Is the physical examination necessary at the antenatal booking visit? A review of 10 000 booking visits

Abstract

It has long been contended that a physical examination at the booking antenatal visit assessing general health, cardiovascular and respiratory function and performing a breast examination, should be the norm. We aimed (1) to determine the number of examinations that resulted in positive findings in otherwise healthy women and (2) to ascertain the impact of these findings on the subsequent pregnancy. This was a retrospective analysis of 10 000 currently active antenatal charts in the medical records department of the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin. The clinical examination was performed in 8413 (84.1%) of cases reviewed. A positive clinical finding was found in 46 cases (0.5%). Cardiac murmurs were the most common finding (n = 34) with a goitre being the next most common finding (n = 5). The remaining cases comprised a miscellaneous group. In no case was the subsequent pregnancy management altered by these findings.