What to Expect
First Trimester
What to Expect in the First Trimester
Your prenatal care with Orchard Maternity begins early in pregnancy and is designed to ensure you feel informed, supported, and confident from the very start.
Getting Started
Your care begins after your dating ultrasound, which will be arranged once we receive your referral. After this ultrasound, one of our experienced maternity nurses will contact you to schedule your initial intake appointment.
During this visit, your nurse will:
Review your medical history, current health, and any previous pregnancies
Complete an initial risk assessment
Arrange routine first-trimester bloodwork
Discuss available genetic screening options, so you can choose what feels right for you
First Physician Visit
Following your intake appointment, you’ll be booked for an in-person visit with one of our maternity physicians. At this appointment, your physician will:
Review your history, bloodwork, and ultrasound results
Provide initial recommendations based on your pregnancy risk factors
Answer your questions
Perform a physical exam, which may include cervical cancer screening with a swab or speculum exam
Our goal is to ensure you feel well-supported as you move through the early weeks of pregnancy and into ongoing prenatal care.
Ongoing Prenatal Visits
After your initial visits, you can expect appointments:
Approximately every four weeks until about 28 weeks
Every two weeks until about 36 weeks
Weekly until delivery
At each visit, we typically:
Check your weight and blood pressure
Measure your uterus (after 20 weeks)
Listen to your baby’s heartbeat
Request a urine sample, if needed
A Welcoming, Supportive Environment
Family members, friends, and children are welcome at office visits, and we encourage your questions. Understanding your care helps make pregnancy, delivery, and early parenthood feel more manageable. If additional time is needed to address your concerns, we’re happy to book a follow-up appointment.
Shared-Care Model
Your prenatal care is provided through a shared-care model, meaning you may see different members of our experienced maternity physician team depending on the day of your visit. Our physicians work closely together and share information to ensure continuity and coordinated care throughout your pregnancy.
If you prefer to see the same provider for most of your visits, you may request this when booking; however, availability may vary. For hospital visits and delivery, care is provided by the physician who is on call at that time.
Ultrasounds
Routine ultrasounds include:
A dating ultrasound between 10–12 weeks
A detailed anatomy ultrasound between 18–20 weeks
Additional ultrasounds are arranged only if medically indicated.
Laboratory Testing
Bloodwork is typically completed:
After your initial nurse intake appointment
Again between 24–28 weeks
Additional testing may be ordered as needed.
Genetic Screening
Optional genetic screening tests are available early in pregnancy to assess the likelihood of certain genetic conditions. For more information, please visit our Genetic Screening page.
Healthy From The Start Program
We encourage patients to enroll in Healthy From The Start, a program that connects you with a public health nurse who can provide prenatal education, answer questions, and help connect you with community resources throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
You can sign up using their online e-form, call 1-855-868-7710 as early as possible in pregnancy, or speak with your maternity provider for more information.
First Trimester Patient Resources:
Second Trimester
What to Expect in the Second Trimester
Frequency of Prenatal Visits in the Second Trimester
During the second trimester, your prenatal visits will typically continue every four weeks. This is often a time when many people start to feel more comfortable and connected to their pregnancy.
Detailed Anatomy Ultrasound
Between 18 and 20 weeks, you can expect a detailed anatomy ultrasound. This important scan looks closely at your baby’s growth and physical development. If you wish, the baby’s sex may be identified at this appointment. Ultrasound findings are usually reported as “likely male” or “likely female,” as there is a small margin of uncertainty. In some cases, the baby’s position may make it difficult to determine sex at that time.
Blood Tests & Screening
Between 24 and 28 weeks, a second set of routine blood tests is usually completed. This includes screening for gestational diabetes. The gestational diabetes screening is a 1-hour oral glucose tolerance test (50g OGTT). You will be asked to drink a glucose solution, and a blood sample will be taken one hour later to assess how your body processes sugar; fasting is not required for this test. Depending on your individual needs, your care provider may recommend additional testing to support a healthy pregnancy.
In some cases, the initial 1-hour screening result may be higher than expected. This does not necessarily mean that you have gestational diabetes, but it may indicate the need for further testing. If recommended, a more detailed diagnostic oral glucose tolerance test will be arranged. This test requires fasting and involves staying at the laboratory for approximately two hours, with three separate blood samples collected at scheduled intervals. Your care provider will review your results with you and discuss next steps if additional testing is needed.
