Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. If you have medical concerns, call 811 or your doctor's office for non-emergencies or make an appointment with a doctor if you do not have a family doctor.

I just found out I am pregnant, what do I need to do now?

Find a care provider to follow your pregnancy. This can be a midwife or a doctor. Check out my step by step guide on "How to find a care provider?" This should answer a lot of questions around this process and I answer a few more questions further down in the FAQ.

You can use Ma Grossesse to find a provider, however you may be matched with a doctor who doesn't fit in terms of language & preferences so it may be worth doing the legwork on your own.

Help! I don't see my care provider for several weeks!!

Unfortunately this is pretty typical. Early pregnancy can be difficult. You may be feeling like hot garbage, you may be feeling totally normal and you don't have a window in so it is a time of uncertainty. If information feels helpful for you (which it probably does if you found this webpage!) then I recommend perusing through the pregnancy section in From Tiny Tot to Toddler. If you have a non-urgent medical need you can call 811 or your doctor’s office to see what they would recommend.

Otherwise I would think about what you might need to get through this waiting time.

What should I be eating/not eating in pregnancy?

Discovering the right nutrition during pregnancy can be straightforward with the right guidance. You can start by exploring the guide at From Tiny Tot to Toddler. Your healthcare provider will provide basic dietary guidelines at your first prenatal visit. For more personalized advice, consider consulting a nutritionist who specializes in pregnancy (check out the resources page).

Good nutrition is foundational for you and your baby. Try to balance each meal and snack with proteins, carbohydrates, and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Simple, nutritious snacks like apple slices with almond butter or Greek yogurt with berries are excellent choices. Include healthy fats, such as nuts and avocado, to enhance satisfaction and nutrient intake. For streamlined, budget-friendly tips to support your diet through each trimester, explore "Feeding baby and mom: Simple, economical tips for every trimester" by Fannie Beaulieu, a dietitian specialized in pregnancy nutrition.

Foods to Approach with Caution: To minimize the risk of foodborne illnesses, it's important to avoid certain foods and practice safe food handling. For details on which foods to avoid and why, visit the Tiny Tot section on foodborne illnesses.

Support for Food Security Concerns: If you're concerned about accessing nutritious food, Ma Grossesse can help with food vouchers and programs like OLO. The Montreal Diet Dispensary, now known as Alima, also offers nutritional support to expectant mothers.

(Thanks Fannie for your input!)

What will my first appointment be like?

The specifics will depend on who is following your pregnancy. Generally the first appointment is the longest appointment whether you are followed by a midwife or a doctor.

In general they are going to:

Take your medical history: your general health, your family history, previous pregnancies/losses, last menstrual period, gynecological concerns, etc.

Take your blood pressure and measure your weight

Talk you through genetic testing options: Quebec's prenatal screening program & private screening options

Give you requisitions for ultrasounds, blood/urine tests and any next steps.

May offer to do a PAP test (you can also choose to wait to do this later in pregnancy or after pregnancy, talk to your care provider about it)

You will probably not have an ultrasound at your first appointment. There are a few obstetricians who are able to do these at their offices but generally ultrasounds are scheduled at hospitals or private clinics at a later date. (If you are followed by midwives you will definitely not have an ultrasound at your visit.)

Time to ask questions.

Appointments with a midwife will also spend some time getting to know you, your family and preferences.

How often will I see my doctor/midwife?

Usually once in the first 12 weeks. Then once every 4-6 weeks until around 32 weeks when you will start to see them every 2-3 weeks. And the final month you will see them weekly. After baby arrives you will see your doctor at around 6 weeks postpartum. Ask your care provider for their exact timeline.

Midwives also follow you and baby for the first 6 weeks. They will visit you in your home usually a few times in the first week postpartum. And then you will have an appointment at the maison de naissance at 6 weeks. Ask your midwife for their exact timeline.

What will follow up appointments be like?

Often shorter than the first. (Although appointments with midwives are much longer than those with doctors.)

Take your blood pressure, weight

They may ask you specific questions: Any bleeding, cramping, etc?

They may talk over any results from blood/urine tests or ultrasounds.

Ask if you have questions or concerns.

After a certain number of weeks they will be able to listen to baby's/babies' heart using a Doppler (usually around 12 weeks)

After a certain number of weeks they may measure your belly (other care providers do not) (usually around 20 weeks)

Different providers have different styles around birth plans and preparing for birth. Some people are shocked that their providers will not preemptively provide information around birth. Some hospitals set up an appointment with a nurse to chat through your birth plan and answer questions. Most do not.

Prenatal classes and doula support are important ways you can prepare for labour, birth and parenthood.

What is a doula?

