Prenatal Care and Ultrasounds
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Transcript of Prenatal Care and Ultrasounds
Who Provides Prenatal Care?Family DoctorObstetricianMidwife
Midwife vs. DoctorThings to consider:
Do you have a serious chronic medical condition
Do you have someone you already see you likeHow important to you is a more individual, less
routine approachWhere do you want to deliver
Do you have a serious chronic medical condition?High blood pressure, epilepsy, heart diease
ro diabetes High RiskPrevious pregnancy complications High
RiskTwins/ multiples High Risk
If you are any of the high risk you must see an obstetrician
Sometimes you can have both if they are willing to work together
How important to you is a more individual, less routine approach
Midwives take a holistic approachMidwives have more time to answer your
questionsCan help with birth plan and drug choicesInterview or look at both options before
making final choice
Where to deliver?Hospital: midwife or doctor
Epidural optionBirthing Centers: natural birth plans where
many people can be presentHome birth: midwife
Care ProvidersDepends on where you goYou may have the same midwife all the time
or be shared by a number of midwives You may have your family doctor up until
your third trimester and then be transferred to OB-GYN for the final weeks and delivery
May not deliver your baby as it depends on who is “on call”
What’s the popular choiceObstetricians are still the most common choice
in Canada and the USA.
Where do I go for prenatal Check-ups?Doctor’s office or clinicOnly need to go to hospital for ultrasounds
and special testsThese are sometimes done in clinics as well
First Prenatal AppointmentUsually around 8-12 weeks pregnantLots of questions to answer during this time
Date of last period: estimate due datePrevious miscarriages, abortions and birthsFamily history of disease/genetic conditionsYour lifestyle : alcohol consumption, smoke,
dietaryBirth options: where you want to have your
baby
First Prenatal VisitTake Blood PressureWeight Urine test for protein to check for Pre-
eclempsiaPre-eclampsia: high blood pressure, sudden
swelling Reduced blood to placenta Can be dangerous for both baby and mother
How often will are prenatal appointments?After Initial visit:
Every 4-6 weeks up to 30 weeks pregnantEvery 2-3 weeks after 30 weeksEvery 1-2 weeks after 36 weeks till labour
What happens during those other appointmentsMeasure the baby: done by feel of the
abdomen to see if growing properlyAfter 20 weeks they will measure belly with a
tape measure (pelvic bone to top of abdomen)Measure in cm which would be similar to
weeks of pregnancyBlood testsScreening testsDiagnostic testsUltrasounds
Ultrasounds
Done by ultrasound technicians and radiologist reads it
What is an ultrasound?High frequency sound waves through uterusBounce off the baby and return sounds that
show up as imagesShow shades of white, grey and black
White: hard tissues such as boneGrey: soft tissuesBlack: fluids
Why use an ultrasound?Check baby heartbeatMultiplesEctoptic pregnancyCause of any bleedingAccurately check due dateTest for issuesOrgan developmentAmount of amniotic fluid and placentaRate of growthSex of baby
Determining Sex of BabyFrom 18 weeks onNot always possible based on baby positionNot always 100 percent certain
When are they normally done?Weeks 10-13 to confirm datesWeeks 18-20 for development and sexAny pain or bleedingGrowth concerns during weeks 28-40Multiples during weeks 28-40
Other ultrasound infoMust have full bladder to push uterus outSometimes down vaginally In Ontario you are covered by OHIP for any
ultrasounds your doctor/ midwife prescribes These ultrasounds are 2D
What is a 3D and 4D ultrasoundHigher quality imagingCan be expensiveExample:
Complete 4D package $175 (approx. 30 minutes)
Just Gender $ 99
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