DECIDE
I don’t have to do everything at once.
What to do
- Start with what matters most today.
- You can say yes, no, or “I need more time.”
- Keep your records and bring them to your visits.
Pregnancy care can involve many instructions at once. You may be handed forms, sent for bloodwork, told to book an ultrasound, offered medication, or asked to make a decision before you fully understand what is happening.
You do not have to agree to everything just because it is handed to you.
This page is about slowing things down enough to understand what you are being asked to do. It is also about keeping your own records, because papers, referrals, and results can get lost when you are moving between clinics, hospitals, labs, imaging centres, and healthcare providers.
Questions people ask
I need bloodwork or an ultrasound. How do I get one?
For most bloodwork and ultrasounds, a health provider needs to order the test first. You usually cannot just walk into a lab or ultrasound clinic and ask for the test yourself.
A midwife, doctor, or nurse practitioner may order the test. They may give you a paper requisition, send the form online, or tell you where to book.
Once the test is ordered, you may need to book it or go to a lab or imaging clinic yourself. For bloodwork, this may be LifeLabs, Dynacare, a hospital lab, or a clinic lab. For an ultrasound, this may be a diagnostic imaging clinic or a hospital department.
“Can I choose where to go?”
“Do I need to book, or can I walk in?”
“Do I need to fast?”
“Will this cost money if I do not have OHIP?”
“Where will the results be sent?”
“What do I do if no one calls me?”
I need an obstetrician or specialist. How do I get one?
For obstetricians and most specialists, you usually need a referral from a health provider. You often cannot book directly by yourself.
A midwife, doctor, or nurse practitioner may send the referral. You might be referred because your pregnancy needs closer monitoring, you have a health concern, your test result needs follow-up, or your provider wants another opinion.
Being referred does not always mean something is wrong. But you should understand why you are being sent and who is responsible for follow-up.
“Why am I being referred?”
“Who is sending the referral?”
“How long should I wait to hear back?”
“What should I do if no one calls me?”
“Will I keep seeing you while I wait?”
“Will this cost money if I do not have OHIP?”
What is a requisition?
A requisition is the form that allows a lab, imaging centre, or clinic to perform the test. For bloodwork, the form can usually be used at LifeLabs, Dynacare, or another location your provider recommends. For imaging, you can usually bring the requisition to any diagnostic imaging centre in Ontario. The form belongs to you, and without it, the test may not be done.
Before you hand it in, take a photo if you can.
“Can I keep a copy?”
“Does this form expire?”
“If I wait, will I need a new form?”
“Where will the results be sent?”
Can I choose where to do the test?
Often, yes. For bloodwork, you may be able to go to any LifeLabs or Dynacare in Ontario. For imaging, you can usually choose any diagnostic imaging clinic that is easier for you to reach.
You can call ahead to ask if they accept walk-ins, if you need an appointment, and whether there is a cost without OHIP.
“Do you accept this requisition?”
“Do I need an appointment?”
“How much will this cost without OHIP?”
“When will the results be sent?”
Where do my results go?
You usually do not need to pick up the results yourself. But you should still ask where the result is being sent and who will follow up.
“Who will receive my results?”
“Who will explain the results to me?”
“Will someone call me if the result is normal?”
“Will someone call me if the result needs follow-up?”
“How long should I wait before calling?”
Do not assume no news means everything is fine unless the clinic clearly told you that.
What should I do after I finish a test?
Write down:
- The date
- The place
- The type of test
- Who ordered the test
- Keep a photo of the requisition if you have one.
- Call the clinic to tell them you completed the test, especially if they asked you to do so. This can help them look for the result and reduce delays.
- Make sure your phone number and email are up to date. If the clinic cannot reach you, you may miss an important follow-up.
What if no one calls me?
If you do not have a follow-up appointment and you have not heard back within a few weeks, call the clinic that ordered the test.
“I completed my test on [date] at [place]. Can you check if the result came in?”
If you were referred to a specialist and no one has called, contact the clinic or provider who made the referral.
Say:“I was referred to [specialist or clinic], but I have not heard back. Can you check the status of the referral?”
Write down who you spoke to and what they said.
What should I keep?
Keep a photo or copy of:
Use what works for you: a folder, an envelope, a photo album on your phone, an email folder, or a WhatsApp chat with yourself.
The system may not keep things organized for you. Keep your own record when you can.
What you check stays only on this page. It is not saved or sent anywhere.
Can I get my records later?
Yes. In Ontario, you can ask for access to your own personal health information held by a clinic, hospital, doctor, midwife, or other health provider, with some limited exceptions.
This does not mean every record will be handed to you right away. But there is a formal process to ask.
“Can I have a copy of my records?”
“What form or email should I use?”
If they refuse, ask for the reason in writing.
Where this leads
Once you understand what you are being asked to do, where your results are going, and what papers you need to keep, the next step is planning for bigger things.
Go to PLAN for birth location, hospital costs, baby care, and what happens when you leave the hospital.
If you or your baby are in danger right now
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Hospitals must treat emergencies, with or without OHIP.
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself: call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline, 24/7). Indigenous women: Talk4Healing, 1-855-554-4325 (24/7, 14 languages). If a partner is hurting you: Assaulted Women's Helpline, 1-866-863-0511 (24/7, multilingual).
For health questions that are not an emergency but cannot wait, call 811. It is Ontario's free health line, 24/7, with interpretation.