Antenatal Care

Question 1

What is antenatal care?

Answer 1

The care women receive from professionals during pregnancy

Question 2

What does ‘gravida’ refer to?

Answer 2

The number of times a woman has been pregnant, regardless of outcome

Question 3

What does ‘parity’ refer to?

Answer 3

The number of children a woman has (pregnancy carried past 20 weeks)

Question 4

What do pregnancy tests detect?

Answer 4

Levels of hCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) produced by the placenta in pregnancy.

Question 5

What general info should be given to pregnant women?

Answer 5

1. Folic acid and vitamin D supplements.
2. Nutrition, diet and food hygiene.
3. Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, drinking and recreational drug use (to stop).

Question 6

What does LMP stand for?

Answer 6

Last menstrual period

Question 7

What will a typical antenatal appointment include?

Answer 7

Antenatal screening tests, questions to assess risk

Question 8

What is a dating scan? When is it offered?

Answer 8

Around 8-14 weeks

Scan to accurately date pregnancy and gives estimated due date (EDD)

Question 9

What is an anatomy scan? When is it offered?

Answer 9

18-20 weeks

Checks physical development of baby, can find out sex of baby

Question 10

How many antenatal appointments are first time parents offered?

Answer 10

Up to 10

Question 11

When will antenatal visits become more frequent? What is involved in these appointments?

Answer 11

Around 24 weeks

• Check urine and blood pressure
• Palpate to check baby’s position
• Check baby’s growth
• Listen to baby’s heartbeat

Question 12

How is the baby’s growth measured?

Answer 12

Measuring the distance from the top of the womb to the pubic bone (symphysis-fundal height).

Question 13

What is SFH?

Answer 13

Symphysis fundal height

Question 14

When are postnatal checks performed?

Answer 14

About 6 weeks after delivery

Question 15

What are categories for possible risk to pregnancy?

Answer 15

1. Gynaecological history (e.g. uterine surgery)
2. Obstetric history (e.g. recurrent miscarriage)
3. Existing medical conditions (e.g. cardiac disease)
4. Current pregnancy (e.g. BMI, multiple pregnancy)
5. Foetal conditions (e.g. congenital abnormality)
6. Lifestyle conditions (e.g. drugs, refusal of blood products)

Question 16

What is important to determine in high-risk bookings?

Answer 16

1. Had complicationsin a previous pregnancy or delivery, such as pre-eclampsia or premature birth.
2. Is being treated fora chronic disease, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
3. (Or anyone in her family) has previously had a baby with an abnormality, for example, spina bifida
4. Has a family history of an inherited disease, for example, sickle cell or cystic fibrosis

Question 17

What is a stillbirth?

Answer 17

A baby born dead after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy

Question 18

What is a miscarriage?

Answer 18

If the baby dies before 24 completed weeks of pregnancy

Question 19

How common are stillbirths?

Answer 19

1 in every 200 births

Question 20

What are potential causes of stillbirths?

Answer 20

1. Unexplained
2. Congenital abnormality
3. Placental problems
4. Maternal illness
5. Death during labour

Question 21

What lifestyle is given to pregnancy women?

Answer 21

1. Folic acid
2. Stop smoking
3. No alcohol
4. Nutrition
5. Review current medication

Question 22

What scan is given to ‘high risk’ prenancies?

Answer 22

An extra ‘growth’ USS

• Dating scan
• Anatomy scan
• Growth scan

Question 23

When is a growth scan performed?

Answer 23

Typically at 28 and 34 weeks