28 Weeks 

If you have Rh-negative blood type, (i.e. O negative, A negative, B negative, or AB negative) it’s important to protect your baby by receiving an injection called RhoGAM or WinRho. This injection will be offered to you by your pregnancy care provider who will provide more information and guide you through the process. 

Taking care of your mental health is as important as your physical health. Your maternity provider may ask you to complete a questionnaire to evaluate risk of developing depression, called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). This helps them identify any issues and find the best ways to support you. At any point in pregnancy, if you are struggling with your mental health, you can talk about this with your pregnancy care provider.   

Between 27 and 32 weeks is a good time to consider taking the pertussis vaccine (Tdap), and the respiratory syncitial virus (RSV) vaccine which help protect your baby against serious respiratory diseases in the first few months after birth.  This is also a good time for the COVID vaccine if you are due for a booster, as it will offer protection to your baby as well as getting your protection up to date.  The influenza vaccine is safe and recommended in pregnancy at any point in the pregnancy during the period before the flu season.,  

32-34 Weeks 

If you work and are still working, this can be an ideal time to talk to your provider to re-confirm your end-of-work plan. Your provider may also suggest a second blood test if you’re Rh-negative. 

36 Weeks 

During this visit, you can talk to your maternity provider about your preferences for labour and birth. It’s a good opportunity to discuss when to call or go to the hospital. Your provider will discuss and offer you Group B Strep (GBS) testing . Your provider can perform the test, or you can do it yourself. This test helps determine if you are positive or negative for GBS.  if you are positive, you will be offered antibiotics in certain situations during labour.  

38 Weeks 

During these late third trimester visits, your pregnancy care provider will check your baby’s position inside your uterus. They will want to know if the baby’s head is pointing down, which is the ideal position for birth. This helps ensure a smooth and safe birth for you and your baby. Your provider can also check if your cervix is starting to open up and get ready for labour.   

40 Weeks 

Before your due date arrives, it’s a good idea to talk to your pregnancy care provider about what to do if your baby doesn’t come around the time of your expected due date. They can discuss your options for care and help you make a plan. It’s normal for babies to arrive a little before or after your due date, so having a plan in place will help you feel prepared and supported during this time. 

41 Weeks 

Your maternity provider will be monitoring if you go past 41 weeks to ensure the well-being of you and your baby. 

If your labour doesn’t start by 10 days after your due date, you will likely be offered to induce, or get started with, your labour. You will not be pregnant forever, although some days it can feel like it! 

You may be offered treatments to help get labour started (induction of labour)  depending on your health and the monitoring of the baby.  You will discuss this with your care provider.