Someone that you hire privately to support you during pregnancy, birth and/or postpartum. Doulas are like tour guides, they help you (and your partner or other support person) navigate both smooth & rocky terrain and ensure you are supported throughout the whole process. There is evidence to support doulas having an impact on lowering interventions like Cesarean birth as well as increasing people’s birth satisfaction (which is even more important I think!). I am a birth doula in Montreal, I own Two Doulas.

There are also doulas that specialize in postpartum support see my resources page for some great options.

When should I take prenatal classes?

In your third trimester (aim for the 30-36 week range)! Any earlier and you are likely to forget the information. Any later and baby may come early and/or you won't have time to put any of what you learn into practice.

What are my options for prenatal classes?

There are free classes offered by CLSCs, they give you ~2 hours of info on labour and birth (which frankly isn't a lot) plus information on breastfeeding and baby care. You can also seek out group classes or private classes that you pay for (I teach prenatal classes through Two Doulas).

What tests/procedures might be recommended during pregnancy?

Ultrasounds:

• Sometimes an early ultrasound to date the pregnancy but not always

• Around 11-13 week

• Around 18-20 week: Anatomy scan to look at lots of different parts of baby/babies

• Third trimester ultrasound (~32 weeks): Your care provider may recommend a third trimester ultrasound

Screening for gestational diabetes (~26-28 weeks, earlier if risk factors)

• Glucose challenge screening test: You drink a sugary drink and wait an hour and have blood drawn. If this test shows glucose levels over a certain levels then another test (2 hour oral glucose tolerance test) may be recommended.

Vaccination for Pertussis (whooping cough) (26-32 weeks)

• Quebec recommends vaccination against whooping cough in pregnancy in order to pass on antibodies to your baby which would provide them coverage from birth until they receive the recommended vaccines. Chat with your care provider about this and any other vaccination recommendations.

Screening for Group B streptococcus (34-36 weeks pregnant)

• Vaginal and anal swab near the end of pregnancy to check for presence of the bacteria GRoup B streptococcus (GBS)

What exactly are the blood/urine tests?

Ask your midwife/doctor! Never hesitate to inquire at your appointments what the tests are for. It's good to start building the muscle of understanding and advocating in your medical care since you'll have to do so as a parent too.

There are usually some pretty basic ones: blood type, glucose level, complete blood count, iron, thyroid function.

Two blood samples are for genetic screening tests if you have opted into the prenatal screening program (one between 10-13 and the other between 14-19)

Checking immunity to certain diseases like Rubella and Chicken pox

Checking for infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis B

STI screening

More provider questions

Will the doctor who follows my pregnancy be at my birth?

Generally no. Most doctors (both family doctors who catch babies and obstetricians) work in teams. When you go into labour (or are induced), the doctor working at the hospital that day will provide care during your birth. It may happen to be your doctor but since they usually work in teams of at least a dozen it is unlikely.

There are a handful of doctors who follow pregnancies and attend the births of their clients but these are few and far between.

If you want continuity and full choice of someone who will be present at your birth I would consider hiring a doula.

Will my midwife who follows my pregnancy be at my birth?

There’s a good chance! Generally midwives work in pairs (sometimes threes!) and have a call schedule. Often you see your primary midwife throughout pregnancy and in your third trimester you start seeing your alternate midwife at prenatal appointments so you get to know them. Close to your due date they will let you know which of your midwives is on call on which days.

There will also be a second midwife present at your birth who you may or may not have met. This is someone who doesn’t follow you prenatally, who is called closer to the end of labour.

Can I have a midwife and a doctor?

No. Your midwife may consult with a doctor about particular aspects or refer you to specialists as needed. However if your care needs to be transferred to an obstetrician then your midwife will no longer follow your pregnancy.

Can my family doctor follow my pregnancy?

Maybe! Some family doctors have specialized in following pregnancies and attending births. Most have not. Call your family doctor to see if that is a possibility, sometimes they will refer you to a colleague who does. If not you can still find a family doctor who follows pregnancies, see the guide to finding a care provider.

I don’t like my doctor, can I switch?

Yes. It is easier to switch care providers earlier in pregnancy but it’s still possible later too. Because doctors work in teams it wouldn’t make sense to find a care provider at the same hospital, you would likely have to look elsewhere. Trust your gut if it’s not feeling like a good fit.

Parenthood in Montreal

What about daycare lists in Montreal?

Get on the lists for daycares NOW, especially CPEs and subsidized ones. You can do so through La Place 0-5 even before baby is born.

Even if you aren't sure you want to send your kid to daycare I would recommend getting on the lists, you can always decline should a spot become available.

Just make sure you go back into La Place0-5 once your baby is born to put in their registration number.