When to Call the Hospital or Clinic

Call immediately if you think you may be having any pregnancy emergency or with any urgent concern.  The maternity ward is open 24/7 and can be reached at 604-535-4500 local 757273.  The maternity clinic is open 9-430 Monday to Friday and can be reached at 604-542-0248.  For emergencies or if you think you are in labour, please call the maternity ward first.

If you are less than 37 weeks:

Call if you have

• any bleeding or spotting
• any fluid leakage or think your water may have broken
• symptoms of premature labour such as cramping or contractions
• any unusual abdominal pain or any other unusual pregnancy or health symptoms
• if your baby is not moving as much as usual

 

If you are more than 37 weeks:

Call if

• you think your water may have broken.
• you think you are in labour.  In general, if this is your first baby, we usually suggest you come to the hospital when your contractions are at least every 5 minutes, lasting one minute long, and very painful, or if you would like pain medicine, or if we can offer other early labour supports.
• you are having heavy bleeding or anything more than a little bit of spotting or mucous with a bit of blood in it
• your baby is not moving as much as usual

 

When you call the maternity ward, usually your call will be answered right away by a maternity ward nurse.  She will talk with you to determine if you need to come in to the hospital.  She may offer you advice about managing early labour symptoms at home if it is not yet time to come in to hospital.

What to Expect During your Prenatal Visits

First Prenatal visit.

During your first prenatal visit, we will answer any questions you have and discuss topics such as your diet, vitamins, exercise, and what to expect over the coming months.

We will also ask questions about:

• Your health during this pregnancy
• Information regarding previous pregnancies
• Your past medical history
• Family history of medical illnesses

You will be asked to go for some routine blood tests to provide us with important information regarding your health.  These tests include screening for common and/or important infectious diseases, such as Hepatitis B and C, HIV and syphilis.  You will also be asked to provide a urine sample to screen for a urinary tract infection. We will organize an ultrasound for you within the following three weeks to confirm your due date.

Second Prenatal Visit
Your second prenatal visit will be scheduled 2-4 weeks after your first visit.  During this visit, you will have a complete physical examination, including a blood pressure check, breast exam, and pelvic exam/pap smear.  This examination is important as it allows us to find out important information about your health.  We will be able to hear your baby’s heart beat in our clinic by around the 12th-13th week of pregnancy.

What to expect during follow up prenatal visits.
You will be asked to weigh yourself and check your urine for protein and glucose prior to the start of your visit.  You will have an opportunity to ask questions of your doctor.  In addition, your doctor will check your blood pressure, measure your belly, and listen to your baby’s heartbeat.

If you have questions for the doctor or would like an appointment before your regular visit, we are happy to schedule you in on another day or with another doctor.  Often, same day appointments are available or the doctor or receptionist may be able help you by phone. If you need to be seen urgently, and are over approximately 19 weeks of pregnancy, you can also call the maternity ward and we will see you there.

General Outline of Prenatal Visits and Tests in Your Pregnancy. 

7-10 weeks GA	1st visit.  History reviewed.  Blood tests and 1st US organized.
7-10 weeks GA.	1st US done, not at the same time as 1st prenatal visit.
11-13 weeks GA.	2nd prenatal visit.  Physical exam including pap smear done.  Usually baby’s heart beat will be heard at this visit.
12-13 weeks GA.	Nuchal translucency Ultrasound for women over 34 done. (optional)
10-12.5 weeks GA.	1st blood test for SIPS test done. (optional)
15-17 weeks GA.	2nd blood test for SIPS test done. (optional)
18-20 weeks GA.	Detailed Ultrasound.

 

After the 2nd prenatal visit, you will have prenatal visits every 4-6 weeks until 28 weeks, then every 2-3 weeks until 35 weeks GA, then weekly until your baby is born. 

20 weeks GA.	If you had a C-section for a prior birth, you will be referred to an obstetrician after 20 weeks of pregnancy to discuss whether you will have a repeat C-section or try to have a vaginal birth. You will then continue your maternity care at the maternity clinic.
24-28 weeks GA.	Blood test for gestational diabetes and blood test for anemia.
28 weeks GA.	Women who are RH negative will receive the rhogam injection at this visit.
35 – 37 weeks GA.	Group B strep swab done at your prenatal visit.
40 weeks.	Your due date!
41 weeks, 3 days GA.	Inductions are generally started when you are 10 days over your due date if not delivered by this time.

