Routine Blood Work and Ultrasound Schedule
Why are ultrasounds and blood work important in pregnancy?
Routine blood work and ultrasounds are an important part of pregnancy monitoring. Results from these tests will help your midwife to ensure your pregnancy is progressing normally.
Sometimes results indicate that extra monitoring is needed. If this is the case, your midwife will make sure you are fully informed of why extra monitoring is recommended and suggest a plan.
Some clients have their initial set of blood work and dating ultrasound done with their family doctor. This is not a problem, your midwife will simply request this information from your family doctor after your initial midwife appointment.
Below you will find the routine schedules for blood work and ultrasounds available for every client during pregnancy.
Blood Work
- Test Performed: ABO blood type, CBC, Urinalysis, Rubella, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, HIV, and Hepatitis B
- Weeks Pregnant: 8 to 12
- Additional information: It can. bedone with your family doctor or midwife
- Test Performed: Screening for Trisomy 18 (Edward’s Syndrome) and Screening for Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome)
- Weeks Pregnant: 11+2 to 13+3
- Additional information:
- One of the options for genetic screening
- Done in combination with the eFTS ultrasound
- Only done if choosing to have genetic screening performed
- Test Performed: screening for gestational diabetes
- Weeks Pregnant: 24 to 28
- Additional information: Please, see gestational diabetes mellitus information.
- Test Performed: ABO blood test
- Weeks Pregnant: 24 to 28
- Additional information: Done with the glucose challenge test
- Test Performed: ABO blood type, CBC
- Weeks Pregnant: Labour
- Additional information:
- Done on admission to the hospital in labour.
- Not done if giving birth out of hospital
Ultrasounds
- Test Performed: Measurements of fetus to determine due date
- Weeks Pregnant: 8 to 11
- Additional information: Due date determined from this ultrasound
- Test Performed: Nuchal translucency (NT)
- Weeks Pregnant: 11+2 to 13+3
- Additional information:
- One of the options for genetic screening
- Done in combination with the eFTS blood work
- Only done if choosing to have genetic screening performed
- Test Performed: Full anatomy screening of the fetus
- Weeks Pregnant: As close to 20 weeks as possible
- Additional information: Fetal sex can usually be determined at this ultrasound
- Test Performed: Biophysical Profile (BPP)
- Weeks Pregnant: As close to 41+0 weeks as possible
- Additional information:
- Part of extra fetal surveillance during the 41st week
- See postdates for more information
- Test Performed: ABO blood type, CBC
- Weeks Pregnant: Labour
- Additional information:
- Done on admission to the hospital in labour.
- Not done if giving birth out of hospital
Additional Resources:
- Prenatal Screening Ontario: eFTS
- SOGC: Routine Tests in Pregnancy
- AOGC: Routine Tests During Pregnancy (US resource, some testing different in Canada)
- SOGC: Anatomy Ultrasound