Antenatal Flashcards
What is the purpose of the booking visit?
To determine the mother’s level of risk (low, intermediate, high)
- her status can change at any time
- make sure we can optimise mother’s health
Two types of maternal death
DIRECT (haemorrhage, birthing complications)
INDIRECT (ongoing maternal medical conditions)
Leading cause of indirect maternal death
Cardiac conditions - myopathies in the postpartum period particularly overlooked
Leading cause of direct maternal death
VTE (PE), followed by amniotic embolus then suicide
Worldwide the leading cause is PPH (major obstetric bleeding is >2500mL)
Normal sequence of midwife care in pregnancy
Booking (10 weeks)
If Nulliparous - 16, 25, 28, 31, 34, 36, 38, 40, 41 (10 appts)
If multiparous and low risk - 16, 28, 34, 36, 38, 40, 41 (8 appts)
What should be checked during each antenatal appt?
BP, Urinalysis, Maternal wellbeing, Fetal movements, FHR (auscultate with doppler or pinard’s), Plot the symphysis-fundal height
What scans will every woman receive and when?
Every woman will have at least two scans:
- DATING SCAN: any time between 11+2 and 14+1
- ANOMALY SCAN: any time between 18+0 and 20+6
Define antenatal anaemia and suggest treatment
This is something that is commonly screened for in pregnancy. Hb levels lower in pregnancy physiologically (number of RBCs increase but plasma increases even more so relative conc is lower) but if they drop <100g/dL then consider FERROUS SULPHATE
Antenatal polyhydramnios: what is it?
Liquor volume commonly monitored in pregnancy
In 2nd and 3rd trimesters baby’s kidneys produce amniotic fluid - so abnormal levels of fluid might suggest renal abnormality or gastro-intestinal abnormality (inability to swallow amniotic fluid)
Polyhydramnios presentation
Tight, non-compressible uterus (cannot palpate fetal structures)
High symphysis-fundal height
Polyhydramnios: investigations
USS: pool >8cm, amniotic fluid index >90centile
Offer regular growth scans and GTT (associated with diabetes)
Polyhydramnios risks
Placental abruption, malpresentation, cord prolapse, large for gestation child, C-section, perinatal death
What is routine screening in ante-natal period?
- Fetal anomalies (scan)
- Infectious diseases (HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B)
- Rhesus negative
- Haemoglobinopathies
What is tested for in the DATING SCAN?
Occurs at 11+2-14+1 weeks. Confirm the pregnancy and give a reliable EDD
Also offer COMBINED SCREENING
- CRL (crown-rump length)
- NUCHAL TRANSLUCENCY (abnormal if >3.5mm)
- Maternal blood tests for BhCG and PAPPA (pregnancy associated plasma protein A)
***these will then produce a risk category for Down’s (high risk = >1/150) - 2% of women. NOT DIAGNOSTIC
If combined screening suggests woman is HIGH RISK what is the next stage?
Should be offered either CVS (from 11w) or amniocentesis (from 15w)
- This is a DEFINITIVE test for DOWN, EDWARDs and PATAUS
What if the woman misses combined screening?
If the woman attends for her dating scan later than 14+0 then it is possible she might miss the window for combined screening, in these circumstances she can be offered QUADRUPLE TESTING
can be done between 14+2 and 20+0 and involves a blood test only
80% detection rate and 4.1% chance of false positive
Are there other options for antenatal screening beyond those offered?
There is a test known as NON-INVASIVE PRENATAL TESTING (NIPT) that is a blood test that has a very very good detection rate - not offered on the NHS
When does the ANOMALY scan take place and what sort of things does it look for?
Between 18+0 and 20+6 Structural abnormalities including: -Gastroschisis -Heart defects -Trisomies
What infectious diseases are screened for in pregnancy?
Syphilis, HIV and Hepatitis B (done at booking)