Antenatal Care

Question 1

How much folic acid is given to the pregnant woman?

Answer 1

400micrograms in a normal pregnancy

500micrograms if epilepsy, obese, diabetic or past history of neural tube defects

Question 2

What are the features of fetal alcohol syndrome?

Answer 2

Growth retardation, various structural defects (particularly facial), multiple joint anomalies and cardiac defects

Question 3

What should be carried out at the booking visit?

Answer 3

• BMI
• Consideration of past pregnancies, including mode of delivery
• Booking bloods - FBC, blood group and antibodies, screening for rubella, syphilis, HIV and hep C, asymptomatic bacteruria
• BM (gestational diabetes)

Question 4

What should be given to woman who are Rh negative?

Answer 4

Anti-D immunoglobulin - to prevent their antibodies from attacking the baby’s red blood cells, causing brain/liver/kidney problems

*given at 28 and 34 weeks gestation, and any sensitising events (such as ECV)

Question 5

In what cases will Anti-D not work?

Answer 5

If the mum has already become sensitised to RH positive, for example in a first pregnancy

Question 6

What is the kleihauer test?

Answer 6

A blood test used to measure the amount of fetal hemoglobin transferred from a fetus to a mother’s bloodstream