Useful Information







Tests and Procedures


The following is a list of the tests and procedures you may encounter during pregnancy and childbirth. You may come across them in your reading, discussions with your midwife, doctor, health professional, or childbirth educator. It is important to have an understanding of these tests and procedures, including when and why they might be used, as well as the risks and benefits of each. Please ensure that, over the course of your prenatal visits, you discuss them and any others of interest to you with your midwife.

  • Pregnancy tests
  • Ultrasound scanning
  • Amniocentesis and Chorionic villae sampling
  • Blood tests: ie VDRL, rubella Group/RH, HIV, Hb and HCT Glucose, triple screen
  • Cultures: ie Herpes, Group B Strep
  • Non-Stress test
  • Electronic fetal heart monitoring, Doppler
  • Induction or augmentation of labour
  • Intravenous infusions
  • Artificial rupture of membranes
  • Epidural anesthesia, Demerol, Entonox, etc.
  • Forceps delivery
  • Vacuum extraction
  • Caesarean Section
  • Episiotomy
  • Infant resuscitation techniques
  • Vitamin K injection for the newborn
  • Newborn eye prophylaxis
  • PKU screening
  • Circumcision