Prenatal Checkups and Fetal Screening

Prenatal Checkups

Regular checkups are important for ensuring that mothers and their babies remain in good health.

Week of pregnancy	Checkups	Tests	Other services
Early pregnancy(-7 weeks):	First visit and ultrasound	Cancer screening (optional)	Health guidance Nutritional guidance (when necessary)
7-10 weeks:	Ultrasound (confirming fetal heart rate and estimated date of delivery)	Blood test
10-13 weeks:	Ultrasound (reconfirming estimated date of delivery)
14-24 weeks:	Prenatal checkup and ultrasound (held once every four weeks but might vary by situation)	Around 20 weeks: Fetal screening
24-32 weeks:	Prenatal checkup and ultrasound (held around every three weeks but might vary by situation)	Around 26 weeks: GCT (glucose challenge test for pregnancy) and chlamydia test
32-36 weeks:	Prenatal checkup and ultrasound (around every two weeks and might vary by situation)	Around 32 weeks: Blood test
36 weeks-	Prenatal checkup, ultrasound and NST (nonstress test) (held weekly but might vary by situation)	Around 37 weeks: vaginal culture and blood test

When pregnancy is full of unknowns, you tend to become anxious.
We hand out a pamphlet to prenatal checkup visitors that summarizes the information you need to know during pregnancy so that you can feel at ease.

Urinalysis
We detect kidney disease and diabetes at an early stage through urine protein and glucose.
Blood pressure measurement
We detect pregnancy-induced hypertension at an early stage.
Ultrasound
We check fetal development, detect major abnormalities and check placental location disorders.
Nonstress test
We measure fetal heart rates and the uterine contraction curve to check the health condition of the fetus.
Maternal internal medicine screening
We screen for internal disorders affecting pregnant women.

Please contact us regardless of when your next checkup is if you ever notice abnormal symptoms such as your health condition being upset, sudden stomach pain, bleeding or water breakage.

Inquiries and Consultations

All visits to our clinic require a reservation. We accept reservations over the Internet or over the phone.

Reception Hours and Physician’s Schedules Reservations and Consultations

Fetal Screening (Fetal Diagnosis)

We perform fetal diagnosis (prenatal diagnosis) through chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis, ultrasound screening, and counseling.

We have mothers who receive a fetal diagnosis participate in genetic counseling.

The fetal diagnosis is made through tests for learning about fetal disorders in detail before your baby is born.

Receiving an unforeseen result might cause a greatly increased psychological burden. So, we recommend gaining an in-depth understanding of the tests prior to receiving the tests.

With our genetic counseling, we will inform you of the details in advance of tests, methods and expected options depending on the results . We will support you so you can select the testing that suits your aims and concerns and gain a clear view of the future.

Further, we will explain how to interpret the results obtained after the tests, provide support for possible mental health effects, and support you throughout the process that follows.

Use our genetic counseling services if you are at a loss about which tests you should choose or have concerns about taking a test.

Non-deterministic tests

These tests look into the likelihood that the fetus has a certain disorder.

NIPT (non-invasive prenatal genetic testing) (10-15 weeks)
Blood will be drawn from the mother for this test.
NT (Nuchal translucency) (11-13 weeks *12 weeks is the best timing)
We will perform this through an ultrasound.
A test combining NT and maternal serum markers (11-13 weeks of pregnancy *12 weeks is the best timing)
We will calculate the risk by looking at NT measurements through an ultrasound and serum markers of the mother.
Quad screen (around 15-18 weeks)
Substances in blood drawn from the mother will be measured.

Deterministic tests

These tests investigate whether there is an illness and provide and determine a diagnosis.

Chromosome tests
- Amniocentesis (16-19 weeks)
- Chorionic villus sampling (until around 11-14 weeks)
Fetal ultrasounds

Early pregnancy tests (10-16 weeks)

These tests investigate the likelihood that the baby has a certain disorder. Depending on the test results, we will consult with you about having a more detailed diagnosis performed for your baby.
These tests are optional. If you would like to request these tests or receive more detailed information, please request pre-diagnosis counseling.

Middle pregnancy tests (around 19-26 weeks): fetal ultrasound screening

We will test whether your baby has a disorder or not. We will also do a thorough investigation of your baby’s heart (fetal echocardiogram). These tests include 4D ultrasounds.

Late pregnancy tests (around 28-32 weeks): fetal ultrasound screening

We will do testing to check whether your baby has a disorder by looking mainly at the stage of its development and health condition.
These are tests that patients who undergo prenatal checkups at our clinic receive.

Deterministic tests

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) (from 11 weeks to under 14 weeks)
Amniocentesis (16-18 weeks)

For those who already had a fetal disorder identified in a screening at another clinic you are visiting
If it is difficult to determine a fetal disorder through an ultrasound

If the above applies, we will perform a thorough screening of your baby to give you a second opinion.

