Antenatal Care

Question 1

Why is antenatal care important?

Answer 1

Women who receive antenatal care early in pregnancy and who have more antenatal visits tend to have lower maternal and perinatal mortality and better pregnancy outcomes

Question 2

Describe FIVE roles of the midwife during antenatal care

Answer 2

• Promote and monitor physical wellbeing of mother and baby
• Promote and monitor the mother’s psychological, emotional and social wellbeing and provide appropriate support
• Promote health education including smoking cessation
• Provide birth preparation and education for parenthood
• Effective communication with multi-disciplinary teams

Question 3

Describe EIGHT principles of antenatal care

Answer 3

• Midwife’s belief in physiological birth should be explicit in work philosophy and approach to care
• Care should be supported by evidence where possible
• Continuity of care should be encouraged
• Promotion of woman’s self-belief / confidence in normal birth
• Encourage family and wider community support around normal birth
• Provide a calm, positive environment
• Women able to ask questions as they arise
• Additional visits depending on needs

Question 4

What is the schedule of antenatal care for a primigravida?

Answer 4

8-11 weeks - Full blood count, blood group, serology, history taking, blood pressure

11-13 weeks - At the hospital for dating scan

15-16 weeks - Down’s test if required, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination

18-20 weeks - Detailed anomaly scan

22-24 weeks - Mat B1, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart

28 weeks - Full blood count, rhesus status, glucose, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart

31-32 weeks - Early post natal depression score, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart

34 weeks - Early post natal depression score, breast feeding checklist, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart

37-38 weeks - Full blood count, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart

39-40 weeks - Membrane sweep if over 40 weeks, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart

41 weeks - Membrane sweep, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart, arrange an induction

Question 5

What happens at a booking appointment?

Answer 5

Full blood count, blood group, serology, history taking, blood pressure

Question 6

What happens at an 11-13 week appointment?

Answer 6

At hospital for a dating scan

Question 7

What happens at a 15-16 week appointment?

Answer 7

Down’s test if required, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination

Question 8

What happens at a 22-24 week appointment?

Answer 8

Mat B1, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart

Question 9

What happens at a 28 week appointment?

Answer 9

Full blood count, rhesus status, glucose, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart

Question 10

What happens at a 31-32 week appointment?

Answer 10

For primigravida only, Early post natal depression score, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart

Question 11

What happens at a 34 week appointment?

Answer 11

Early post natal depression score for parous women, breast feeding checklist, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart

Question 12

What happens at a 37-38 week appointment?

Answer 12

Full blood count, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart

Question 13

What happens at a 39-40 week appointment?

Answer 13

Membrane sweep if over 40 weeks, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination, fetal heart

Question 14

What happens at a 41 week appointment?

Answer 14

Membrane sweep, blood pressure, urinalysis, abdominal examination,fetal heart, arrange an induction

Question 15

What happens at an 18-20 week appointment?

Answer 15

At hospital for detailed anomaly scan