Similar to the dating scan, this checks whether you’re carrying a single baby or multiple, and confirms your estimated due date it also reviews the baby’s anatomy. You will be offered an ultrasound scan at 11 to 13 weeks (often called the “12-week scan”). Once you’ve had your first prenatal visit and relevant initial tests as described above, you will have appointments with your GP and/or obstetrician approximately every two to six weeks, depending on your circumstances. The first trimester of pregnancy runs from conception to 12 weeks. And, says Nadine, while some things are off the cards for now-including eating raw fish and cleaning your cat’s litter-other things, like a slightly modified form of your favourite exercise, are encouraged. “What I say to women when I chat to them is, rather than go to Google and get an answer that’s not specific to your scenario, or makes you absolutely panic, give us a call because we get to know your story and can make the advice relevant to you.”īumptoBaby can also provide advice on what you can and can’t do during pregnancy, including information on food, exercise and household duties. The service is also available to adoptive and surrogate parents who hold eligible coverīumptoBaby midwife Nadine says the service is a source of support and advice and also acts as a great alternative to “Dr Google”. They can connect to us over the phone, even after-hours”. Rebecca describes BumptoBaby as “an additional support network for mums of any sort. If doctors do participate, this can help reduce out-of-pocket costs.”Īustralian Unity private health customers with pregnancy cover who have served their 12-month waiting period can also access the BumptoBaby program, which is a telephone-based service that gives women direct access to midwives. “We’d also ask your obstetrician’s name and check if that particular doctor participates in gap cover. “We’d ask what hospital you’re planning to give birth at and do a hospital eligibility check to see if we have an agreement with that private hospital,” she explains. Once you’ve had your pregnancy confirmed by your GP and had your initial tests, it’s a good idea to give your private health insurance fund a call to discuss your cover, because with pregnancy, a 12-month waiting period applies.Īccording to Rebecca Doherty, Customer Solutions Team Leader at Australian Unity, during that initial call, your fund should tell you what services you can access.

A cervical screening test, if you’re due for one.Īlthough it’s not a routine test, your doctor may also organise a dating scan, which is an ultrasound to confirm your estimated date of delivery (EDD) and if you’re having a singleton or multiple pregnancy, such as twins.In addition to blood tests, your GP may also do or organise the following tests: To prevent this from happening, women who have a negative blood type are offered an injection of anti-D immunoglobulin in their third trimester. Women with a negative blood type who have a baby with a positive blood type may be at risk of their immune system responding as if the baby’s red blood cells are foreign to their body, producing an antibody to destroy these new cells. Your blood group is checked in early pregnancy for a few reasons but one of them is to see if you have a negative blood type (rhesus negative, or Rh negative). thalassaemia (an inherited blood disorder).

if you have any sexually transmitted infections, such as syphilis or HIV.if you have been previously exposed to hepatitis.your immunity to rubella (German measles).At this point, you might be feeling a bit nauseous but you won’t be getting a bump yet.”ĭuring that first prenatal appointment, your GP will likely order a range of blood tests to check the following: “They’ll also check when your last menstrual cycle was so you can know how far along you are. They’ll do some basic checks for you, like checking your blood type, your iron and general blood make-up,” she explains. “Once you have received a positive pregnancy test, you always need to book an appointment with your GP. This starts with a prenatal appointment with your GP, says Nadine Barkay, a midwife at BumptoBaby, a program delivered by Australian Unity’s Remedy Healthcare, that provides support and information for expectant parents with eligible cover. It doesn’t matter if your pregnancy was planned or a total surprise, you’re not alone in thinking “what happens now?” Here we cover the next steps and the appointments you can expect from that positive result right through your pregnancy and just after the birth.Īccording to the Department of Health, women who have an uncomplicated pregnancy can expect to have 10 to 12 prenatal appointments. Whether you’ve seen two lines, a “plus” symbol, or a definitive digital “yes”, a positive pregnancy test can prompt an exciting and overwhelming mix of emotions.

Second trimester prenatal visits