Your pregnancy care

Ultrasound Scans

Dating scan: An ultrasound is usually done early in pregnancy and arranged by your doctor/GP to determine your ‘due date’ or as part of Down Syndrome screening.

Morphology Ultrasound Scan: this scan is performed between 19 to 21 weeks to check for abnormalities, but there are abnormalities that cannot be detected by this scan. It will not harm your baby or increase risk of miscarriage and you get to see your baby on the screen. The scan may identify the sex of your baby, depending on the position you baby is in during the scan. There may also be out-of-pocket costs associated with having this scan.

Click here to read more about ultrasounds during pregnancy.

Full blood count

A full blood counts checks for general health and can indicate the presence of anaemia. Blood group and blood group antibodies: provides your blood group (A,B ,O, or AB) and if you have any antibodies in your blood

Rhesus Factors

You may be rhesus positive or negative. If you are rhesus negative, you will require Anti D injections during pregnancy to prevent the development of harmful antibodies possibly affecting future pregnancies. One in six women are Rhesus negative. 

Click here to download the Australian Red Cross Blood Service brochure for Rh (D) negative women.

Rubella (German Measles)

Checking your immunity is important so health advice can be given. if you are not immune or have low levels you will need a vaccination before baby is born.

Syphilis

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that may have no obvious symptoms. It is important to check for this so that early treatment can be commenced.

Hepatitis B and C

Hepatitis B and C are viral infections causing liver disease. It is important to check for evidence of infection or immunity so you can better look after yourself in pregnancy and to minimise the risk of your baby becoming infected during birth.

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that causes AIDS. This can be passed on to babies during pregnancy. If your HIV is positive, you will receive specialised care and health advice to reduce the chance of your baby getting the infection.

Varicella (chicken pox)

Varicella (chicken pox) is a viral infection usually caught in childhood. Checking your immunity is important to provide health advice. If you are not immune or have low levels of immunity you will need a vaccination after the baby is born.

Mid-stream urine collection

Mid-stream urine collection can check for infection.

Pap test (Pap smear)

A Pap test (Pap smear) may be offered if you have not recently had one. This test checks for changes to cells in the cervix (neck of the womb).

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) is the standard test at Barwon health to check for diabetes occurring in pregnancy (gestational diabetes -GDM). It requires fasting for 8 hours beforehand and takes 2 hours to complete. If you are diagnosed with GDM, you will require additional care and information about diet, exercise and be taught how to test your blood sugar levels during pregnancy.

Group B streptococcus swab (GBS)

Group B streptococcus swab (GBS) is a vaginal and anal swab sample to check for Group B streptococcus infection. it is usually a harmless bacteria in healthy adults, but during the birth process, GBS can possibly infect babies causing serious illness. Click here to download the fact sheet. 

Chlamydia

Symptoms of Chlamydia are usually mild or absent, with three-quarters of infected women and half of the infected men having no symptoms at all. The major complication is female infertility due to fallopian tube damage. There is evidence that untreated Chlamydia infections can lead to premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery and uterine infection following birth. Women aged 25 and under are offered screening by their referring GP or at their first pregnancy care visit. Click here to download a chlamydia fact sheet. 

Screening for Down Syndrome and other Chromosomal Disorders

Most babies are born healthy and well, but sometimes babies can be born with chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome. There are tests available during pregnancy to detect a low or high chance of your baby having Down Syndrome (screening test) or to diagnose (diagnostic test) whether your baby actually has one of these chromosome disorders. It is up to you to decide whether to have these tests, and this can be a difficult decision.

More information about Screening and diagnostic tests for Down Syndrome and other chromosomal disorders can be found here.