It is important to remember that birth centers are out of hospital (OOH) environments with
limited in-house resources. Because we are an OOH facility one of our jobs as your midwife team is to ensure that the birth center continues to be the safest place for your care and the birth of your baby. We do that by providing you with all of the tools you need for success and by monitoring your health and risk-profile throughout your pregnancy. We require very routine blood tests and periodic ultrasounds in order to assess your health throughout your pregnancy and ensure that your pregnancy continues to be low-risk and appropriate for care in the OOH settings. Your health and the health of your baby are our top priority.
Routine tests include
• In early pregnancy: Initial prenatal panel (blood & urine tests) and confirmation
ultrasound or NT ultrasound.
• Around 20 weeks: We require a routine Level II ultrasound called the “Anatomy Scan”
that takes a detailed look at your baby and assesses for any growth anomaly. This helps
us ensure that the baby is growing healthfully and is appropriate for delivery in the OOH
setting.
• Around 28 weeks: Repeat blood tests and 1hr Glucose tolerance test (we have 4 different
options for ingesting the 50 grams of sugar required for the glucose test and one sugar-
free option should that be necessary.) We will work with you to find the best testing option for you.
• Around 36-37 weeks: Repeat blood and urine tests, as well as Group Beta Streptococcus
(GBS) swab testing, and a complementary abdominal ultrasound to confirm head-down
position of your baby. We require all pts to be tested for GBS. In the event that you test
positive for GBS we require treatment with antibiotics in labor to reduce the risk of GBS
transmission to your infant during delivery.