Booking Clinic

Question 1

What is the booking clinic?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

What topics are covered during the booking clinic?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What bloods are taken at booking?

Answer 3

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.

Question 4

What other measures, other than bloods, are taken at booking appointment?

Answer 4

Weight, height and BMI
Urine for protein and bacteria
Blood pressure
Discuss female genital mutilation
Discuss domestic violence

Question 5

Risk assessment at booking appointment?

Answer 5

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)