Obs histry taking sheet code made easy memory aid
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Here's a complete Obstetric History Taking Sheet with memory aids β designed for OSCEs, ward rounds, and clinical practice.
π€° Obstetric History Taking β CODE Made Easy
Use the master mnemonic "GPALM CAMP DAFFS" to cover every section:
π MASTER MNEMONIC: GPALM CAMP DAFFS
| Letter | Section |
|---|---|
| G | Gravida / Parity |
| P | Present Pregnancy |
| A | Antenatal History |
| L | LMP & EDD |
| M | Medical & Surgical History |
| C | Complaints (Presenting) |
| A | Allergies |
| M | Medications & Drugs |
| P | Previous Obstetric History |
| D | Diet, Supplements, Lifestyle |
| A | Antenatal Screening Results |
| F | Family History |
| F | Fetal movements |
| S | Social History |
1. G β Gravida & Parity
Mnemonic: "GTPAL"
| Letter | Meaning |
|---|---|
| G | Gravida β total number of pregnancies (including current) |
| T | Term deliveries (β₯37 weeks) |
| P | Preterm deliveries (24β36+6 weeks) |
| A | Abortions (miscarriages + TOPs, <24 weeks) |
| L | Living children |
Example: G3 T1 P1 A1 L2
2. P β Presenting Complaint
Use "SOCRATES" for any pain complaint:
| S | Site |
| O | Onset |
| C | Character |
| R | Radiation |
| A | Associated symptoms |
| T | Timing |
| E | Exacerbating / relieving factors |
| S | Severity (0β10) |
Common obs complaints to screen:
- Vaginal bleeding β PLACE (Placenta praevia, Labour, Abruption, Cervical, Ectopic/vasa)
- PV discharge
- Decreased fetal movements
- Headache / visual disturbance / epigastric pain (think pre-eclampsia)
- Swelling (DVT / oedema)
- Urinary symptoms
- Contractions
3. A/L β Antenatal History & LMP/EDD
"DATES"
| D | Date of LMP |
| A | Are cycles regular? |
| T | Term (EDD) β Naegele's rule: LMP + 9 months + 7 days |
| E | Early USS β confirm dates? |
| S | Scans done (dating, anomaly, growth) |
4. P β Previous Obstetric History
For each previous pregnancy, ask:
"MODE"
| M | Mode of delivery (SVD, instrumental, LSCS) |
| O | Outcome (live birth, stillbirth, miscarriage, TOP) |
| D | Details (gestation, birth weight, complications) |
| E | Extras (NICU admission, neonatal problems) |
Key complications to ask about:
- Pre-eclampsia / eclampsia
- Gestational diabetes
- PPH
- Preterm labour
- Placenta praevia / abruption
- Previous uterine scar (LSCS β uterine rupture risk)
5. M β Medical / Surgical History
Ask about conditions with direct obstetric relevance β mnemonic "HIDE CATS":
| H | Hypertension / cardiac disease |
| I | Iron-deficiency anaemia / haemoglobinopathies (sickle cell, thal) |
| D | Diabetes (pre-existing or gestational) |
| E | Epilepsy / neurological conditions |
| C | Clotting disorders (thrombophilia, antiphospholipid syndrome) |
| A | Autoimmune (lupus, thyroid disease) |
| T | Thyroid dysfunction |
| S | Surgical history (uterine surgery, appendicectomy) |
6. C β Current Medications & Allergies
- Pre-existing meds β check for teratogens (ACEi, statins, warfarin, methotrexate, valproate)
- Folic acid 400 mcg/day (high-risk: 5 mg/day β epilepsy, obesity, previous NTD)
- Vitamin D supplementation
- Illicit drug use, alcohol, smoking β CAGE screen
- Document allergies with reaction type
7. F β Fetal Movements
"FETAL"
| F | First felt (quickening β ~18β20 wks primip, ~16β18 wks multip) |
| E | Expected pattern established? |
| T | Today β any change? |
| A | Any reduction (count <10 in 12 hours is concerning) |
| L | Last episode of reduced movements (if applicable) |
8. F β Family History
Ask specifically:
- Diabetes mellitus (T2DM β gestational DM risk)
- Hypertension / cardiac disease
- Thrombophilia / clotting disorders
- Genetic conditions (CF, sickle cell, thalassaemia, Down syndrome)
- Multiple pregnancies (if spontaneous β fraternal twins are familial)
9. S β Social History
"SHAVED"
| S | Smoking (packs/day, advised to stop β refer to cessation) |
| H | Home situation (partner, children, support network) |
| A | Alcohol (units/week β safe limit = 0 in pregnancy) |
| V | Vocation / occupation (teratogen exposure at work?) |
| E | Emotional wellbeing / mental health (Edinburgh PND scale postnatally) |
| D | Domestic violence (ask sensitively and alone) |
β Quick One-Page Summary Card
OBSTETRIC HISTORY = GPALM CAMP DAFFS
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
G Gravida/Parity β GTPAL
P Presenting complaint β SOCRATES
A Antenatal checks β DATES
L LMP & EDD β Naegele's rule
M Medical hx β HIDE CATS
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
C Complaint detail β site/onset/character
A Allergies β type of reaction
M Medications β teratogen check
P Previous Obs hx β MODE (per pregnancy)
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
D Diet & supplements β folic acid, vit D
A Antenatal screens β dating USS, anomaly scan, bloods
F Family hx β DM, hypertension, genetic
F Fetal movements β FETAL
S Social hx β SHAVED
ββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββββ
π¨ Red Flags Never to Miss
| Symptom | Think |
|---|---|
| Headache + visual disturbance + epigastric pain + oedema | Pre-eclampsia |
| PV bleeding + pain | Abruption / ectopic |
| PV bleeding + painless | Placenta praevia |
| Reduced fetal movements | IUGR / fetal compromise |
| Unilateral leg swelling + pain | DVT |
| Fever + loin pain | Pyelonephritis |
| Severe vomiting | Hyperemesis gravidarum |
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