A positive screening test must be followed by an invasive diagnostic test (chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis) to definitively diagnose chromosome abnormalities. Ketonuria in diabetic women, indicates the presence of ketoacidosis, and can be a sign of possible impending coma.  Young adults are more prone to ketoacidosis, especially in conjunction with other problems or infections. Assess the frequency, type, and amount of exercise she does to determine if her pattern of activities is still recommended during pregnancy. There are vaccines that are not friendly for a pregnant woman; however, vaccines such as influenza and poliomyelitis can be administered. A 50-g oral toward the end of the first trimester should be performed to rule out gestational diabetes. You will receive the highest level of coordinated care from a board-certified obstetrician. This test is usually a routine test at the first visit only.             Differential Smear (diff). Anemia is a general term and there is disagreement as to what value indicates anemia.  Certainly, the lower the lab value, the worse is the anemia.  However, if the Hgb or Hct is lowered, the woman will need to be assessed further for the type of anemia, the cause and the treatment. Due date. It is crucial for the pregnant women working as it looks at the common hazards, for example, the working condition, environment, movement, postures, and backaches. PHN initials = assessment is consistent with care pathway. Marianne is a staff nurse during the day and a Nurseslabs writer at night. Learning Outcome: 8 Relate the components of the subsequent prenatal history and assessment to the progress of pregnancy and the nursing care of the prenatal patient. This blood typing is routinely performed, even though the woman may say she knows her blood type.  Often they are mistaken, and the type they submit is not their type.  Incompatibility may exist for the infant if, for instance, her type is O, and the male partner is A, B, or AB.  This incompatibility is rare, but can happen. Normally, pregnancy brings about a slight decrease in the woman’s blood pressure.  The cardiac output increases, in some cases, up to 50%.  The higher cardiac output is due to an increase in blood volume, body weight, and increased metabolism during normal pregnancy.  This usually continues throughout the  entire pregnancy, except during the late phase of pregnancy, due to impeded  Early and regular prenatal visits help your health care provider monitor your health and the growth of the fetus. A is the number of miscarriages or therapeutic abortions. Prenatal Care Early and regular prenatal care dramatically reduces infant and maternal morbidity and mortality and offers a unique opportunity for nurses to influence the family’s health. Welcome to the Prenatal Nursing Care unit of the Maternity Series. Most family practice doctors cannot perform cesarean deliveries. This chapter will present the most commonly used tests for screening certain “abnormal” conditions in the pregnant woman.  It goes without saying that these are not all of the tests that can be used.  There are many other tests that could possibly be performed, especially in the case of complications of pregnancy.  Always be aware of the fact that each facility or physician will have a different protocol, be informed of that and use that, we well as using your nursing skills of assessment learned in this booklet. Generic pregnancy risk assessment is used and suitable or controlling the risk of health and the safety of the mothers undertaking the tasks and are being affected by the activity. Antenatal Assessment Dr. Kailash Nagar Assistant Professor Dept. Once a pregnancy is suspected and, in some cases, ten-tatively confirmed by a home pregnancy test, the woman should seek prenatal care to promote a healthy outcome. The pregnant woman’s first prenatal visit should be the building block of a healthy, happy pregnancy. Guidance on hazards and control measures to consider when undertaking a pregnancy risk assessment. Most women do not know for sure if they have ever had rubella.  This is due to the mild symptoms which are typical of the disease.  Therefore, if the titer is high (1:16), it suggests that the woman is immune to the disease.  If the titer is low (1:8 or less), it suggests that the woman is susceptible. This section will present the importance of assessment of the vital signs of the woman, in particular the blood pressure.  Monitoring the blood pressure is one of  the most important dimensions of prenatal care.  A sustained elevation of the blood pressure can indicate a threat to the mother and/or fetus. And a high protein diet with plenty of fluids. Physical . If you're pregnant, you may be unsure how coronavirus (COVID-19) could affect you, your baby and your pregnancy care. The assessment tools will guide health care providers in their assessment of prenatal factors that have been found to be strongly associated with at least one poor postpartum outcome. Assess any breast lumps, secretions, pain upon palpation of the breast, or tenderness. Elevated blood pressure, as we already stated, can indicate a severe risk for the mother and fetus.  Normal elevations are common for very short time periods.  However, any time the pressure is above 140/systolic, or /90 diastolic, it can be a risk to both mother and fetus.