Quick Guide - Antenatal Care NHS
Quick Guide - Antenatal Care NHS
Quick Guide - Antenatal Care NHS
Antenatal care
Routine care for the healthy pregnant woman
NICE clinical guideline 62 (partially updates and replaces NICE clinical guideline 6)
Developed by the National Collaborating Centre for Women’s and Children’s Health
About this booklet
This is a quick reference guide that summarises the recommendations NICE has made to the NHS in ‘Antenatal care:
routine care for the healthy pregnant woman’ (NICE clinical guideline 62). This guidance partially updates and replaces
NICE clinical guideline 6 (published October 2003).
In the update, the recommendations on antenatal information, gestational age assessment, vitamin D supplementation,
alcohol consumption, screening for haemoglobinopathies, screening for structural anomalies, screening for Down’s
syndrome, screening for chlamydia, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, asymptomatic bacteriuria, placenta praevia,
preterm birth, and fetal growth and wellbeing, as well as the schedule of antenatal appointments, have changed. In
addition, some recommendations on smoking cessation and mental health have changed because NICE has produced
public health guidance on smoking cessation (NICE public health guidance 10) and the antenatal and postnatal mental
health clinical guideline (NICE clinical guideline 45). Following NICE protocol, we incorporated the relevant
recommendations verbatim into the guideline and marked them clearly. No other recommendations are affected.
Antenatal information 10
Contents
Basic principles of antenatal care 12
Schedule of appointments 13
Lifestyle advice 23
Implementation tools 26
Further information 27
NICE clinical guidelines are recommendations about the treatment and care of people with specific diseases and
conditions in the NHS in England and Wales.
This guidance represents the view of the Institute, which was arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence
available. Healthcare professionals are expected to take it fully into account when exercising their clinical
judgement. The guidance does not, however, override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to
make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or
guardian or carer, and informed by the summary of product characteristics of any drugs they are considering.
Woman-centred care
Women, their partners and their families should always be treated with kindness, respect and dignity.
The views, beliefs and values of the woman, her partner and her family in relation to her care and that of
her baby should be sought and respected at all times.
Women should have the opportunity to make informed decisions about their care and treatment, in
partnership with their healthcare professionals. If women do not have the capacity to make decisions,
healthcare professionals should follow the Department of Health guidelines – ‘Reference guide to consent
Woman-centred care
for examination or treatment’ (2001) (available from www.dh.gov.uk). Since April 2007 healthcare
professionals should also follow a code of practice accompanying the Mental Capacity Act (summary
available from www.publicguardian.gov.uk).
Good communication between healthcare professionals and women is essential. It should be supported
by evidence-based, written information tailored to the woman’s needs. Care and information should be
culturally appropriate. All information should also be accessible to women with additional needs such as
physical, sensory or learning disabilities, and to women who do not speak or read English.
Every opportunity should be taken to provide the woman and her partner or other relevant family
members with the information and support they need.
●
● endocrine disorders or diabetes
requiring insulin ● obesity (body mass index 30 kg/m2 or above)
or underweight (body mass index
● psychiatric disorders (being treated
below 18 kg/m2)
with medication)
● higher risk of developing complications, for
● haematological disorders
example, women aged 40 and older, women
● autoimmune disorders who smoke
● epilepsy requiring anticonvulsant drugs ● women who are particularly vulnerable (such
● malignant disease as teenagers) or who lack social support.
● severe asthma
● is clear, consistent, balanced and accurate, and based on the current evidence
● is supported by written information and may also be provided in different formats.
Remember to:
● respect a woman’s decisions, even when her views are contrary to your own
● provide an opportunity for her to discuss concerns and ask questions
● make sure she understands the information
● give her enough time to make decisions
● explain details of antenatal tests and screening in a setting conducive to discussions (group setting or
one-to-one). This should happen before the booking appointment.
Antenatal information
● the woman’s right to accept or decline a test.
The following pages contain details about information to give to pregnant women at specific times
during their pregnancy. This information can be supported by ‘The pregnancy book’, other relevant
resources such as UK National Screening Committee publications and the Midwives Information and
Resource Service information leaflets (www.infochoice.org).
Maternity records should be structured, standardised, national maternity records, held by the woman.
In an uncomplicated pregnancy, there should be 10 appointments for nulliparous women and
7 appointments for parous women.
Each antenatal appointment should have a structure and a focus. Appointments early in pregnancy
should be longer to provide information and time for discussion about screening so that women can
make informed decisions.
If possible, incorporate routine tests into the appointments to minimise inconvenience to women.
Women should feel able to discuss sensitive issues and disclose problems. Be alert to the symptoms and
signs of domestic violence.
Schedule of appointments
alcohol consumption an opportunity
● all antenatal screening, including risks, benefits and limitations of the to discuss
screening tests. issues and
ask questions.
Be alert to any
factors, clinical
and/or social,
that may affect
the health of
the woman
and baby.
Be alert to any ● Offer blood tests to check blood group and rhesus D status, and screening for
factors, clinical anaemia, haemoglobinopathies, red-cell alloantibodies, hepatitis B virus, HIV,
and/or social, rubella susceptibility and syphilis.
that may affect ● Offer screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria.
the health of ● Inform women younger than 25 years about the high prevalence of chlamydia
the woman infection in their age group, and give details of their local National Chlamydia
and baby. Screening Programme.
