Your Pregnancy: Important Topics

Are you giving birth soon? You may be happy or having mixed feelings about your pregnancy. Whichever the case, you will likely have some questions or concerns during this time.

The health of you and your baby is important. With the right information, you will be able to make better decisions and healthier choices.

Your Pregnancy: Important Topics is adapted from the previous resource, Your Pregnancy Month by Month and will help you answer questions about different topics or concerns you may have during pregnancy. The information contained in this resource is evidence-based and has been thoroughly reviewed. However, this information does not replace the advice of a healthcare provider.

Information is provided on a variety of topics, which are listed on the left portion of this web page. Click on each topic to learn more. You will also find a pdf link to more information under each topic.

For a list of references used in developing this resource, click here.

My Saskatchewan Pregnancy

My Saskatchewan Pregnancy is a free, evidence-based app for pregnant people living in Saskatchewan. The app includes daily health messages, tracking for different aspects of pregnancy (weight gain, blood pressure, mental health), a GPS-enabled map to access local resources, information on breastfeeding, videos, and more.

My Saskatchewan Pregnancy app is available for download on the App Store and the Google Play Store.

For more information, visit: www.skprevention.ca/my-saskatchewan-pregnancy/.

Pregnancy Timeline

You will be pregnant for 9 months. The length of your pregnancy is divided into three parts. Each part is called a trimester. Each trimester is approximately 13 weeks long. The graphic below shows key milestones in pregnancy and when important prenatal tests are recommended.

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1

Group B Streptococcus Test:

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a common bacteria. It can be found in your vagina or rectum. You can have GBS without having any symptoms. GBS can cause serious problems for your baby. If you have GBS, it will be recommended that you be given antibiotics during your labour. This will help prevent your baby from getting infected. Click here for more information on GBS.

2

Rh Immuno-globin Injection:

The Rh factor is a protein found on red blood cells. People are born with or without it. Your healthcare provider will take a blood sample. This will test for the Rh factor in you and your baby. If you do not have the Rh factor but your baby does, your body will not recognize the Rh factor. Your body will think your baby’s Rh factor is foreign and will attack it. To stop this from happening, you will be given an injection at about 28 weeks. This will stop your body from attacking your baby’s Rh factor. You will also receive an injection after you deliver your baby.

3

Nuchal Translucency Test:

This test is done by an ultrasound scan. It shows how large a chance there is of your baby having Down syndrome. Fetuses with Down syndrome may have more nuchal fluid than normal (collection of fluid under the skin of your baby’s neck).

4

Maternal Serum Screening:

This is a blood test. It shows the chance of your baby having certain congenital anomalies (birth defects). Talk to your healthcare provider if you would like the test. Click here for more information about the Maternal Serum Screening Test.

5

Blood Glucose Screening Test:

This is a blood test to check the amount of glucose (sugar) you have in your blood. If you have a high amount of glucose, you may have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that happens to some women during pregnancy. Click here for more information about glucose testing.

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Pertussis Vaccine:

The Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis) vaccine protects against pertussis, also known as whooping cough. The vaccine is safe during pregnancy. After receiving a vaccination, you produce antibodies that are passed to your unborn baby who can’t make his own antibodies. An additional vaccine may be recommended for women who have already been vaccinated against pertussis, but are now pregnant. This is especially important when there is a local pertussis outbreak.

1
2
3
4
5
6
1

Group B Streptococcus Test:

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a common bacteria. It can be found in your vagina or rectum. You can have GBS without having any symptoms. GBS can cause serious problems for your baby. If you have GBS, it will be recommended that you be given antibiotics during your labour. This will help prevent your baby from getting infected. Click here for more information on GBS.

2

Rh Immuno-globin Injection:

The Rh factor is a protein found on red blood cells. People are born with or without it. Your healthcare provider will take a blood sample. This will test for the Rh factor in you and your baby. If you do not have the Rh factor but your baby does, your body will not recognize the Rh factor. Your body will think your baby’s Rh factor is foreign and will attack it. To stop this from happening, you will be given an injection at about 28 weeks. This will stop your body from attacking your baby’s Rh factor. You will also receive an injection after you deliver your baby.

3

Nuchal Translucency Test:

This test is done by an ultrasound scan. It shows how large a chance there is of your baby having Down syndrome. Fetuses with Down syndrome may have more nuchal fluid than normal (collection of fluid under the skin of your baby’s neck).

4

Maternal Serum Screening:

This is a blood test. It shows the chance of your baby having certain congenital anomalies (birth defects). Talk to your healthcare provider if you would like the test. Click here for more information about the Maternal Serum Screening Test.

5

Blood Glucose Screening Test:

This is a blood test to check the amount of glucose (sugar) you have in your blood. If you have a high amount of glucose, you may have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that happens to some women during pregnancy. Click here for more information about glucose testing.

6

Pertussis Vaccine:

The Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis) vaccine protects against pertussis, also known as whooping cough. The vaccine is safe during pregnancy. After receiving a vaccination, you produce antibodies that are passed to your unborn baby who can’t make his own antibodies. An additional vaccine may be recommended for women who have already been vaccinated against pertussis, but are now pregnant. This is especially important when there is a local pertussis outbreak.

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