Prenatal Care

We are committed to helping you maintain a healthy pregnancy lifestyle.

During the first and second trimesters of your pregnancy, you will see your provider monthly. In the third trimester you will have more frequent checkups. You can help ensure your health and the health of your baby by:

• Eating a nutritious diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in red meats and fat
• Avoiding tobacco and alcohol
• Exercising regularly
• Sleeping at least six to eight hours a night
• Limiting caffeine and avoiding artificial sweeteners
• Avoiding medications that are not prescribed by your doctor
• Avoiding exposure to pesticides and other hazardous chemicals

Schedule Prenatal Testing

Routine prenatal medical tests help ensure the health of you and your baby. Some tests, like blood pressure and hemoglobin, are regularly done throughout your pregnancy, while others are given just once or twice at specific stages. Common tests include:

1. First Trimester (1 to 12 weeks)
   • Pap test. A Pap test screens for precancerous abnormalities and sexually transmitted infections like HPV, chlamydia and gonorrhea.
   • Blood tests. Blood is drawn to confirm your blood type and to check for HIV, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, syphilis, anemia and whether you are immune to rubella (German measles).
   • Laboratory tests. Tests are administered to screen for cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell anemia and other conditions.
   • Urine tests. Your physician will check sugar and protein levels in your urine.
   • Ultrasound. An ultrasound performed in the first trimester will help your physician determine your baby’s due date.
2. Second Trimester (13 to 28 weeks)
   • Blood tests. Called a “quad screen,” blood tests in your second trimester provide information about your risk of having a baby with certain genetic or birth defects, including open neural tube defects (ONTD), Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities. An amniocentesis may be suggested if you have risk factors for these or other conditions.
   • Urine tests. Your physician will continue to monitor sugar and protein levels in your urine in your second trimester.
   • Ultrasound. In the fifth month (around 20 weeks) an ultrasound is performed to assess the baby’s development and the health of the placenta.
3. Third Trimester (29 to 40 weeks)
   • Group B streptococcus screen. You should be tested for Group B strep bacteria when you are 35 to 37 weeks pregnant. The test is simple and does not hurt. A sterile swab is used to collect a sample from your vagina and rectum and is sent to a laboratory for testing. About one out of every four people test positive for Group B strep. If you test positive your provider will recommend IV antibiotics during labor to protect your baby.
   • Gestational diabetes screen. Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy and cause complications for both you and your baby. During the screen, you will drink a special glucose solution and then have your blood drawn. If your blood sugar is abnormally high, a second, longer glucose test may be performed. Gestational diabetes often goes away after your baby is born.

Get Tested for Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes affects roughly 3 percent of pregnant people and must be carefully managed and monitored. It generally develops at the end of the second trimester and goes away after the baby is born.

Left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause your baby to be born with low blood sugar or at a higher-than-normal weight. Gestational diabetes may also increase your risk of developing preeclampsia, a condition that causes dangerously high blood pressure.

Routine prenatal testing at Rutland Regional Medical Center includes screening for gestational diabetes at the beginning of the third trimester. During the screen you will drink a special glucose solution, then have your blood sugar measured one hour later.

If your blood sugar is abnormally high, a second, longer glucose test may be performed a few days later. If the second test also shows a high blood sugar level, you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes, then carefully monitored for the duration of your pregnancy. In most instances, diet changes can keep the condition under control. In some cases, insulin injections are needed.

Register for Childbirth Preparation Classes

You and your partner or support person can take advantage of educational and informative childbirth and childcare classes offered by Rutland Regional and VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (VNAHSR). Learn how to prepare for childbirth, get information about breast-feeding and take a tour of the hospital.

Classes include:

• Baby Steps, a class that provides an overview of your labor and delivery at Rutland Regional and a tour of the Birthing Center 
• An informational class on breast-feeding

Why take a childbirth class?

• Meet and socialize with other pregnant families in the community and share stories
• Ask questions about pregnancy, labor and baby care
• Get your family involved in your experience of pregnancy and childbirth

What will you learn?

• The signs and symptoms of labor
• Methods for coping with the pain of childbirth
• What to expect when you and your newborn are in the hospital
• The benefits of breast-feeding
• Information about cesarean sections and other medical procedures that may occur during labor, including epidurals
• The layout of the Women’s & Children’s Unit at Rutland Regional and information about the services we provide
• Who to call with any questions that you may have