Early Pregnancy Clinic

Our Early Pregnancy Clinic provides care to people experiencing cramping, bleeding, pain or other complications in the beginning of pregnancy up to 20 weeks. The clinic is staffed and led by midwives from the MATCH (Midwifery and Toronto Community Health) Program at South Riverdale Community Health Centre.

Our midwives assess patients and may provide blood work, ultrasound and counselling as needed. Midwives may also consult obstetrics and gynaecology staff on an as-needed basis, such as for ectopic or molar pregnancies or other cases that may require surgical follow-up.

Patients must be referred to the clinic by their primary care provider (family doctor or nurse practitioner), midwife or a provider in the hospital’s Stavro Emergency Department. Please see referral information below. We see patients by appointment.

Before your appointment

Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to register at Patient Registration (M1). Bring your health card if you have one. After registering, you will be directed to the waiting area for the Early Pregnancy Clinic.

If you would like to reschedule or cancel your appointment, please call 416-469-6031.

During your appointment

Our midwives make every effort to see patients according to their appointment time. However, for each patient, we also dedicate the time needed to conduct a thorough and complete assessment. We thank you for your patience in allowing us to devote the necessary time to each patient.

If you require testing, the midwife will order this. At this time, they may ask you to stay on-site to wait for your results. They may also choose to discharge you and conduct a follow-up phone call. We unfortunately cannot control wait times for ultrasound and laboratory results. The midwives make every effort to review results as soon as they are available.

Referrals from primary care

  • If you are a primary care provider and would like to refer a patient to the Early Pregnancy Clinic, please complete the referral form linked on this webpage and fax it to 416-469-6458. In your fax, please include supporting documents as indicated in the referral form. 
  • If you are a provider at a community health centre (CHC) or midwifery practice group in Toronto and would like to refer a client/patient without OHIP to the Early Pregnancy Clinic, please complete the referral form linked on this webpage and fax it to 416-469-6458. In your fax, please include supporting documents as indicated in the referral form, as well as a CHC or transfer payment agency (TPA) billing letter. Your client/patient will not be billed for their care at the Early Pregnancy Clinic; the cost of labs, diagnostics or consultation will be billed to the CHC or TPA.

Self-referrals

  • Unfortunately, self-referrals are not available at this time. Please contact your primary care provider (family doctor, nurse practitioner or midwife) for assessment and, if appropriate, referral. 
  • You may not need care at the Early Pregnancy Clinic if you are stable and your pregnancy is progressing. If you are a patient looking for care during your pregnancy, you can contact a prenatal care provider on this list. You do not need a referral to see the listed obstetricians, family doctors or midwives for prenatal care.
  • If you are a patient who does not have OHIP or Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) coverage and does not need emergency assessment, we encourage you to consult the Health Network for Uninsured Clients for further resources on how to access pregnancy care.

When to go to the Emergency Department

If you are pregnant and experiencing any of the following symptoms, please go to your nearest hospital emergency department or call 9-1-1.

  • Severe bleeding:
    • Soaking through more than two thick, full-size pads in two hours or for two hours in a row (four pads in two hours)
    • Passing clots larger than a lemon
    • Bleeding so heavily that you feel faint, dizzy, weak, short of breath or have chest pain
  • Severe pain:
    • Unmanageable pain that is not improving by rest, heating pads, bath or shower, massage or supportive touch, or pain medication (such as acetaminophen)
  • Signs of ectopic pregnancy:
    • Severe or sharp pelvic pain on one side
    • Pain in the tip of your shoulder (near your shoulder blade)
    • Pain in your neck or your bum (rectum)
    • Weakness, feeling faint or dizzy
  • Signs of infection:
    • Fever (above 38°C or 100.4°F) lasting more than six hours
    • Fever 24 hours after taking misoprostol
  • Allergic reaction:
    • Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or any trouble breathing

Resources

You may be having feelings of fear, anxiety, sadness or grief related to unexpected complications during your pregnancy.

While the experience can be different for everyone, you are not alone and these feelings are normal. Suffering in silence is difficult. Talking to someone can help with preventing feelings of isolation.

We encourage you to refer to these resources for information and support.

Contact us
Shabina Rangarej, Manager, Maternal Newborn and Child Health Services
Location
G2
Office Hours
Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings by appointment.
Phone
Phone: 416-469-6031
Fax
Fax: 416-469-6458
Referral forms

Midwives:

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