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Prenatal Care

Prenatal care is provided to individuals when they are pregnant. This helps keep pregnant individuals and their future baby healthy. Please find commonly accessed resources below about prenatal care and pregnancy.

Who Will I See For My Pregnancy?

Shared Care With My Family Physician for Pregnancy

Our office provides prenatal care to our patients in the form of shared care. Shared care is when your Family Physician and Obstetrics Physician jointly provide you prenatal care, as a team. Appointments with your Obstetrician will typically begin in the third trimester and visits will alternate between your Family Physician and Obstetrician. Depending on your prior medical history, your prenatal care may be best obtained solely under the care of an obstetrician.

Midwifery Care for Pregnancy

If you have chosen to be followed by a midwife for your pregnancy, they will be responsible for your full prenatal care and continued care up to 6 weeks after your delivery. You cannot have a physician and midwife as your primary health care providers for pregnancy. Midwives and physicians (i.e. Obstetricians and Family Physicians) are all considered primary health care providers of prenatal care in Ontario. To have two primary health care providers for prenatal care is a duplication of health care services. You may still see your Family Physician for health concerns outside of the scope of your midwifery team and your midwife can consult Obstetrics for any pregnancy concerns that are outside of the scope of midwifery.

Ontario Prenatal Screening

Prenatal screening is available to all pregnant women in Ontario.

For more information on the types of prenatal screening and what they screen for, please click on the heading above. In Ontario, enhanced First Trimester Screening (eFTS) is an optional OHIP covered (genetic) prenatal screening test available in the first trimester for pregnant women.

Infant RSV Prevention Program

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of respiratory illness, particularly among infants, young children, and older adults. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis, a common chest infection in children. As it is a viral infection, antibiotics are not effective.

Starting in the fall of 2024, the Ministry of Health has expanded the Infant RSV Prevention Program to allow for infants born during the RSV season to be protected against RSV. There are 2 publicly funded products offering seasonal RSV protection:

  • Beyfortus®, a monoclonal antibody (not a vaccine), is the preferred, superior, method for protecting infants against RSV and will be offered to all infants born in RSV season at birth before discharge. Beyfortus® provides immediate protection against RSV

  • Abrysvo™, a prenatal vaccine, is available for pregnant patients between 32 and 36 weeks, where the antibodies made by mom are passed to the infant during pregnancy

The SOGC (Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada), does not recommend dual injection of Abrysvo™ and Beyfortus® for RSV protection unless in very specific circumstances. Beyfortus® is the superior method for protecting infants against RSV.

For more information on the program, please click on the heading above or click here for our office handout about the program.

Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Vaccine & Pregnancy

Pertussis (also known as Whooping Cough) is a respiratory infection that can cause severe disease and death in infants who have not started (begins at 2 month of age) or completed their routine immunization.

The SOGC (Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada) recommends pregnant women between 27 and 32 weeks gestation receive a pertussis (Tdap) vaccine to boost maternal antibodies that can be passed onto and protect the baby from pertussis, before baby can be vaccinated. 9 out of 10 infants under 3 months of age are protected following maternal vaccination against pertussis in pregnancy.

For more information on Pertussis vaccination in pregnancy, please click on the heading above.

COVID-19 Vaccines & Pregnancy/Breastfeeding

As per the SOGC (Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada), women who are pregnant or breastfeeding can be offered a COVID-19 vaccine at any time during pregnancy or post partum.

For more information on COVID-19 vaccines in pregnancy and breastfeeding, please click on the heading above.

Prenatal Classes (City of Hamilton)

For more information on prenatal classes available in the city of Hamilton, please click on the heading above.

Pregnancy and New Parent Resources

Please click the heading above to access The Pregnancy and New Parent Guide, with a list of services in Hamilton that can support pregnant people, new parents and those unsure about their pregnancy.