Prenatal Classes

We recommend that all first time parents attend prenatal classes. Classes are available in a variety of locations.  Please see the resources section of this website for some class listings.  The maternity clinic receptionist or the maternity ward unit clerk may have information about additional classes.

In prenatal classes, you will learn about your pregnancy, labour, and delivery, including what to expect in labour and how to cope with labour pain, and parenting.  You will also meet other new parents who live in the area.

Preparing for Pregnancy and the use of supplements

Pregnancy is an exciting but often stressful time for new mothers and a critically important time for the fetus.  Emerging evidence and animal research demonstrate that in-utero nutrition and the in-utero environment are critically important for the developing baby and have literally lifelong consequences for the baby’s health, behaviour, and cognitive functioning!  As such it is important that expectant mothers take steps to optimize their own health and to give their babies the best possible start.

The preparations that families make to ensure a safe and appropriate home and financial security are outside the scope of this article.  Expectant moms are advised to make every effort to stop smoking (see QuitNow.ca) as well as the use of alcohol and recreational drugs.  Modest coffee consumption is not a problem, but avoid drinking more than 2 cups a day.  It is also recommended that women contemplating pregnancy check with their family doctors to ensure that there are no general health problems and reduce or optimize any prescription medications.  It is important not to stop medications such as antidepressants that you may be on but to discuss the pros and cons with your doctor.  While it is generally considered to be a good idea to avoid exposure to any foreign or toxic chemicals when pregnant – the potential risks of any medications must be weighed against the risks of not treating a medical condition that could be problematic in pregnancy – such a depression, hypertension, epilepsy, or whatever preexisting condition there may be.

Obviously, all general health practices should be followed when contemplating a pregnancy – these include a nutritious diet, regular exercise (if possible optimization of weight), refreshing sleep, good hygiene, and stress reduction.  In addition, we recommend the flu shot to woman who will be delivering in flu season.

Your doctor may also want to check your pre-pregnancy blood pressure, and check your blood tests to rule out iron deficiency, anemia, diabetes and hypothyroidism.  A few years ago the normal range for thyroid hormone in pregnant woman was changed to reflect current research.  It is important that these borderline low thyroid levels in pregnancy be treated with supplementation early in pregnancy or even at the time of conception to improve pregnancy outcomes.

We recommend a prenatal multivitamin that is formulated to have more iron than standard multivitamins, but the only supplement that is essential in the first trimester is folic acid as this reduces the risk of neural tube defects.  The neural tube actually forms in the first two weeks of the pregnancy, so by the time most women realize that they are pregnant, that blueprint has already been laid.  Hence, folic acid supplementation (of 400 – 1000 mcg/day) is recommended when planning a pregnancy.

The other supplements that are very useful in addition to a healthy diet include the following.  Vitamin D – the Canadian Cancer Society recommends that all Canadians take 1000 – 2000 IU/day of vitamin D.  This is particularly good advice in pregnancy – and in the winter months this should be a minimum (the safe upper limit is currently set at 4000 IUs a day – which is the amount that we can absorb in less than fifteen minutes on a sunny day).  Omega-3 fatty acids (or fish oils) are essential fatty acids that our body needs but cannot produce.  They are required for the synthesis of cell membranes and to reduce inflammation in the body.  They are specifically needed for the brain and retina of the developing fetus.  While there are plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids (such as flax seeds and walnuts), their conversion to the omega-3s that are needed by humans is inefficient, and so it is recommended that EPA and DHA are used.  Look for these letters on your fish oil supplement and strive to get a minimum of 1000 mgs of total fish oils at least 200 mgs of DHA.

Another essential nutrient in pregnancy is choline – which belongs to the B-vitamins.  It is important for cognitive development and is one of the in-utero nutrients which have a life-long effect on the newborn.  One of the best natural sources of choline is egg yolks, so it is recommended that pregnant woman consume whole eggs regularly, which are also a good source of protein. Ideally, these should be organic or free-range farm eggs.

Additional resources can be found in the Reference section of this website.

Medications in Pregnancy

During your pregnancy you will likely encounter circumstances that require the help of over-the-counter or prescription medications.  Your Doctor will help you navigate the prescription options that may be needed and are safe with pregnancy or breastfeeding.  While there exist many safe medications we do encourage patients to only use medication when clearly needed and after considering whether their benefit outweighs any potential risk.

