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Substance Misuse in Pregnancy - NHS Lothian

Substance Misuse in Pregnancy - NHS Lothian

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Rout<strong>in</strong>e antenatal screen<strong>in</strong>g at book<strong>in</strong>g<br />

At the book<strong>in</strong>g appo<strong>in</strong>tment, the community midwife will also offer ‘rout<strong>in</strong>e<br />

antenatal screen<strong>in</strong>g’. Blood samples are taken for: HIV, hepatitis B,<br />

rubella, syphilis, blood group and a full blood count.<br />

Please note the follow<strong>in</strong>g regard<strong>in</strong>g blood borne viruses:<br />

• Women who are currently <strong>in</strong>ject<strong>in</strong>g drugs or who have a history of<br />

<strong>in</strong>ject<strong>in</strong>g drug use may be at risk of HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.<br />

• The hepatitis B vacc<strong>in</strong>e can be given safely <strong>in</strong> pregnancy and should be<br />

offered to all women who are likely to <strong>in</strong>ject drugs <strong>in</strong> pregnancy or<br />

whose partner is an <strong>in</strong>ject<strong>in</strong>g drug user.<br />

• The Hepatitis C antibody test is not offered rout<strong>in</strong>ely as part of<br />

antenatal care <strong>in</strong> <strong>Lothian</strong>, however it should be offered to all pregnant<br />

women at risk.<br />

• Many women who use drugs may not have a history of <strong>in</strong>ject<strong>in</strong>g<br />

themselves, but may have a partner who does.<br />

• Non-drug us<strong>in</strong>g women may be at risk of blood borne virus <strong>in</strong>fection if<br />

they have unprotected sex with an <strong>in</strong>fected man.<br />

For more detailed <strong>in</strong>formation on antenatal test<strong>in</strong>g for HIV, hepatitis B<br />

and C and the management of positive women and their babies see<br />

appendix 1.<br />

Other screen<strong>in</strong>g and diagnostic tests<br />

Numerous screen<strong>in</strong>g and diagnostic procedures are offered dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

pregnancy. These are especially important for drug and alcohol us<strong>in</strong>g<br />

women who may be at <strong>in</strong>creased risk of pregnancy complications. Drug use<br />

is associated with an <strong>in</strong>creased risk of <strong>in</strong>trauter<strong>in</strong>e growth restriction<br />

(IUGR) so care should be taken to assess fetal growth by cl<strong>in</strong>ical<br />

exam<strong>in</strong>ation, ultrasound and antenatal fetal monitor<strong>in</strong>g. Staff should be<br />

careful to expla<strong>in</strong> the reasons for any additional tests sensitively to the<br />

woman.<br />

Ultrasound scan is normally arranged for 10 – 14 weeks. It is important<br />

partly to confirm gestational age, but also to provide the mother with a<br />

positive experience of the hospital. <strong>Substance</strong>-misus<strong>in</strong>g women often<br />

worry about fetal abnormality more than any other problem and feel guilty<br />

about the damage they may have caused their baby. In general, it is<br />

<strong>Substance</strong> <strong>Misuse</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Pregnancy</strong><br />

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