Once your pregnancy is confirmed you should see your primary care provider (PCP) who can refer you to our clinic. He or she may order some preliminary tests including an ultrasound. We ask your PCP to forward these tests with the referral form. You may also refer yourself to our clinic if you have not yet seen your primary care provider. If you do not have a primary care provider you can call our clinic to book an appointment. You can also be referred from a walk-in clinic or the emergency department.

Your first appointment will be a virtual phone appointment with a registered nurse or physician assistant. This appointment will be approximately 45 minutes long and include questions about your past medical history and family health history. Please make sure you are somewhere where you can talk privately. Your first in-person appointment will be booked either same day or within 7 days depending on your schedule and clinic availability. At this appointment, you will meet the doctor and recieve other information such as upcoming ultrasounds or bloodwork. Please arrive 5-10 minutes prior to your booked appointment time in order to help us stay on time. You will always need to provide a urine sample on arrival. All other appointments will be in person and booked every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly until delivery. You may make appointments with social work, dietician or lactation consultant at any time. Please make your next appointment before leaving PIPC.

If you have a primary care provider, family doctor or nurse practitioner, you will discuss options for prenatal care early in your pregnancy and they may refer you to our clinic. If you do not have a primary care provider or have not seen them for pregnancy care yet, you may still refer yourself. We do need copies of all laboratory results and ultrasounds pertaining to your pregnancy. Please ask your caregiver to forward these to our office prior to your first appointment.

Our team of family physicians work together to provide your care at the clinic in pregnancy and also to share coverage of Labour and Delivery at PRHC. One of our doctors will deliver your baby. Your initial appointment with be done virtually with a physician assistant or intake registered nurse. Following this, your appointment will be with one of the physicians. You may choose to rotate your appointments to meet all of the doctors if you wish. In general appointments with a doctor are every 4 weeks until 28 weeks of pregnancy and then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then every week until delivery. Should a complication arise in pregnancy, labour or delivery we will consult an obstetrician as necessary. Your PIPC physician will remain a part of the team that will care for you and deliver your baby, including assisting with caesarean section should that be necessary.

Our team will work together to help address your concerns and needs during your pregnancy. All of the services of the other professionals at PIPC are available to you when you are seeing our doctors for care during your pregnancy and for 6 weeks after delivery. These include a nausea and vomiting clinic, care by a registered dietitian for any nutritional or weight concerns, well baby care, breastfeeding support with our lactation consultants-registered nurses, and counselling with our social workers regarding personal, family or work related issues or mood disorder. Appointment with allied health are typically done virtually, but may be in person as well. Simply mention your concern when you see a physician or speak to our reception staff to book an appointment for yourself.

Many tests ordered by our doctors may be done in our building on the first floor at the Turnbull Medical Building. Just walk past the coffee shop to find the lab and diagnostic imaging (ultrasound). Please be aware the Lab is closed at noon, on Stat Holidays, the 3rd Wednesday of each month, and every Friday! Local diagnostic ultrasound locations: - Turnbull Diagnostics Imaging - Peterborough Regional Health Centre - The Medical Centre - Peterborough Clinic Diagnostics - Apex Diagnostics (Sherbrook Street) Local labaratory locations: - Lifelabs at Turnbull lab - Lifelabs at Alexander Building - Dynacare at the Peterborough Clinic

Food and snacks You will receive food trays for 3 meals a day, however if you have any food preference feel free to bring your own snacks. The cafeteria and Tim Hortons are open (pick up options only) but the preference is for you to pack your own food. Your support person will not be recieving hospital provided meals. They are required to stay with you during your stay so we recommend they pack enough food/snacks for your stay (1-3days on average). Feel free to bring a cooler. We have an ice machine if needed. You will not have access to a microwave or fridge. Carseat (optional) You can leave your car seat in the car until the time of discharge where your support person can go retrieve it for you. If you do not need a car seat (ie. no vehicle) or do not want to bring it up you can be wheeled down to the main entrance with your baby on discharge.⁣⁣⁣ Hospital Bag Healthcard, phone, phone charger Toiletries (soap shampoo, toothbrush, toiletries, hair elastics, maxi pads, diapers) Clothes (slippers or sandals, robe and/or pyjamas if you want, one or two newborn outfits, ⁣something to wear home) Other items to consider packing: Nursing bra (you can go braless or wear a flexible bra you can pull down), nursing pads, camera⁣ or pillow.⁣

Due to the size of our exam rooms, we ask that you bring a maximum of TWO (2) support persons with you at at your prenatal appointment (with the exception of your first in person visit where we ask to see you alone for the first half). You are allowed TWO (2) support persons at Labour and Delivery and are permitted to switch out during the same day.