Antenatal Care

Antenatal visit with hospital team (usually around 36-38 weeks)
The primary objective of this visit is to anticipate any problems regarding the prospective delivery. Several factors are considered, including the past obstetric history, e.g. a previous Caesarean delivery for lack of progress in labour. Fetal malpresentation or malposistion is sought because these may also indicate a high likelihood of operative delivery. With the increasing number of planned home births, the final place of choice for the delivery is also decided. This is also a good time to finalise the discussions on planned contraception after delivery, especially sterilisation.

The Postdates visits - Induction of labour (41 -42 weeks)

With accurate pregnancy dating, true postdate pregnancies are identified. At this visit a joint decision is taken as to whether an induction of labour is appropriate. This is current practice because of the reported association between postdates pregnancies and poor pregnancy outcome, particularly in order to prevent stillbirths due to the lack of an accurate, reliable test of fetoplacental reserve during those final few weeks of pregnancy. Induction of labour is usually performed by the 42nd week. (Continued next page)