Antenatal care

Question 1

pre-pregnancy care

Answer 1

advise regarding lifestyle issues particularly diet, substance abuse, start folic acid, cease smoking
aim for ideal BMI
check immunity for rubella/varicella
check thyroid function
essential for women with medical conditions and on medication
pre-pregnancy counselling eg. hereditary conditions

Question 2

Hx of pregnancy

Answer 2

Question 3

initial examination of pregancy presentation

Answer 3

height/weight
BP
urinalysis
abdominal palpation - fundal height, auscultation of FHR, lie, presentation

Question 4

pregnancy screening

Answer 4

Question 5

Rh D negative mother

Answer 5

if mother is Rh D negative and baby is positive some baby blood can enter maternal blood stream (veto-maternal haemorrhage)
mothers immune system can produce antibodies to the baby’s red blood cells and destroy them
the rhesus antibodies remian
next pregnancy if there is a rhesus positive baby, the mother’s antibodies may cross the placenta and destroy the babys rbcs (haemolytic disease of the newborn)