Hello and welcome to the Zero to Finals podcast.

My name is Tom and in this episode I'm going to talk you through the Booking Clinic for

Antinatal Care.

And you can find written notes on this topic at zero tofinals.com slash booking clinic

or in the Antinatal Care section of the zero to finals obstetrics and

gynecology book so let's get straight into it the booking clinic is the initial appointment to discuss

and arrange plans for the pregnancy this ideally occurs before ten weeks gestation the woman meets with a midwife to discuss all aspects of the pregnancy.

She will get a book or a folder that documents all aspects of the pregnancy.

These are the pregnancy notes and need to be carried to all appointments and scans.

Let's talk about education that's given at the booking clinic.

The midwife will discuss pregnancy-related topics during the booking clinic,

including what to expect at different stages of the pregnancy,

lifestyle advice in pregnancy, for example, avoiding smoking.

Supplements, for example, folic acid and vitamin D, plans for birth, screening tests, for

example, whether to go ahead with Down syndrome screening, antinatal classes that are available

during pregnancy, breastfeeding classes and discussing mental health.

Next let's talk about the booking clinic blood tests.

A set of booking bloods are taken for the blood group, antibodies and resus D status,

a full blood count to look for anemia,

and screening for thalassemia in all women and sickle cell disease in women that are at higher risk.

Patients are also offered screening for infectious diseases by testing antibodies for HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis.

Screening for Down syndrome may be initiated depending on the gestational age.

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