Common over-the-counter medications that are generally considered safe in pregnancy include: Tylenol, for pain; benadryl, for allergies, cold symptoms or as an occasional sleep enhancer; diclectin, for nausea; milk of magnesia or lactulose, for constipation; antacids and zantac, for heartburn.

Advil, or its generic name Ibuprofen, belong to a family of medications called NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and should be avoided during pregnancy, unless otherwise recommended by your doctor.

More helpful information can be found at Motherisk.

Common Tests in Pregnancy

What is an Ultrasound?
Ultrasound is a commonly used procedure that uses sound waves to produce an image.  These sound waves pass through the woman’s abdomen and reflect off the maternal and fetal structures to form a picture on a monitor.  Your ultrasound might be done at Peace Arch Hospital or another ultrasound facility.

Ultrasound in pregnancy can tell us:

• Number of babies present
• Growth and development of baby
• Confirmation of due date
• Placental position
• Other information about the pregnancy that can be useful to you and your doctor

How many Ultrasounds will I have?
You will have an Ultrasound between 7-10 weeks of pregnancy to confirm your due date, that your baby is growing properly, and to confirm the number of babies.  If you are over age 34 or at increased risk of your baby having chromosomal problems, you may choose to have a nuchal translucency ultrasound at around 13 weeks of pregnancy.  Between 18-20 weeks of pregnancy you will have your detailed pregnancy ultrasound.  This is the most important ultrasound for most pregnancies and looks carefully at all of your baby’s anatomy, your baby’s growth, the placenta, and the amniotic fluid level.

If you request it, they will also look for your baby’s gender at this time.  If they are able to see the gender, the ultrasound technician is not permitted to tell you the gender at this time, but instead will report the gender on the written report we receive and we will tell you the gender at your next visit.  It is common for the gender to not be able to be determined during an ultrasound and approximately 3% of the time, the gender identified on ultrasound is incorrect.

If you are having a very healthy pregnancy, you will likely not need any other ultrasounds.  However, you may get additional ultrasounds if your measurement of your abdomen are larger or smaller than expected, if you have bleeding or pain, if your placenta is too low, and for numerous other reasons.  Ultrasounds are not harmful to you or your baby.  Private, just for fun ultrasounds are also available at a number of facilities.

Genetic Screening Tests

Serum Integrated Prenatal Screen (SIPS). 

The SIPS test is an optional blood test that is available to all pregnant women in British Columbia. The screening procedure measures the amount of five proteins in your blood.  This test helps estimate the chance of carrying a baby with Down syndrome, open spina bifida, or Trisomy 18.  The SIPS test consists of two blood tests, the first taken between 10 and 12.5 weeks of pregnancy and the second test between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.  Results of the test are not given to us until after the second test is done.

In addition to screening for genetic conditions, the SIPS test helps us determine if a woman may have a higher risk pregnancy  (due to low PAPP-A results for example) which would result in you seeing a maternal fetal medicine specialist for consultation and having additional ultrasounds and blood tests to monitor the ongoing health of your baby.

It is very important to understand that the SIPS test can only tell you if you are at increased or decreased risk for the above conditions.  It cannot provide you with a diagnosis nor with a guarantee that the baby is completely healthy.  Women who are found to be at increased risk may be offered further diagnostic testing such as an ultrasound and/or amniocentesis.  These tests will be discussed with you at your first or second prenatal visit.  Despite doing genetic screening tests, ultrasounds, and taking excellent care of yourself in your pregnancy, approximately 3-5% of newborns will be born with a congenital health problem.

Nuchal Translucency: A Nuchal translucency Ultrasound is an ultrasound that can be done around 13 weeks of pregnancy.  It measures the thickness of the skin at the back of your baby’s neck.  Babies with certain chromosomal problems have an abnormally large nuchal translucency. The nuchal translucency ultrasound can be done in addition to the genetic screening SIPS test to make the genetic screening test more accurate.  This test is offered free to all women over age 34.  It is available at a cost of approximately $500 through some local radiology and fertility clinics to women who do not qualify for the publicly funded nuchal translucency.

