Echuca Regional Health acknowledges the Yorta Yorta people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters that the health service occupies. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
Initial Booking In Appointment
During your booking in appointment you will be asked questions to gather information about you and your partners medical history. The appointment will go for an hour and will be a time to identify any risks in your pregnancy that may require closer monitoring and/or referrals.
Pregnancy Appointment schedule:
Below are the routine appointments for a low-risk pregnancy. Additional appointments may be required to monitor you throughout your pregnancy.
| Gestation | Who is the appointment with? | What’s happening? |
| Week 6-8 | General Practitioner | – Routine antenatal blood tests
– Referral for an early pregnancy dating scan |
| Week 12-14 | General Practitioner | – Screening for genetic conditions
– Referral letter sent to ERH |
| Week 14-20 | Hospital Midwife
(Booking in Appointment) |
– Appointment to book into ERH
– Discuss models of pregnancy care – Book into childbirth education classes |
| Week 20 | Radiology | – 20 Week Morphology ultrasound
– Start to feel baby’s movement |
| Week 21 | General Practitioner/ Obstetrician | – Review ultrasound
– Flu and whooping cough vaccination – Referral for 26-28 week blood tests |
| Week 24 | Midwife/ General Practitioner/ Obstetrician | – Routine antenatal assessment
– Begin measuring fundal height and listening to the fetal heart rate |
| Week 28 | General Practitioner/ Obstetrician | – Blood test for gestational diabetes
– (First dose of Anti D, if a negative blood group) – Start sleeping on side – RSV Maternal vaccination |
| Week 32-34 | Hospital Midwife | – Introduction to the birth environment
– Education – labour, birth and parenting – Discuss birth wishes |
| Week 34 | Child Birth Education | – Have you booked in your childbirth education classes?
– Second dose of Anti D, if a negative blood group |
| Week 36 | General Practitioner/ Obstetrician | – Group B Streptococcus (GBS) swab
– Review blood test results – Start antenatal expressing if you wish (collect your pack) |
| Week 38 | Midwife/ General Practitioner/ Obstetrician | – Results of GBS swab
– Discuss signs of labour and when to present – Discuss optimal fetal positioning and natural ways to induce labour |
| Week 40 | General Practitioner/ Obstetrician | – Discuss booking a date to induce labour
– Stretch and sweep if appropriate |
| Week 41 | General Practitioner/ Obstetrician | – Monitoring of the baby’s heart rate
– Ultrasound to check baby’s wellbeing |
Routine tests in Pregnancy:
- Early Pregnancy blood tests – Routine pathology is collected at the beginning of your pregnancy to assess your wellbeing. It is a baseline that healthcare professionals can refer to throughout your pregnancy. It includes determining your blood group and if Anti D administration is required through the pregnancy.
- Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT or GTT) – You will be tested for gestational diabetes during your pregnancy. An OGTT is used to identify patients with elevated blood sugar levels. The test assesses the body’s response to a glucose load. The patient fasts from 8-12 hours then a blood test is performed. After the blood test, you have a drink containing glucose. One and two hours after the drink the blood test is repeated. Gestational diabetes will be diagnosed if your blood sugar levels are above the normal range.
For more information on Gestational diabetes visit (https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/pregnancy-and-birth/pregnancy-problems/pregnancy-problems-in-later-pregnancy/gestational-diabetes
- 26-28 week Pathology – Between 26-28 weeks you will have your GTT collected along with a blood group and antibody screen, haemoglobin, iron levels and syphilis serology. Rechecking these levels notify the healthcare team if there has been any changes from your initial bloods, which may require further monitoring or treatment.
- Group B Streptococcus (GBS) swab – Your doctor or midwife will recommend a GBS swab at 36weeks. Group B Streptococcus is a bug that commonly lives in the bowel and one in four women carries it in their vagina. Being a carrier is not harmful to you but it can cause an infection to the baby. GBS can be detected in urine, a swab in the lower vagina and rectal area. If you test positive for GBS, your doctor will recommend you have antibiotics in labour.
- See attached information sheet for further information (Royal Women’s Hospital Fact Sheet – GBS): https://thewomens.r.worldssl.net/images/uploads/fact-sheets/GBS-screening-test-May2020.pdf
Mental Health Support:
iCOPE: icope is a digital screening tool designed to ensure every mother is provided with the right support for your mental health during pregnancy. The midwives will get you to complete the icope screening tool prior to your booking in appointment. You will receive a text with the link to complete the form.
The Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) is an online resource that provides support for the emotional challenges of becoming a parent.
Here is the link for further resources: https://www.cope.org.au/about/
PANDA- Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia: PANDA supports mental health of parents and families during pregnancy and in their first year of parenthood.
HELPLINE: 1300 726 306 (Monday to Saturday) (Monday to Friday 9am-7:30pm) (Saturday 9-4). The helpline is staffed by trained and experiences counsellors and volunteers.
Website: https://www.panda.org.au/about/about-panda
SMS for Dads:
Is a free text message service helping fathers understand and connect with their baby and partner. SMS4dads supports men in their role as father to increase awareness of their influence on baby’s brain development. It provides information related to age and stage of your baby. It also checks in on the fathers wellbeing and offers professional support if needed.
Link: to Website: https://www.sms4dads.com.au/
Maternal Vaccinations in Pregnancy:
The National immunisation Program outlines the recommended vaccinations that are available for free during pregnancy. Pregnancy women are recommended to receive influenza, whooping cough and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines during pregnancy. There is extensive evidence demonstrating the safety of the recommended maternal vaccines in pregnant woman. See below the recommended schedule for vaccinations during pregnancy and the following link for further information. Australian Government- Department of Health – Maternal Vaccinations https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-04/maternal-vaccinations-consumer-brochure_0.pdf
Listeria in Pregnancy:
See fact sheet below for information on food safety during pregnancy https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-08/Safe%20food%20for%20people%20at%20risk%20-%20final.pdf
Food & Nutrition in pregnancy:
Pregnancy creates extra demands for certain nutrients, including iron, calcium, iodine and many vitamins. Below is a link to the Royal Women’s Hospital for further information on nutrition in pregnancy.
Oral Health in Pregnancy:
Keeping your teeth and gums healthy during pregnancy is important. Severe gum disease has been linked to babies being born too early and to small. A check-up with your dentist is encouraged during pregnancy and is safe to do so.
Healthy Teeth Healthy Pregnancy flyer: https://www.dhsv.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/31787/Pregnancy-factsheet.pdf
Reducing the risk of Stillbirth:
Tragically a small percentage of babies die during pregnancy or labour. Stillbirth is the term used for the death of a baby after 20 weeks of pregnancy. There are a number of reasons why a baby is stillborn however sometimes causes cannot be found. Attached is a link to support reducing your risk of stillbirth.
Movements Matter:
Every baby is different and it is important to get to know your baby’s movements. Movements usually begin between 16 and 20 weeks gestation. By 24 weeks most babies develop a pattern of movement. Monitoring your baby’s movement pattern is important. If you are every concerned about any chances in your baby’s movement you should contact your midwife or doctor immediately. More information can be found on the following links regarding fetal movements.
- Strong Bubba Born: Looking after Bubba for all our Mob: https://strongerbubbaborn.org.au/
- Safer Baby: you baby’s movements matter: https://saferbaby.org.au/preventative-steps/your-babys-movements-matter/
Contact the Maternity Ward on 5485 5301 to speak with a Midwife at any time.
Pelvic Floor Exercises in Pregnancy:
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and ligaments which support the bladder, uterus and bowel. When the pelvic floor is strong, it supports your pelvic organs to support problems such as incontinence and prolapse. Pelvic floor weakness can occur during pregnancy, so strengthening your pelvic floor is important by performing regular exercise. See the following flyer for further information.
Pelvic Floor Exercises Brochure: https://www.thewomens.org.au/images/uploads/fact-sheets/Pelvic-floor-exercises-210319.pdf
Every Week Counts:
The last few weeks of pregnancy are important for your baby’s health and development. Research has discovered that every week your baby continues to grow inside you makes a difference in their short and long term health outcomes. Timing of your baby’s birth is important. See the below link for more information.
https://everyweekcounts.com.au/
Perineal Massage:
Perineal massage is a technique which can be used during pregnancy to help stretch the perineum so there is less risk of tears when the baby is born. Perineal massage is recommended from 34 weeks of pregnancy. See the below link for further information.