● Offer screening for Down’s syndrome.
● Offer early ultrasound scan for gestational age assessment and ultrasound
screening for structural anomalies.
● Identify women who have had genital mutilation (FGM).
Schedule of appointments
● exercise, including pelvic floor exercises issues and
● antenatal screening, including risks and benefits of the screening tests ask questions.
● the pregnancy care pathway Be alert to any
● planning place of birth (refer to ‘Intrapartum care’ [NICE clinical guideline 55], factors, clinical
available from www.nice.org.uk/CG055). and/or social,
● breastfeeding, including workshops that may affect
the health of
● participant-led antenatal classes the woman
● maternity benefits. and baby.
Schedule of appointments
Give specific information on:
● the routine anomaly scan. issues and
ask questions.
1 The technology appraisal guidance ‘Guidance on the use of routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis
for RhD-negative women’ (NICE technology appraisal 41) is being updated and is expected to be
published in June 2008.
Schedule of appointments
Checks and tests issues and
● Review, discuss and record the results of screening tests undertaken at 28 weeks. ask questions.
● Measure blood pressure and test urine for proteinuria.
Be alert to any
● Offer a second dose of anti-D prophylaxis to women who are rhesus D-negative1. factors, clinical
● Measure and plot symphysis–fundal height. and/or social,
that may affect
Give specific information on:
the health of
● preparation for labour and birth, including the birth plan, recognising active
the woman
labour and coping with pain. and baby.
1 The technology appraisal guidance ‘Guidance on the use of routine antenatal anti-D prophylaxis
for RhD-negative women’ (NICE technology appraisal 41) is being updated and is expected to be
published in June 2008.
2 The clinical guideline ‘Induction of labour’ is being updated and is expected to be published in
June 2008.
Schedule of appointments
Checks and tests issues and
For women who have not given birth by 41 weeks: ask questions.
● offer a membrane sweep2 Be alert to any
● offer induction of labour2 factors, clinical
and/or social,
● measure blood pressure and test urine for proteinuria
that may affect
● measure and plot symphysis–fundal height. the health of
the woman
and baby.
From 42 weeks, offer women who decline induction of labour increased
monitoring (at least twice-weekly cardiotocography and ultrasound examination
of maximum amniotic pool depth).
2 The clinical guideline ‘Induction of labour’ is being updated and is expected to be published in
June 2008.
Nutritional Recommend supplementation with folic acid before conception and throughout the first
Lifestyle advice
supplements 12 weeks (400 micrograms per day).
Advise women of the importance of vitamin D intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding
(10 micrograms per day). Ensure women at risk of deficiency are following this advice.
Do not recommend routine iron supplementation.
Advise women of the risk of birth defects associated with vitamin A, and to avoid vitamin A
supplementation (above 700 micrograms) and liver products.
Avoiding infection Advise women how to reduce the risk of listeriosis and salmonella, and how to avoid
toxoplasmosis infection.
Medicines Prescribe as few medicines as possible, and only in circumstances where the benefit
outweighs the risk.
Advise women to use over-the-counter medicines as little as possible.
continued
Exercise There is no risk associated with starting or continuing moderate exercise. However, sports
that may cause abdominal trauma, falls or excessive joint stress, and scuba diving, should
be avoided.
Lifestyle advice
Sexual intercourse Reassure women that intercourse is thought to be safe during pregnancy.
Alcohol Advise women planning a pregnancy to avoid alcohol in the first 3 months if possible.
If women choose to drink alcohol, advise them to drink no more than 1 to 2 UK units once
or twice a week (1 unit equals half a pint of ordinary strength lager or beer, or one shot
[25 ml] of spirits. One small [125 ml] glass of wine is equal to 1.5 UK units). At this low
level there is no evidence of harm.
Advise women to avoid getting drunk and to avoid binge drinking.
Smoking Discuss smoking status and give information about the risks of smoking during pregnancy.
Give information, advice and support on how to stop smoking throughout the pregnancy.
Give details of, and encourage women to use, NHS Stop Smoking Services and the NHS
Pregnancy Smoking Helpline (0800 169 9 169).
Discuss nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
If women are unable to quit, encourage them to reduce smoking.
Air travel Long-haul air travel is associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis, although the
possibility of any additional risk in pregnancy is unclear.
In the general population, compression stockings are effective in reducing the risk.
Car travel Advise women that the seat belt should go ‘above and below the bump, not over it’.
Lifestyle advice
Travel abroad Advise women to discuss flying, vaccinations and travel insurance with their midwife
or doctor.
Further information
healthcare professionals.
low-income households and smoking cessation.
● The NICE guideline – all the recommendations. NICE is updating its guidance on induction of
● ‘Understanding NICE guidance’ – information labour and the use of routine antenatal anti-D
for patients and carers. prophylaxis for RhD-negative women.
● The full guideline – all the recommendations, Check our website for more information.
details of how they were developed, and
reviews of the evidence they were based on. Updating the guideline
This guideline will be updated as needed, and
For printed copies of the quick reference guide or
information about the progress of any update
‘Understanding NICE guidance’, phone NICE
will be posted on the NICE website
publications on 0845 003 7783 or email
(www.nice.org.uk/CG062).
[email protected] and quote:
● N1482 (quick reference guide)
● N1483 (‘Understanding NICE guidance’).
www.nice.org.uk