Amniocentesis. Amniotic fluid is the thin watery substance that surrounds the developing baby in the uterus/womb.  Amniocentesis involves removing a small amount (about 4 teaspoons) of this fluid with a needle.  Testing of the amniotic fluid can tell you if your baby has a chromosomal problem, such as Down Syndrome. This test can be done after the 15th week of pregnancy.  You are eligible to have an amniocentesis if you will be more than 40 years old when your baby is born or if you are having twins, or if you have had a SIPS screen that suggests you are at increased risk of having a baby with a chromosomal problem.

A doctor who has completed special training in this procedure will perform your amniocentesis.  A nurse and an ultrasound technician will be assisting.  There are risks involved in amniocentesis, such as miscarriage (1/200) women, harm to the baby (minimal risk), bleeding, cramping, or infection.

Private Testing

Some genetic screening tests such as the NIPT test, 1st trimester genetic screening testing, and nuchal translucency ultrasounds are available privately through other clinics or labs for a fee. . The NIPT test is a new noninvasive prenatal blood test that can be done at any lab for a fee of around $800 and can help detect Down syndrome and other chromosomal problems. Please discuss these tests with your doctor if you are interested in learning more about them.

What is Normal Baby Movement? What is a fetal kick count?

The only form of monitoring that is recommended for all pregnancies is mother’s awareness of baby movement. Some moms are aware of fetal [baby] movement by age 20 weeks. Starting at 26 to 32 weeks, we recommend that all moms do daily fetal movement counting or fetal kick counts. Some babies that are not feeling well may move less often. So, it is a good idea to be more aware of what is normal for your baby.

• Baby movement counting or fetal kick counts can be done at any time of day, perhaps best when baby is most active.
• Lie down or sit when starting to count with hands on abdomen.
• Babies usually move in episodes or groups of movement
• One movement episode is: 2 or more movements that come together without a pause of half a minute or more.
• You can STOP counting when you have felt 6 movement episodes.
• Because babies sometimes sleep up to 75 minutes, it is considered normal if it takes 2 hours to get 6 movement episodes.
• If you do not count 6 movements in 2 hours, call the maternity ward and we will then ask you to come in for an assessment and monitoring of your baby.  (604-535-4500 757273)
• On the Internet, it often says there should be ten movements in two hours.  BC perinatal services have reduced the movements to six allowing for normal wake/sleep cycles in babies.  If you do not have time to do a full fetal kick count but feel the movements are less than normal or even if you get six movements in two hours but the movements still feel much less than usual, please don’t hesitate to call the maternity ward.

What is a Non Stress Test?

During your pregnancy your doctor or nurse may recommend a non-stress test.
This may be done if:

• You have noticed decreased baby movements
• You are a week past your due date
• You have health challenges such as high blood pressure, diabetes in pregnancy requiring insulin, etc.
• Vaginal bleeding
• Water breaking before age 37 weeks
• Possible contractions before age 37 weeks
• Obesity
• You are greater than 40 years of age
• Lower than normal baby growth
• Twins

This test is called a “non-stress test” because it is done when the uterus is relaxed and your baby is not being exposed to the “stress” of uterine contractions [cramping].

Electronic monitoring of baby’s heart rate is done for at least 20 minutes. It is performed on the Maternity Unit by a registered nurse who specializes in Maternity Nursing Care.  This is a screening test to look for signs of wellness, such as baby movement, normal resting heart rate, or increasing heart rate with or without movement.

Cord Blood Banking

If you choose to use private stem cell backing, we are able to provide this service for you.  You need to arrange this privately through one of the many cord blood banking companies.  To obtain stem cells, after your baby is born we use a needle attached to a sterile bag to remove and store the blood from the placenta which is rich in stem cells.  You then send this blood to the company you are working with where it will be stored.

As a clinic, based on the most current evidence, the current guidance we give to patients is that except in very select situations, cord blood banking is not something we actively promote.

Private cord banking is very expensive (approx. $2500) and the chance it will ever be used for your child or another family member is extremely small.

Private cord banks only make stems available to the baby that donates them, and while there may be theoretical reasons why that may be helpful in the future, most conditions that require stem cells (such as childhood leukemia) require different stem cells (obtained at no cost to the patient from a public bank such as the one in Seattle) as it is not advisable to implant the same stem cells that led to the leukemia in the first place.  The chance that you or your child will ever use or benefit from the use of stored stem cells is very low and at this time is more commonly used as part of research rather than in regular clinical settings.