Fetal diagnoses for mothers who wish to give birth at our clinic

Only genetic counseling	10,000 yen
NIPT	125,000 yen
Fetal screening (includes NT measurement)	18,000 yen
Test combining NT and maternal serum markers	53,000 yen
Quad screening	35,000 yen
Middle pregnancy screening	20,000 yen
Chorionic villus sampling	205,000 yen
Amniocentesis	205,000 yen

Visits to our clinic require a reservation. Please contact us if you would like to make one.
The prices will differ if you plan to give birth at another clinic. Please consult with us separately regarding this.
Consult with us separately regarding a multiple pregnancy.
This service can also be provided to mothers who plan to give birth at our clinic upon request.
We accept cancellations up to one week in advance. Afterward, we charge a cancellation fee.

Inquiries and Consultations

All visits to our clinic require a reservation. We accept reservations over the Internet or over the phone.

Reception Hours and Physician’s Schedules Reservations and Consultations

Ultrasound Picture Diagnosis (3D/4D Echocardiography)

Our clinic uses high-precision equipment for ultrasound diagnosis that can provide 3D/4D echocardiography (3DE/4DE).
We have installed a display on a wall so you can see your baby in real-time.
After testing, we will make a printout of the baby’s image and hand it to you to commemorate the growth of your baby.

3DE and 4DE greatly change the way of seeing the baby depending on the fetal position and direction, amniotic fluid level and numerous other conditions. Please note that we are sometimes unable to provide a clear image.

Types of Vaccinations Offered

What is cervical cancer?

Generally, it is believed to be caused by an HPV (human papillomavirus) infection.

The HPV vaccine prevents infection with HPV, which causes cervical cancer, and it is extremely effective at preventing HPV infection. Countries with high vaccine rates have seen their numbers of HPV infections decline, and HPV vaccination is broadly practiced throughout the world.

Safety concerns following an HPV vaccine

Vaccination has been recommended and practiced in Japan since 2010. However, when the media reported that various symptoms occurred in women post-HPV vaccination, the proactive recommendation for the regular HPV vaccination was suspended in 2013 until appropriate information could be provided.

It became clear that cervical cancer rates among women in their twenties to forties increased in Japan, as did the mortality rate. This sparked reconsideration about the need for HPV vaccination.

In the investigation that followed, it was confirmed that there were no particular safety concerns about the HPV vaccine and determined that the effectiveness of vaccination clearly outweighed the risk including side effects. Ultimately, regular vaccinations have started to be practiced from April 1, 2022.

This vaccination is for	Girls aged 12-16 (equivalent to sixth grade in elementary school to first year in high school) Vaccination is not recommended for women of 46 years old or older
Cost of vaccination	Please consult with us about this

Inquiries and Consultations

All visits to our clinic require a reservation. We accept reservations over the Internet or over the phone.
It is also possible to receive a vaccination even if you are not currently a patient of our clinic.

Reception Hours and Physician’s Schedules Reservations and Consultations

Abrysvo® for intramuscular use is a vaccine for maternal immunization against RSV that went on sale across Japan on May 31, 2024. This vaccination is now available at our clinic.

What is RSV infection?

RSV is spread around the world, including Japan. RSV infection causes a respiratory illness. This virus is the main cause of respiratory illness due to infection in infants, and over half of babies catch it by the time they turn one, and nearly all of them are infected with RSV at least once before they turn two.

It causes a range of symptoms, from mild cold symptoms, such as fever and runny noses, to more severe pneumonia. It is said that around 70% of babies recover after a few days. Still, caution is required because around 30% of babies, especially those under six months of age, tend to develop bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and other serious conditions.

Prevention with the RSV infection vaccine

Abrysvo® for intramuscular use boosts maternal antibodies against RSV when pregnant women are vaccinated. This vaccine for maternal immunization prevents babies from getting sick from RSV infections because of the antibodies they receive through the placenta.

In clinical trials, the effectiveness of preventing infants up to 6 months of age from catching an illness through vaccinations for pregnant women has been reported to be around 50%. It was also reported that it is around 80% effective at preventing severe illness.

This vaccination is for	Pregnant women in their 24-36 weeks of pregnancy Vaccination is especially effective between 28 and 36 weeks. If you give birth within 14 days of vaccination, there might not be sufficient transfer of antibodies to your baby.
Number of shots and method of administration	One intramuscular injection
Cost of vaccination	33,000 yen (including tax)

Inquiries and Consultations

All visits to our clinic require a reservation. We accept reservations over the Internet or over the phone.
It is also possible to receive a vaccination even if you are not currently a patient of our clinic.

Reception Hours and Physician’s Schedules Reservations and Consultations