Antenatal Care and Screening Flashcards
What are the objectives of antenatal care?
Detect and manage pre-existing maternal disorders that may affect pregnancy outcomes
Prevent or detect maternal and foetal complications
Detect congenital foetal problems if requested
What antenatal appointments are offered to low risk pregnancies?
Booking visit = 8-12 weeks Review at 16 weeks
Foetal anomaly scan = 20 weeks
Reviews at 25, 29, 31, 34 and 35 weeks
When are women seen by the midwife if they haven’t given birth after 36 weeks?
38, 40, 41 and 42 weeks
What is covered in the history and examination at the booking appointment?
History = obstetric, medical, surgical, medications, allergies, mental health, family, social Examination = height, weight, blood pressure
What bloods are done at the booking appointment?
Haemoglobin, Rhesus status and antibodies, syphilis, HIV, hep b and C, urinalysis
What is the purpose of the US done at the booking appointment?
Confirm viability and whether singleton/multiple
Confirm gestational age = most accurate time
Detect major structural abnormalities
Offer trisomy screening
What is Naegele’s rule used to predict?
Estimated due date = add nine months and seven days (280 days) to date of onset of last menstrual period, only used until US scan is performed
What is used to estimate gestational age in late bookers?
Head circumference
What are the objectives of the 20 week scan for foetal abnormalities?
Reduction in perinatal mortality and morbidity
Potential for in utero treatment
Identification of conditions amenable to neonatal surgery
Prepare women/families and offer reproductive choice
What areas are covered by the foetal antenatal screening programme (FASP)?
Head and neck, face, chest, abdomen, spine, limbs, uterine cavity
What abnormalities are looked for by the foetal antenatal screening programme (FASP)?
Edward’s and Patau’s syndromes
Open spina bifida and lethal skeletal dysplasia
Cleft lip, exomphalos and anencephaly
Diaphragmatic hernia and gastroschisis
Congenital heart disease and bilateral renal agenesis
How common are major structural abnormalities in pregnancy?
Occur in 2-3% = majority occur in low risk pregnancies
What is placenta praevia?
Placenta is low lying and covers all/part of cervix = identified at 20 week anomaly scan
What should be done in women with a low placenta on their 20 week scan?
Repeat another US scan at 32 weeks
Why may you need to do a transvaginal scan to assess placental position?
If foetus is in front of placenta = transabdominal scan can’t get adequate view
What trisomies can be screened for in the first trimester?
Trisomy 21 = Down’s syndrome
Trisomy 18 = Edward’s syndrome
Trisomy 13 = Patau’s syndrome
What are some features of Down’s syndrome?
Impossible to predict outcomes
50% have normal scans
Cardiac defects are common
What are some features of Edward’s syndrome?
Complete trisomy carries high risk of stillbirth
Partial trisomy is life limiting and associated with severe disability
What are some features of Patau’s syndrome?
Complete trisomy is usually lethal
Multiple abnormalities can be seen on scan
What additional tests are offered if there is a high chance for any trisomy?
NIPT = non-invasive prenatal testing