Making an appointment with your doctor when pregnant

If the test says you are pregnant, make an appointment with the doctor. Even if you have doubts about the test result, you can go to the doctor. If you are indeed pregnant, discuss with the doctor what you need now. You have at least 2 choices:

• You want to be pregnant and have a baby.

• You are unintentionally pregnant and want to stop the pregnancy.

You may not know what the best decision is. If you need more information or are unsure, you can consult with your doctor. If you are still not sure after the conversation, you can talk to your doctor again.

You can also make an anonymous appointment at a special clinic, if you do not want to consult your doctor. There you will first talk to a doctor who can help you make the right choice.

It is good to know that the GP doctor and the doctor at the clinic are not allowed to tell others your confidential information. This is called professional confidentiality.

If you choose to stop the pregnancy, make a plan for treatment. There are several options for stopping the pregnancy. Consult with the doctor about which option is best for your situation.

In the Netherlands, all of these options are legal and safe. The treatments also do not negatively affect you if you do want to get pregnant and have a baby at a later date.

Terminating your pregnancy is allowed until the fetus can survive outside the body. This means that an abortion is allowed until the 24th week of pregnancy. Terminating your pregnancy at a later time is only possible in case of very serious health problems.

If you decide you want to have a baby, the GP can support you and possibly your partner in finding a midwife. It is important to contact a midwife soon for proper care and guidance during pregnancy.