medskl.com is a global, free open access medical education (FOAMEd) project covering the fundamentals of clinical medicine with animations, lectures and concise summaries. medskl.com is working with over 170 award-winning medical school professors to provide content in 200+ clinical presentations for use in the classroom and for physician CME. Obstetrics and Gynecology – Prenatal Care Whiteboard Animation Transcript with Fiona Mattatall, MD medskl.com/Module/Index/prenatal-care In medicine we don’t often affect the care of more than one patient at a time. With prenatal care we have two patients: the mother and the fetus. Prenatal care includes a series of office visits spanning the pregnancy to postpartum. Also performed are investigations throughout. The goal of this care is to minimize morbidity and mortality for both mother and fetus and maximize chance of a safe delivery. Understanding your patient’s medical history is very important as medical conditions can affect health of the pregnant woman and fetus. Conversely, pregnancy can affect the course of medical conditions. Each medication, prescription or over-the-counter, needs to be reviewed, as many are not considered safe in pregnancy. No medication should be taken unless necessary. Blood tests during pregnancy screen for common conditions, such as anemia and diabetes. Ultrasounds tell how many fetuses are present and uncover genetic conditions, congenital anomalies, and problems with the placenta. Knowing your patient’s gestational age and estimated due date is key in timing of tests. If her last menstrual period is known, a simple rule is to add 7 days and subtract 3 months for the due date. Early ultrasound measurement of the fetus can aid in dating the pregnancy. After pregnancy, one last visit covers how the patient is recovering from delivery and time for contraceptive counselling. Close care of the pregnant woman makes for a safer pregnancy and delivery for both the mother and baby.

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