Antenatal or Prenatal Care in T&T

Antenatal care is offered at local public health centers across Trinidad and Tobago at no cost. It is not necessary to see a doctor at every visit, the trained health care workers and midwives are experienced to treat with routine antenatal visits. At a private hospital usually, an Obstetrician is selected, and visits are done monthly with the doctor. Whether public or private care is usually similar.

It is recommended that you visit your private or public health center before your 10th week of pregnancy. Health records are usually provided to the expectant mother, and this can be used publicly or privately.

First Trimester Antenatal Care in Trinidad and Tobago

You will be asked many questions and a routine health check will be conducted.

Questions include:

Can you remember the date of the first day of your last period? This is used to estimate your due date. (Try our DUE DATE CALCULATOR)
Do you have regular periods?
What is the length of your cycle between periods?
Are you on any form of contraceptive?
Do you have any underlying medical conditions?

A routine health check will also be completed to check your:

Height
Weight
Body Mass Index (BMI – Try our BMI CALCULATOR)
Blood pressure
Urine
Blood sugar

*not all institutions do the full check.

First Trimester Drugs

Calcium
Vitamin D
Folic Acid

*Iron is not recommended as it tends to make nausea worse.

*To be guided by your health profession based on your specific needs

First Trimester Blood Tests

Anemia and Completed Blood Count (CBC)
Sickle cell anemia
Other inherited disorders if at risk
Blood group and Rhesus Factor
HIV and Syphilis Screening
Fasting blood sugar and glucose tolerance test
Blood tests to screen for fetal chromosomal anomalies (not routinely offered)

First Trimester Ultrasound

This may be the first glimpse of baby for those in the public system, it is also the opportunity to hear your baby’s heartbeat, using a fetal Doppler. It is the last transvaginal (internal) scan that will be performed during pregnancy. The scan is used to verify the estimated due date and gives a good look at baby.

Each month from now you will be expected to attend ‘clinic’ to have your routine antenatal check-up.

Second Trimester Antenatal Care

At this stage check-ups or ‘clinic’ is scheduled every four weeks. At each visit, the routine health checks should be conducted.

This includes checking your:

Height
Weight
Body Mass Index (BMI – Try our BMI CALCULATOR)
Blood pressure
Urine
Blood sugar

*not all institutions do the full check.

Second Trimester Drugs

Calcium
Vitamin D
Iron supplements
Aspirin is sometimes offered to some women at risk for hypertension

*To be guided by your health profession based on your specific needs

Second Trimester Ultrasound

An ultrasound is usually recommended between 18 – 22 weeks. The scan is called the Anomaly Scan, this can give a better view of baby, the amniotic fluid, and the womb.

Trimester Three Antenatal Care

Visits may become closer together as pregnancy advances.

At each visit, the routine health checks should be conducted.

This includes checking your:

Height
Weight
Body Mass Index (BMI – Try our BMI CALCULATOR)
Blood pressure
Urine
Blood sugar

*not all institutions do the full check.

Third Trimester Blood Tests

Anemia and Completed Blood Count (CBC)
Fasting blood sugar and glucose tolerance test (usually around week 26)

*These tests may vary

Third Trimester Drugs

Calcium
Vitamin D
Iron supplements
Aspirin is stopped a few weeks prior to delivery

*To be guided by your health profession based on your specific needs

Third Trimester Ultrasounds

In the public health care system ultrasounds are not done unless there is a clinical reason. However, during the third-trimester private institutions tend to measure the baby at each visit, this is then plotted on a growth chart, so you can see how baby is progressing. It should be noted that all scans and measurements have a degree of error, so if you feel unsure, it is okay to get a second opinion.