Antenatal_Care_Flashcards
What are some natural remedies for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy recommended by NICE?
Ginger and acupuncture on the ‘p6’ point (by the wrist).
What is the first-line treatment for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy according to NICE?
Antihistamines, with promethazine suggested as first-line by the BNF.
What does NICE recommend about vitamin D during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
Women should be informed about the importance of maintaining adequate vitamin D stores for their own and their baby’s health.
What is the recommended daily intake of vitamin D for pregnant and breastfeeding women?
10 micrograms per day, as found in the Healthy Start multivitamin supplement.
Who should take particular care with vitamin D intake during pregnancy?
Women at risk such as those who are Asian, obese, or have a poor diet.
What are the current guidelines on alcohol consumption during pregnancy?
Pregnant women should not drink alcohol. The safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to the baby to a minimum. Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, with the more you drink, the greater the risk.
summarise Antenatal care: specific points
Antenatal care: specific points
NICE issued guidelines on routine care for the healthy pregnant woman in March 2008
Nausea and vomiting
natural remedies - ginger and acupuncture on the ‘p6’ point (by the wrist) are recommended by NICE
antihistamines should be used first-line (BNF suggests promethazine as first-line)
Vitamin D
NICE recommend ‘All women should be informed at the booking appointment about the importance for their own and their baby’s health of maintaining adequate vitamin D stores during pregnancy and whilst breastfeeding’
‘women may choose to take 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day, as found in the Healthy Start multivitamin supplement’. This was confirmed in 2012 when the Chief Medical Officer advised: ‘All pregnant and breastfeeding women should take a daily supplement containing 10micrograms of vitamin D, to ensure the mothers requirements for vitamin D are met and to build adequate fetal stores for early infancy’
particular care should be taken with women at risk (e.g. Asian, obese, poor diet)
Alcohol
in 2016 the Chief Medical Officer proposed new guidelines in relation to the safe consumption of alcohol following an expert group report.
the government now recommend pregnant women should not drink. The wording of the official advice is ‘If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all, to keep risks to your baby to a minimum. Drinking in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to the baby, with the more you drink the greater the risk.’
A 27-year-old woman has just found out she is pregnant. There is no past medical history of note and this is her first pregnancy. She asks for advice about vitamin D supplementation. What is the most appropriate advice to give?
Offer vitamin D supplementation
Should be avoided - potential risk to developing fetus
Await booking bloods for confirmation of vitamin D levels
Advise to increase milk and soft-cheese consumption e.g. Brie and Stilton
Advise her she can take supplements if she wishes but this is not part of routine NHS antenatal advice
Offer vitamin D supplementation
Soft-cheese should be avoided during pregnancy due to the risk of Listeria
