Obstetrics is the field of medicine which encompasses the care of a woman during pregnancy and childbirth. A good history taking is important to make the pregnancy and childbirth better and avoid any complications.

1. History Taking in
Obstetrics
Kavya Liyanage

2. Main Topics
• Demographic history
• About this pregnancy
• Ultrasound scan
• Past obstetric history
• Gynecological history
• Past medical and surgical history
• Psychiatric history
• Family history
• Social history
• Drug history
• Allergies

3. Demographic
history
⚫Name
⚫Age
⚫Occupation
⚫Ethnic background
⚫Presenting complaint or reason for attending

4. About this
pregnancy
⚫Gestation
⚫Last menstrual period (LMP)
⚫Estimated date of delivery (EDD)
⚫Dates as calculated from ultrasound
⚫Single/multiple (chronicity)
⚫Details about presenting complaint
⚫What actions are taken?
⚫Is there any plan for the rest of the pregnancy?
⚫What are the patient’s main concerns?
⚫Have there been any other problem in this pregnancy?
⚫Has there been any bleeding, contractions or loss of
fluids vaginally?

5. Ultrasound
⚫What scans have been performed?
⚫Why?
⚫Were any problems identified?

6. Past obstetric
history
⚫Were there any previous pregnancies?
⚫If were, their outcomes in order

7. Gynecological
history
⚫Regularity of periods
⚫Contraceptive history
⚫Previous infections and their teatments
⚫Previous cervical smear performed and their
results and if any, treatments
⚫Previous gynecological surgery

8. Past medical
and
surgical
history
⚫Relevant medical problems
⚫Any previous operations; types of anaesthetic
used and any complications

9. Psychiatric
history
⚫Postpartum blues or depression
⚫Depression unrelated to pregnancy
⚫Major psychiatric illnesses

10. Family history
⚫Diabetes
⚫Hypertension
⚫Genetic problems
⚫Psychiatric problems

11. Social history
⚫Smoking/ alcohol/ drugs
⚫Marital status
⚫Occupation, partner’s occupation
⚫Help at home
⚫Housing problems

12. Drug history
⚫All medication including over-the-counter
medication
⚫Folate supplementation

13. Allergies
⚫Any allergies
⚫What problems do they cause?

14. Thank you!