Your Antenatal Card

Your Antenatal Card

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The following is some common ways information may be recorded on your pregnancy card and what they mean.

Gestational age and fundal height

The Gestational Age (GA) refers to how far pregnant you are as calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP) or from an early pregnancy ultrasound. for example, if you are 32 weeks pregnant, your baby’s gestational age is 32 weeks and is written as 32. If your pregnancy visit is scheduled halfway between your calculated weeks (for example between 32 and 33 weeks) then it may record as 323 meaning 32 weeks and 3 days.

The Fundal Height (FH) is a measure of the size of the uterus used to assess fetal growth during pregnancy. It is measured from the top of the mother’s uterus to the top of the mother’s pubic bone in centimeters. Generally the measurement is about the same as the baby’s gestational age (For example, 32 weeks = 32 cm). However, it is normal for this to fluctuate 2 to 4 cm higher or lower.

Presentation

It refers to the part of the baby positioned in the woman’s lower belly. During labour the presenting part refers to the part of the baby that leads the way down the birth canal, usually being the crown of the baby’s head, medically referred to as the vertex.

  • If your baby is Cephalic (head down), this is written as C. The other word used is vertex, often written as V.
  • If your baby is Breech (bottom down), this is written as B.
  • If your baby is Transverse  (lying across), this is written as T.

Position

The position of the baby refers to where the baby’s back is lying in relation to their mother’s body, specifically her pelvic bones and back. The position is not usually recorded until after about 34 to 36 weeks of the pregnancy and is written as a 3 word acronym, with letters such as:

L = Left side and also used for lateral (meaning the woman’s side).
R = Right side.
A = Anterior.
P = Posterior.
O = Occipito (the occiput is the term used to describe the back of the baby’s head).

The following explains the different letters used and what they mean.

  • LOA = Left Occipito Anterior
    The baby is lying on their mother’s left side, head down, with their back (and the back of their head or occiput) facing the front of the woman’s belly.
  • LOL = Left Occipito Lateral
    The baby is lying on their mother’s left side, head down, with their back (and the back of their head or occiput) facing woman’s side.
  • LOP = Left Occipito Posterior
    The baby is lying on their mother’s left side, head down, with their back (and the back of their head or occiput) facing woman’s backbone.
  • ROA = Right Occipito Anterior
    The baby is lying on their mother’s right side, head down, with their back (and the back of their head or occiput) facing the front of the woman’s belly.
  • ROL = Right Occipito Lateral
    The baby is lying on their mother’s right side, head down, with their back (and the back of their head or occiput) facing woman’s side.
  • ROP = Right Occipito Posterior
    The baby is lying on their mother’s right side, head down, with their back (and the back of their head or occiput) facing woman’s backbone.

Sometimes the baby’s position is recorded as a small drawing. For example if the drawing looks a little like a 6, your baby would be head down on your right side. If the drawing looks like a 9, you baby would be breech, with their back on your left side.

Engagement or station

Engagement is when the presenting part of the baby moves down into the woman’s pelvis, usually about 1 to 4 weeks before the birth.

The engagement or station is usually measured in 5ths and is based on the fact that the width of an adult hand is about the size of a term baby’s head. When recording engagement on your pregnancy records, usually the amount of the baby’s head that is felt is measured and written down, providing a guide as to how much of the baby’s head is engaged in the pelvis. As a guide:

  • If 5 fingers widths of your baby’s head are felt, it is written as 5/5 palpable or unengaged.
  • If 4 fingers widths of your baby’s head are felt, it is written as 4/5 palpable or 1/5 engaged.
  • If 3 fingers widths of your baby’s head are felt, it is written as 3/5 palpable or 2/5 engaged.
  • If 2 fingers widths of your baby’s head are felt, it is written as 2/5 palpable or 3/5 engaged.
  • If 1 finger width of your baby’s head is felt, it is written as 1/5 palpable or 4/5 engaged.
  • If your baby’s head cannot be felt it is written as fully engaged or not palpable.

Some simply write either engaged or unengaged.

Movements and heartbeat

This is usually recorded as FMF (Fetal Movements Felt).

Some write this as FM+ or just FM with a tick beside it.

The baby’s heart beat is recorded as FHS (Fetal Heart Sounds) or FH+.

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