Public Health
Survey
Help us improve our Health Website
Take 2-3 minutes to tell us what you are looking for today.
Your feedback will help us improve our site.
No thanks
Take 2-3 minutes to tell us what you are looking for today.
Your feedback will help us improve our site.
No thanksPrenatal care is the care that you will receive by attending regular visits with your Health Care Provider during the 9 months of your pregnancy. Studies show that women who have regular prenatal care have healthier babies. Ideally, your first visit should be before 12 weeks of pregnancy. Regular prenatal check-ups allow your Health Care Provider to make sure you and your baby are healthy. It also provides an opportunity to address any important questions or concerns that you might have as well as a chance to get to know your Health Care Provider better.
Your first prenatal visit will be more in depth and will typically last longer than the rest of the visits. Your Health Care Provider will take this time to find out more about your medical history. He/she may also conduct a complete check-up of your whole body, including height, weight and blood pressure, as well as an internal exam of your reproductive organs. Your Health Care Provider will also request a variety of blood and/or urine tests including a pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy. He/she will also determine your estimated due date which is usually done by calculating from the first day of your last menstrual period.
You will have a blood sample taken to test for:
Hemoglobin: This blood test makes sure your blood is able to carry enough iron and oxygen.
Blood Group and Antibody Screen: This blood test checks to see what type of blood you have and the Rh factor (either positive or negative). If a pregnant woman has Rh negative blood (i.e., A - or B -), she will be given an injection of RhoGAM around the 28th week of pregnancy. She will also receive an injection after any vaginal bleeding, after an amniocentesis, and after delivery.
Rubella: This blood test checks to see if you have immunity to Rubella (German Measles).
Hepatitis B: This blood test checks to see if you have been exposed to Hepatitis B. This viral infection can be passed on to your baby during childbirth or while breastfeeding. By finding out if you are a Hepatitis B carrier, treatment can be provided to reduce the likelihood of transmitting the virus to the baby.
VDRL: This blood test screens for the possible exposure to Syphilis, a sexually transmitted infection (STI). A pregnant woman with untreated syphilis can transmit it to her baby. Babies are at risk for serious health problems, including brain damage and blindness.
HIV Test: This blood test checks for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Pregnant women can pass the HIV virus to their unborn child. There is now treatment to help prevent this from happening. Newborns may also be exposed to the HIV virus through breast milk. For more information about HIV testing and pregnancy, visit: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/aids/prenatalhiv.html
Other tests completed are:
Urine Test: This test checks the sugar and protein levels in your urine and to see if you have a urinary tract infection (UTI). Your Health Care Provider will ask to check your urine at each prenatal visit. If you are experiencing burning or have to urinate more often, make sure you tell your Health Care Provider as soon as possible. UTI's have been linked to an increased risk of premature labour.
Ultrasound: This test captures a picture of your baby on a computer screen, using sound waves. Ultrasound is often used to see the baby's position and how well it is growing, to discover where the placenta is attached to the uterus, to count the fetal heart rate, to see how many babies there are, and to check for some abnormalities. Ultrasound is also used to confirm your baby's due date. Ultrasound should only be used for medical purposes.
Read more.
Pap Test: Pap tests check for cancer of the cervix or conditions that could lead to cancer. Pap tests may be done on your first prenatal visit.
Cervical Swabs for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's): Swabs which look like long Q-tips, are used to check for STI's such as Chlamydia and Gonorrhea. This test may be done on your first prenatal visit. If STI's are left untreated, these infections may cause premature birth, or complications in the baby.
Integrated Prenatal Screening (IPS): IPS is not a routine test, but is available to pregnant women. This test involves using two blood tests and an ultrasound to assess the likelihood of the baby having Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18, or Spina Bifida. The ultrasound and first blood test must be done between 11 and 13 weeks of pregnancy. The second blood test must be done between 15-20 weeks. This test will only tell you if the chance of your baby being born with any of these problems is higher than average. Based on the test results, your Health Care Provider may advise further testing.
Maternal Serum Screening (MSS/Triple Screen): MSS is not a routine test either, but is also available as an option to all pregnant women in Ontario. MSS only involves one blood test that is done between 15 and 17 weeks of pregnancy. MSS is another screening test which can also assess the likelihood of a having a child born with Down Syndrome or Spina Bifida. Be sure to discuss the pros and cons of this test with your Health Care Provider. Based on the test results, your Health Care Provider may advise further testing.
Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS): This test is not used for all women. If required, it is performed when you are between 9-11 weeks pregnant. A needle is inserted into the uterus, either through the opening of the uterus (cervix) or through the abdomen. Small samples of cells (chorionic villi) are taken from the placenta. The results may take up to 3 weeks. It is highly accurate (99%) in ruling out some genetic disorders and chromosomal abnormalities.
Amniocentesis: This test is also not done on all women. This test is usually done between the 15th and 16th week of pregnancy. A needle is inserted into the uterus through the abdomen. Ultrasound is used to guide the procedure. A sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby is taken for testing. Amniocentesis tests for birth defects and certain other conditions. Amniocentesis carries the risk of losing the pregnancy of about 1:200 or 0.5% and it has a 99.4-100% accuracy rate for detecting chromosomal defects.
Group B Streptococcus (GBS): Between 35-37 weeks of pregnancy some Health Care Providers may test for bacteria known as Group B Streptococcus (GBS). The test is done by a culture (a Q-tip like swab of the vagina and/or rectum). These bacteria are usually found in the vagina and/or rectum and can infect your bladder, kidneys or uterus. Infections from GBS are usually not serious for a woman and are readily treated with antibiotics. However, when a woman becomes pregnant, the whole outlook changes. Expectant mothers who test positive for GBS bacteria will be treated with antibiotics when they go into labour. This is because the GBS infection can cause serious problems for the baby. After your baby is born, he/she will be monitored closely for signs of infection from GBS.
