Booking

• The booking clinic is the initial appointment to discuss the pregnancy and arrange plans for the pregnancy. This ideally occurs before 10 weeks gestation.
• 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
• 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)
  • Are also offered screening for infectious diseases: HIV, hepatitis B and 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 Measures

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