Prenatal care services are an important part of your pregnancy journey; regular monitoring of you and your baby helps to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. In addition to monitoring your and your baby’s growth, medical professionals will be able to watch out for potential issues, answers your questions, and offer information on community services and postnatal care.
First Appointment
Your first prenatal care in Calgary appointment typically takes pace between 8 and 12 weeks. During this initial visit you will be asked about your medical history, any existing conditions, and will be given a physical exam including taking your weight, blood pressure, and providing a urine sample. You will also be given a requisition for your first round of blood tests.
After your first appointment you will meet with your prenatal care services providers every 4 weeks up until your 28th week. During these regular appointments your weight, blood pressure, and urine will continue to be checked. In addition, your baby’s heartbeat and size will be measured. Prenatal appointments are not only important for monitoring your health, they are a great way to begin bonding with your baby as you both continue to grow together.
Some of your regular appointments will also include additional tests and ultrasounds. A first dating ultrasound is usually scheduled during your first trimester, at between 8 and 14 weeks. This ultrasound will give a more accurate indication of how far along you are in your pregnancy and help estimate a due date. It will also allow show whether there is one, or multiple babies.
During your second trimester, typically between weeks 18 -22, there will be a second more detailed ultrasound scheduled. This ultrasound examines the baby’s anatomy in more detail, checks the placenta and amniotic fluid, and looks for any potential birth defects. If the baby is in a position where its genitalia are clearly visible, it is also possible to learn the gender during this appointment, if you wish to know.
At the start of your second trimester, you will also be sent for additional blood tests. These tests, combined with your second ultrasound, help screen for potential birth defects, such as Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13, and open neural tube defects.
During your 3rd trimester, usually around 24 weeks, you will also be given the infamous glucose test to check for gestational diabetes. This test involves consuming a high sugar beverage and waiting an hour so that your body’s response to sugar can be evaluated.
Prenatal care services are covered through the Alberta Health Care Insurance plan and are available through your family doctor, midwife, or prenatal care clinic in Calgary, and the choice of where to receive prenatal care in Calgary is up to the individual patient.