PATIENT DATA

'What about my baby?'

Problem Synopsis

Mrs Leong Tring is a 41 year old woman who presents to the GP complaining of nausea and vomiting in the mornings for the last 4 weeks, and seems likely to be pregnant.

Menstrual History

  • LMP - 14 weeks ago (2 missed periods)
  • Periods are usually fairly regular, 3 days every 27-33 days
  • Previous Pregnancies - nil
  • Contraception used - nil used - she says that they tried for a baby for some years but it never happened, so why bother with contraception!

Abdominal Examination

  • Abdomen not tender to palpation, no masses or organomegaly
  • Uterine fundus felt arising from the pelvis

Office Test

  • Pregnancy test - positive

Diagnostic decision:

  • Pregnancy of about 11 weeks gestation

Management Plan

  • Mrs Tring is congratulated on her successful pregnancy, and referred to the ante-natal clinic for further routine care for this pregnancy
  • Now she knows the cause of the problem, she prefers not to take any medications as the morning sickness should soon cease naturally, and she does not want to put her baby's health and development at risk

What is the purpose of antenatal care?

What items will you collect in your ante-natal care program, and why?

When you have a plan, PROCEED

 


Web demo notes:

These are the typical examination items that a practitioner would undertake in this situation, so helping to form the examination 'proforma' for the students. Alongside this students have structured sessions where examination is demonstrated to them, and opportunities to practise their examination skills on patients in the nearby clinics.

In many cases there will be findings reported that are unfamiliar or inexplicable in the context of the students' current knowledgebase, and these will be identified as issues for study and research through the study guide that relates to this problem.

Where students are in the early part of their course, there will by now be a large list of study topics, and they will probably not readily be able to continue with the problem without undertaking some study, so the study issues are agreed (from the list of topics supplied with the problem) and the session adjourned. Study will include an overview of the basic sciences relating to the relevant organ system - anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, histology, microbiology etc - as well as an overview of the clinical features of the possible conditions that might be the cause of the problems.

Now click on the PROCEED button below to continue

What is the purpose of antenatal care?

What items will you collect in your ante-natal care program, and why?

When you have a plan, PROCEED