We look forward to the public cord blood bank that has been planned for BC.  This will provide a local, free source of cord blood for medical conditions where it is indicated.

Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy

If you have nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, you are not alone. Over 50% of pregnant women will experience this, and although this can be very unpleasant, it is not usually harmful to you or your baby.

There are different ways to help you get through this part of pregnancy so please talk to your maternity clinic doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms.

Nausea and vomiting normally starts at around the 6th week of pregnancy, peaks at 10 weeks and stops near the 12th week, although some mothers take until 16-20 weeks to resolve completely.  Some people call it “morning sickness” but it can happen at any time of the day.

A small number of patients will have hyperemesis gravidarum which is severe nausea and vomiting where the mother is not able to take in enough fluids or nutrients for her or the baby.  The biggest worry with this is dehydration and some women need to come to hospital for intravenous rehydration.

Before waking in the morning, stay in bed and eat a few salty crackers before getting up
Eat small meals or snacks throughout the day so you do not have an empty stomach
Eat the foods you feel like and do not worry that you are not eating the healthiest foods in the world.
Cooking smells often bother mothers so get someone else to cook or eat cold food.
Eating salty chips can sometimes help settle your stomach enough so that you can eat some food.
Try to drink small amounts throughout the day
Limit drinking during a meal so that your stomach does not get too full

Foods that help nausea
Salty: chips, pretzels, crackers, almonds
Tart: lemonade, pickles, ginger
Earthy: peanut butter, mushroom soup, rice
Crunchy: apples, nuts, celery
Bland: broth, mashed potatoes, jello
Soft: noodles, bread
Sweet: sugary cereals (kids), cake
Fruity: watermelon, popsicles
Liquid: ginger ale, sparkling water, sparkling juices
Dry: crackers

Lifestyle:
Get plenty of rest
Try acupressure wrist bands
You may need to take time off work
Family support to help with childcare/ household chores

Medications:
Some women find it hard to take their prenatal vitamin when they have nausea and vomiting.  Please talk to your maternity doctor about this but you can stop your prenatal vitamin and just take 1mg folic acid (small pill) until you are feeling better.  Folic acid is the only supplement your baby needs in the 1st trimester.

There are medications that can help you with your symptoms.  Often diet is not enough to control your nausea and vomiting so please talk to your maternity doctor.  One of the most often used is called Diclectin which contains Vitamin B6 and an antihistamine called doxylamine.  It has been used for many years and its safety and effectiveness is recognized by Health Canada.  It takes time to work as it has a vitamin so the night time dose will help your morning, the morning dose will help the afternoon etc.

Spotting or bleeding in Pregnancy

Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can be a frightening experience and occurs in up to 40% of all pregnancies.  Bleeding is most common in the first trimester. Although vaginal bleeding may be from an innocent or benign cause, please contact your physician immediately if bleeding occurs so we can determine the cause of the bleeding.  How we assess the vaginal bleeding and what may be causing it will depend on factors such as your gestational age, the degree and type of bleeding and your specific health circumstances.

The cervix goes through changes in the first trimester to accommodate for the pregnant state, hence its surface becomes engorged with blood vessels that can be easily irritated and may bleed.  This is a common cause of innocent or benign spotting especially in early pregnancy.

Miscarriage or spontaneous abortions occur in up to ¼ of pregnancies prior to 12 weeks GA.  A spontaneous abortion may be accompanied by pain, cramping, and heavy bleeding or sometimes may be detected on ultrasound before these symptoms occur (called a missed abortion).
Spontaneous abortions are common, in most cases unavoidable, and most often due to chromosomal problems in the developing baby.  If you have bleeding early in your pregnancy our first priority will be determining if it is due to a miscarriage.  We will organize an ultrasound urgently for you and if a spontaneous abortion is diagnosed will offer you emotional support, information, management options for your miscarriage if required such as pain medicine, misoprostal, or a D+C, and careful follow up during and after the miscarriage.

Ectopic pregnancy is a rare pregnancy complication that may cause severe lower abdominal pain with or without bleeding in the first trimester. An ectopic pregnancy is when an egg is fertilized and grows outside of the uterus and can be a life-threatening circumstance.

During the later stages of pregnancy causes of bleeding requiring urgent attention include, amongst others, cervical insufficiency, placenta previa and placental abruption.

