Brigitte Boire is 23 years old. She has recently moved to Hamilton from Timmins, Ontario, to find work. She lost her job as a receptionist in a mining company office after being late for work once too often. She decided to leave the city entirely when she had a fight with her boyfriend over the dismissal.

Brigitte recently came to the walk-in clinic because she thought she was pregnant. She was worried because she has missed at least one menstrual period and “this one was late”. A pregnancy test comes back positive. At her return visit three days later, you begin the process of taking an antenatal history. Using Brigitte_s menstrual history and a “pregnancy wheel”, you estimate that she is 12 weeks into the pregnancy. When you ask her about lifestyle issues, Brigitte states that she drinks “just beer” and comments that she doesn't think this will be harmful to the baby.