Antenatal care of uncomplicated pregnancies

Question 1

Antenatal care: purpose of booking?

Answer 1

1) Meet the midwife
2) Risk assessment
3) Plan
4) Health promotion

Question 2

What happens when you meet the midwife?

Answer 2

Antenatal care is established
A trusting relationship between the midwife and woman is built
The pregnancy is dated
Hand held notes are made

Question 3

What happens during the risk assessment?

Answer 3

1) potential risk factors that may complicate the pregnancy are identified
2) baseline observations are done e.g height weight booking BP
3) blood tests are taken
4) history is taken: Physical, social, medical, family, obstetric
5) discussion about life style choices nutrition, obesity, alcohol, drugs and smoking

Question 4

How is an antenatal plan made?

Answer 4

• Discuss options for antenatal screening
• Discuss options for place of birth
• Agree on an appropriate schedule and model of care
• Discuss parental information and the involvement of other agencies
• let the woman make an INFORMED CHOICE (NMC code 2015

Question 5

How are antenatal appointments determined?

Answer 5

This is determined by the woman’s needs
For an uncomplicated primip pregnancy 10 appointments is adequate
For an uncomplicated multip pregnancy 7 appointments is okay

Question 6

What is the quality standard for antenatal care?

Answer 6

• pregnant women are supposed to access antenatal care by ten weeks
• pregnant women should be cared for by a named midwife throughout
• pregnant women with a high BMI are offered advise from a trained person
• pregnant smokers referred to top smoking services
• pregnant women are offered tests for gestational diabetes if they are at risk

Question 7

What does the health promotion part of being a midwife entail?

Answer 7

Life style choices are discussed:

• Nutrition
• Food Hygiene
• Supplements
• Alcohol - causes increased harm to the unborn baby or miscarriage. One or two units a week however doesn’t harm the baby.
• Recreational drugs
• Smoking

Question 8

Food to avoid in pregnancy?

Answer 8

• types of cheese such as Brie or Camembert (can contain listeria)
• Raw or partially cooked eggs or meat
• Fish such as swordfish and shark
• Raw shellfish
• Unpasteurised milk
• Pate
• Liver
  Caffeine should be limited

Question 9

What is not acceptable for midwives to do with confidential info?

Answer 9

• discuss matters related to people under their care outside of a clinical setting
• discuss a case with a colleague in a public place
• leave record’s unattended

Question 10

Common ailments during pregnancy?

Answer 10

• backache
• constipation
• heart burn
• morning sickness
• leg ache and cramps
• piles
• sleeplessness and tiredness
• swollen ankles fat feet and fingers
• varicose veins