NHS Evidence – women’s health held its third Annual Evidence Update on Antenatal and Pregnancy Care from Monday 28 September – Sunday 4 October. The Evidence Update builds on the accumulated knowledge-base and provides an up-to-date summary of the latest evidence in this area that has been subject to rigorous selection criteria. It is very difficult for busy health professionals to keep up-to-date with the huge volume of literature that is published each year and so the NHS Evidence – women’s health provide specialist collections to do this for you. The contents include:
Information needs
- Provision of information and antenatal education
- Maternity health benefits and working during pregnancy
- Diet
- Medicines
- Exercise, sex, alcohol and smoking
- Travel
Common pregnancy problems
- Emotional changes
- Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy
- Heartburn, constipation, haemorrhoids, varicose veins and vaginal discharge and infections during pregnancy
- Backache, symphysis pubis dysfunction and carpal tunnel syndrome during pregnancy
Antenatal care
- Provision of antenatal care
- Measurement of weight and body mass index, breast examination, pelvic examination, female genital mutilation, domestic violence and psychiatric screening
- Measurement of symphyseal-fundal distance and routine monitoring of fetal movements
- Pregnancy after 41 weeks
- Breech presentation at term
- Maternal obesity
Antenatal ultrasound and fetal heart monitoring
- Gestational age assessment: LMP and ultrasound
- Auscultation of fetal heart and cardiotocography
- Ultrasound assessment in the 2nd and 3rd trimester
Pregnancy complications
- Magnesium sulphate, fetal neuroprotection and preterm delivery
- Progesterone and preterm birth
Screening in pregnancy
Dental treatment during pregnancy
The website and recent update can be viewed here
A PDF version of the 2009 Antenatal and Pregnancy Care Annual Evidence Update is also available