Booking Clinic Flashcards
What is the booking clinic?
The booking clinic is the initial appointment to discuss the pregnancy and arrange plans for the pregnancy. This ideally occurs before 10 weeks gestation. The woman meets with a midwife to discuss all aspects of pregnancy. She will get a green book that documents the progress during the pregnancy.
What topics are covered in the booking clinic?
Pregnancy-related topics are covered during the booking clinic:
- What to expect at different stages of pregnancy
- Lifestyle advice in pregnancy (e.g. not smoking)
- Supplements (e.g. folic acid and vitamin D)
- Plans for birth
- Screening tests (e.g. Downs screening)
- Antenatal classes
- Breastfeeding classes
- Discuss mental health
What blood tests are taken in the booking clinic?
A set of booking bloods are taken for:
- Blood group, antibodies and rhesus D status
- Full blood count for anaemia
- Screening for thalassaemia (all women) and sickle cell disease (women at higher risk)
Patients are also offered screening for infectious diseases, by testing antibodies for:
- HIV
- Hepatitis B
- Syphilis
Screening for Down’s syndrome may be initiated depending on the gestational age. Bloods required for the combined test are taken from 11 weeks onwards.
Other than blood tests, what other measurements are taking in the booking clinic?
- Weight, height and BMI
- Urine for protein and bacteria
- Blood pressure
- Discuss female genital mutilation
- Discuss domestic violence
The risk factors for other conditions is assessed in the booking clinic. What conditions are these?
Women are assessed for risk factors for other conditions, and plans are put in place with additional appointments booked. These conditions include:
- Rhesus negative (book anti-D prophylaxis)
- Gestational diabetes (book oral glucose tolerance test)
- Fetal growth restriction (book additional growth scans)
- Venous thromboembolism (provide prophylactic LMWH if high risk)
- Pre-eclampsia (provide aspirin if high risk)
