Prenatal Care
Obtaining regular prenatal care is a vital component of ensuring a healthy pregnancy. As soon as you think you are pregnant you should schedule an appointment with your family doctor. A variety of professionals including family physicians, midwives, and obstetricians can deliver your baby. The frequency of prenatal visits typically increases as the pregnancy progresses, with the general schedule being: - Every four weeks up until around the 30th week of pregnancy, - Every two weeks from the 32nd to the 36th week, - And weekly from the 37th week until delivery.
What happens at my medical appointments in pregnancy?
Here's a brief summary of what prenatal care can look like from the time you found out you were pregnant to the time you deliver.
1
Initial Prenatal Visit
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The initial prenatal appointment is often the most comprehensive, providing an excellent opportunity to address any pregnancy-related concerns.
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During this visit, the healthcare provider will review your medical history, past pregnancies and childbirths, the start date of your last menstrual cycle, vaccination records, and general health condition.
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A wide variety of tests will be organized for you including bloodwork and an ultrasound.
2
Early Pregnancy (0-14 weeks)
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Early pregnancy visits are usually the longest. Your healthcare provider will record a detailed physical history, perform a physical examination and encourage you to take prenatal supplements such as folic acid and iron or even a baby aspirin or two depending on your individual risk.
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You'll get all your questions answered about what is and isn't safe in pregnancy.
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Your doctor will organize: Bloodwork, a dating ultrasound, genetic testing including a repeat ultrasound to check baby's neck, a detailed physical exam possibly including a pap test.
3
Second Trimester (15-28 weeks)
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During the second trimester your care usually moves from your family doctor to one of the qualified professionals who can deliver your baby in Ontario. This could be a Family Physician-Obstetrical provider or FM-OB (Family doctor with more training in obstetrics), a midwife, or an Obstetrician.
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Trafalgar Medical Clinic is privileged to have 3 FM-OB providers
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Tests during this trimester include genetic screening (if you missed the window before 14 weeks), repeat blood markers, testing for sugars/diabetes in pregnancy and a detailed anatomy ultrasound to check baby's development.
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You will also discuss vaccines in pregnancy and likely your provider will recommend a flu shot and whooping cough vaccine to protect baby in the first few months after birth.
4
Third Trimester (28-40+ weeks)
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In the third trimester visits get closer together. You'll start seeing your provider every 2 weeks instead of every 4.
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You will have another set of blood tests between 24-28 weeks to check your prenatal wellbeing as well as a test for your sugar to assess for gestational diabetes.
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You may have a repeat ultrasound to assess baby's growth or position depending on your clinical exam.
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You may get a shot called Rhogam depending on your blood type to protect your baby at delivery.
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After 36 weeks you will see your provider weekly until you delivery.
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You will get a swab done to test for a bacteria that lives in the vagina to make sure we can protect baby against infections at the time of delivery
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If you go past your due-date your provider will talk to you about options to help your baby be born and/or tests to check on babys' wellbeing.
5
Exams/Tests done at every visit
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Checking your weight
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Checking your blood pressure and heart-rate
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Listening to baby's heartbeat (usually after 14 weeks)
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Measuring the size of your uterus (usually after 20 weeks)
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Checking baby's position by touching your belly (usually after 35 weeks)