Second Trimester Patient Resources:
Third Trimester
What to Expect in the Third Trimester
Frequency of Prenatal Visits in the Third Trimester
During the third trimester, your prenatal care will continue to focus on monitoring your health and preparing for birth. Visit frequency will increase as you get closer to your due date - every two weeks between 28-36 weeks and weekly thereafter.
30-Week Nursing Appointment
At approximately 30 weeks of pregnancy, you will be scheduled for a dedicated appointment with one of our clinic nurses. This visit is designed to help you feel informed, prepared, and supported as you move into the later stages of pregnancy and plan for birth.
During this appointment, your nurse will review important topics such as recommended vaccinations, when and how to present to the hospital, and what to expect during your hospital stay. There will also be time to discuss emotional and mood changes that can occur during pregnancy and in the postpartum period, and to review signs that additional support may be helpful.
This visit is also an opportunity to ask questions, revisit key information, and refresh your awareness of available clinic and community resources to support you before and after delivery.
Vaccination & Screening
Early in the third trimester is a good time to review recommended vaccinations with your care provider. These include Tdap between 27–32 weeks, RSV between 32–36 weeks, and flu and COVID vaccines at any time during pregnancy. You can learn more about vaccination in pregnancy at Vaccines in Pregnancy Canada, and your provider will discuss which vaccines are appropriate for you.
If you are Rh-negative, it is recommended you receive Rho(D) Immune Globulin (RhIg, also known as RhoGAM / WinRho) around 28 weeks, with a follow-up dose after delivery if the baby is Rh-positive. This injection may also be given at any point prior if there is bleeding after 12 weeks.
Between 35 and 37 weeks, Group B Streptococcus (GBS) screening is usually performed. This may be done earlier if you have a history of preterm birth. This involves a simple vaginal and rectal self-swab completed in clinic. GBS does not usually cause symptoms in pregnant individuals, but if present, antibiotics during labour can significantly reduce the risk of infection and interventions for the baby.
Around Your Due Date
Your due date marks 40 weeks of pregnancy, though only about 4% of babies are born on that exact day. First babies often arrive later...and most babies follow their own timeline!
After your due date, your provider may recommend additional monitoring, such as an ultrasound or a non-stress test, to assess your baby’s well-being. For low-risk pregnancies, induction of labour is typically considered between 41 and 41 weeks plus 3 days. Timing and management decisions are made collaboratively with you, your care team, and obstetric colleagues, taking individual circumstances into account.
Third Trimester Patient Resources
In Hospital
What to Expect in the Hospital
Delivering at Vernon Jubilee Hospital
We provide hospital-based maternity care at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. In certain situations, you may need to be transferred to another facility if it is the safest option based on your medical needs or hospital capacity.
Physician Present for your Delivery
Because our physicians share hospital on-call responsibilities, we cannot guarantee that a specific provider will be present for your delivery. However, all members of our call group share the same patient-centred philosophy and are committed to offering safe, respectful, and individualized care. When decisions arise, we strive to listen closely to your preferences and tailor our approach to your needs.
Every physician in our group maintains current obstetrical and neonatal resuscitation training. You can feel confident that whichever provider is attending your birth, you and your baby will be in capable, compassionate hands.
Most moms and babies will stay in hospital for one night after an uncomplicated vaginal delivery. After a c-section, this may be extended to two nights. You may stay longer if there are complications for mom or baby. While in hospital, you will be followed by the physician on-call.
Call Group Physicians: Dr. Randy Dhaliwal, Dr. Michelle Hanbidge, Dr. Jane Hofer, Dr. Jeff Kwantes, Dr. Lindsay Kwantes, Dr. Brett Poulin, Dr. Shannon Rourke, Dr. Andy Spencer, Dr. Emily Stevenson
Labour & Delivery Patient Resources
Postpartum & Breastfeeding
What to Expect in Postpartum & Breastfeeding
The weeks after birth are a time of recovery, adjustment, and getting to know your baby. It’s normal to experience physical changes as your body heals, along with emotional ups and downs as hormones shift and routines change. Our care team is here to support you through common postpartum concerns—such as pain management, bleeding, rest, mood changes, and follow-up care—so you know what’s typical, what may need attention, and when to reach out for help. After you are discharged from the hospital, we ask that you book a follow-up appointment within one week at the same clinic you attended throughout your pregnancy, so we can check on both you and your baby, and ensure you are recovering and settling in well.
Patient Resources
Check out our whole library of patient resources to help support you through your pregnancy and postpartum journey