We encourage all pregnant patients to call the maternity clinic or the labour floor if bleeding does occur, so a physician can appropriately assess your pregnancy and optimize the likelihood of a healthy, happy outcome.

Rhogam is a medication commonly used in woman that have a certain blood type (Rh negative) and are experiencing bleeding during pregnancy.  It is used to help prevent the mixing of maternal and fetal blood that may lead to immune-mediated complications in current and future pregnancies.  If your blood type is RH negative, it is especially important to report any bleeding to your doctor.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that starts during your pregnancy.  If you have diabetes, your body isn’t able to use the sugar (glucose) in your blood as well as it should, so the level of sugar in your blood becomes higher than normal.  Approximately 3-5% of pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes during their pregnancy.  It is usually diagnosed between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. Your baby will not be born with diabetes.  In almost all cases, the diabetes will resolve after the baby is born.  However, having had gestational diabetes in pregnancy does mean you are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in your life and it is important to get rechecked for diabetes after your baby is born and then regularly thereafter by your family doctor.

To test for gestational diabetes, you do not need to fast. You will be asked to go to the laboratory where you will be given a sweet drink.  One hour later your blood sugar level will be checked.  If your blood sugar levels are above an acceptable level you will then need to repeat the testing by fasting overnight and having your blood drawn before and after having another sweet drink.  If this second test determines that you have gestational diabetes you will be referred to a diabetes education clinic where you will learn how to modify your diet and exercise and how to check your blood sugars at home.  Most women treat their diabetes with only these changes, but some women will need to also take insulin to control their blood sugars properly.

High sugar levels in your blood can be unhealthy for both you and your baby.  If the diabetes isn’t treated, your baby may be more likely to have problems at birth.  For example, your baby may have low blood sugar levels or jaundice, or your baby may have a higher than normal birth weight.  Gestational diabetes can also affect your health.  For example, if you baby is very large, you may have a more difficult delivery or need a cesarean section.

RH Immune Globulin (for RH negative patients)

Your blood group is described by both a letter (A, B, o) and Rh positive or rh negative status.  IF you are rh negative, you are recommended to receive injections of RHO (D) immune globulin during your pregnancy. This is also called rhogam or whinro.

Your immune system normally protects against potentially harmful substances by making antibodies to help destroy them.  An rh negative woman who is pregnant with an rh positive baby may make antibodies to the baby’s cells.  In a subsequent pregnancy, these antibodies may destroy the baby’s red blood cells, leading to serious problems.

To reduce this risk, an rh negative pregnant woman receives injections of rho (d) immune globulin at 28 weeks gestation and again after delivery.  This injection blocks the recognition of rh positive cells by the mother’s body.  It is important to report any bleeding you may experience during pregnancy as your doctor may recommend extra injections of Rho (d) immune globulin.  With these injections, rh negative women can have safe pregnancies and healthy babies.

Premature Labour

Premature labour is labour that occurs before the 37th week of pregnancy in which uterine contractions cause the cervix (mouth of the uterus) to open earlier than normal.  This can result in the birth of a premature baby.  If you notice these symptoms, please call the maternity ward immediately.

Premature labour signs and symptoms:

Contractions every 10 minutes, or five or more contractions an hour
Watery fluid leaking from your vagina (this could mean your bag of water is broken)
Menstrual like cramps
Low dull backache associated with abdominal cramps
Pelvic pressure that feels like the baby is pushing down
Abdominal cramps that occur with or without diarrhea
Unusual or sudden increase of vaginal discharge
Vaginal bleeding

Group B streptococcus

Group B streptococcus (GBS) are common bacteria that are often found in the vagina, rectum or bladder of women.  It is not sexually transmitted, and does not cause any noticeable problems.  If a woman is a carrier of GBS in her vagina and rectum, she may pass the bacteria on to her baby during the birthing process.  While the bacteria do not affect most babies, a very small number (1-2%) of these babies will go on to develop an infection.

A test is done to screen for GBS by inserting a swab into a woman’s vagina and rectum, which is then sent to a laboratory for processing. Pregnant women who test positive for GBS bacteria will be treated with intravenous antibiotics when they go into labour or when their membranes rupture (water breaks).  Penicillin is the antibiotic used, unless you are allergic to this medicine.