasound fine diagnostics a risk calculation for a Pre-eclampsia („pregnancy poisoning“). This is a pregnancy-related condition that can be associated with maternal high blood pressure (usually after the 20th week of pregnancy), increased protein excretion in the urine and growth disorders in the unborn child. Although pre-eclampsia only occurs in 2 % of all pregnancies, there are influencing factors that increase the risk. These include

  • Overweight (BMI value > 35)
  • High blood pressure
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Kidney diseases
  • late pregnancy (40+)
  • Pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy or in the family
  • Artificial insemination

Around 90% of cases of early pre-eclampsia can be predicted by analysing the risk. To do this, the pregnant woman's blood pressure is measured and the blood flow in the uterine arteries is examined using colour Doppler sonography. In addition, two proteins from the mother's blood are analysed in a laboratory test. If the values are abnormal, this may be an indication of pre-eclampsia.

If there is an increased risk of pre-eclampsia in the expectant mother, close monitoring of the pregnancy and, if necessary, drug therapy can be initiated at an early stage. By taking low-dose aspirin® two thirds of (otherwise) severe pre-eclampsia can be prevented.

NIPT

The non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT) can be used to determine the presence of certain chromosomal disorders in the unborn child from a blood sample taken from the expectant mother. These include

The ideal time for this test is the 12th-13th week of pregnancy, although the early Ultrasound diagnostics is carried out. On the one hand, the higher proportion of cell-free DNA in the mother's blood is more informative, and on the other hand, many possible developmental disorders can already be ruled out during the early ultrasound examination.

How does the test work?

A pregnant woman's blood plasma contains fragments of her own genetic material (DNA) as well as small amounts of small DNA fragments from the unborn child. This cell-free DNA comes from the placenta and is continuously released into the mother's bloodstream. The cell-free DNA can be analysed using modern laboratory techniques. This provides indications of surplus or missing chromosome material. NIPT tests detect trisomy 21 with 99 per cent certainty.

Important:

The result of the test is not yet a definitive diagnosis. In order to really rule out a chromosomal disorder, the foetal cells should be analysed using amniocentesis.

Prenatal Medicine Düsseldorf-Golzheim
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Prenatal Medicine Düsseldorf
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Ultrasound fine diagnostics

Fine ultrasound diagnostics can be carried out between the 20th and 22nd week of pregnancy. This examination is significantly more extensive than the extended basic screening as part of regular prenatal care for normal pregnancies (please also read the Maternity guidelines). As part of the detailed diagnostics, all organs and features of the unborn child that can be visualised, the growth of the child and the blood flow behaviour in the vessels of the uterus are examined. An important and extensive part is the diagnosis of the foetal heart (foetal echocardiography).

Performing fine diagnostics requires great expertise on the part of the examining doctor and a high standard of equipment. Depending on the examination conditions, the examination takes around 30-40 minutes. If there are any abnormalities, measures can be initiated at an early stage to ensure optimum preparation and care for the child and the mother. Targeted monitoring of the pregnancy, prenatal consultations or delivery in a special centre can help to protect the health of mother and child in the best possible way.

But the same applies here: Ultrasound alone can never detect all physical illnesses or chromosomal abnormalities 100 per cent. In the event of abnormalities, we are happy to Further investigations through.

Growth and Doppler controls

The Doppler examination makes it possible to better assess abnormalities during pregnancy and to monitor the health of the mother and child as the pregnancy progresses. A Doppler examination is carried out to assess the blood flow in the uterus, the function of the placenta (placenta), the growth of the child and the baby's circulatory condition.

Reasons that make such an examination necessary or useful are, for example, irregularities in the growth of the child or in the amount of amniotic fluid. Pregnancy should also be monitored with Doppler examinations in the case of certain maternal illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus or a coagulation disorder. Maternal infections (e.g. Cytomegaly or rubella), blood group incompatibilities, malformations of the child or developmental disorders in a previous pregnancy can be further reasons for a Doppler examination.

Prenatal Medicine Düsseldorf
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Prenatal Medicine Düsseldorf-Golzheim

Diagnostic Punctures

Diagnostic punctures are used to obtain foetal or placental cells. These are removed using a fine needle under constant ultrasound guidance. The punctures are always used if abnormalities are found in the ultrasound or NIPT. Familial inherited diseases are also a possible indication.

The material taken can be analysed in the laboratory under a microscope or using molecular genetic methods. Chorionic villus sampling (puncture of the placenta) can be carried out from the 12th week of pregnancy and amniocentesis (examination of the amniotic fluid) from the 16th week of pregnancy.

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Customised Health services

Individualised health services (IGeL) supplement the regular prenatal screening examinations and enable further, differentiated clarification. These examinations are carried out at the request of the parents-to-be and go beyond the catalogue of services covered by statutory health insurance.

As these are self-pay services, the costs are not covered by the statutory health insurance companies and are billed privately according to the applicable scale of fees for doctors (GOÄ). Of course, we will advise you in detail and transparently in advance on the content, benefits and costs of the respective examination.

Our services

• Consultation and early organ diagnostics (plus laboratory costs if applicable) - € 240.00
• Fine diagnostics with colour-coded echocardiography (from 18+0th week of pregnancy) - € 265.03
• Growth monitoring and Doppler ultrasound (27th - 40th week of pregnancy) - € 189.98
• Consultation and early organ diagnostics for twins (11+0.-13+6th week of pregnancy) - € 340.52
• Precision diagnostics with colour-coded echocardiography for twins (from 18+0 weeks gestation) - € 399.52
• Growth monitoring and Doppler ultrasound in twins (27-40 weeks gestation) - € 307.76
Prenatal Medicine Düsseldorf-Golzheim
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If you are interested in one of these lines or require further information, please contact us and make an appointment at our practice.