Antenatal care
Routine care of a normal pregnancy, screening tests, medications and vaccination. Expect questions on what is tested at which gestation.
High-yield points
Booking bloods: FBC, blood group and antibodies, rubella immunity, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and C, and urine culture for asymptomatic bacteriuria.
Aneuploidy screening: combined first trimester screening (11-14 weeks) or cell-free DNA (NIPT) from 10 weeks, after counselling.
Morphology ultrasound at 18-20 weeks.
Gestational diabetes: 75 g OGTT at 24-28 weeks; diagnosis if fasting 5.1, 1-hour 10.0 or 2-hour 8.5 mmol/L or higher.
Rh D-negative women: routine prophylactic anti-D at 28 and 34 weeks, and after sensitising events.
Folic acid 0.5 mg daily from before conception (5 mg if high risk: diabetes, obesity, antiepileptics, prior neural tube defect); iodine 150 ug daily.
Vaccines in every pregnancy: pertussis (dTpa) ideally 20-32 weeks and influenza at any stage; RSV vaccine is offered in the third trimester.
Low-dose aspirin (150 mg at night) from 12-16 weeks for women at high risk of pre-eclampsia.
India vs Australia
Where the answer the AMC marks correct differs from what’s usually taught in Indian MBBS.
| Aspect | India (MBBS)What you learn in MBBS | Australia (AMC)What the exam marks as correct |
|---|---|---|
| Who provides care | Obstetrician-led; government schemes promote institutional delivery. | GP shared care, midwifery care or obstetrician, public or private. Continuity of carer is valued. |
| Gestational diabetes testing | DIPSI single-step non-fasting 75 g test is common. | Fasting 75 g OGTT at 24-28 weeks (IADPSG criteria), earlier if high risk. |
| Supplements | Routine iron-folic acid and calcium for all, plus deworming. | Folic acid before conception (5 mg if high risk) and iodine 150 mcg. Iron only if deficient, not routinely. |
| Vaccines in pregnancy | Td (tetanus-diphtheria) doses. | Pertussis (dTpa) at 20-32 weeks, influenza any trimester, and RSV vaccine in the third trimester. |
| Syphilis | Tested once at booking. | Tested at booking, and many jurisdictions recommend repeat testing later in pregnancy due to outbreaks, especially in northern Australia. |
Who provides care
India (MBBS)
Obstetrician-led; government schemes promote institutional delivery.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
GP shared care, midwifery care or obstetrician, public or private. Continuity of carer is valued.
Gestational diabetes testing
India (MBBS)
DIPSI single-step non-fasting 75 g test is common.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Fasting 75 g OGTT at 24-28 weeks (IADPSG criteria), earlier if high risk.
Supplements
India (MBBS)
Routine iron-folic acid and calcium for all, plus deworming.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Folic acid before conception (5 mg if high risk) and iodine 150 mcg. Iron only if deficient, not routinely.
Vaccines in pregnancy
India (MBBS)
Td (tetanus-diphtheria) doses.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Pertussis (dTpa) at 20-32 weeks, influenza any trimester, and RSV vaccine in the third trimester.
Syphilis
India (MBBS)
Tested once at booking.
Australia (AMC): what the exam expects
Tested at booking, and many jurisdictions recommend repeat testing later in pregnancy due to outbreaks, especially in northern Australia.
The Australian context
Antenatal care can be led by GPs (shared care), midwives or obstetricians, in public or private systems. Syphilis has re-emerged, particularly in northern Australia, and many jurisdictions now recommend repeat syphilis testing later in pregnancy. The national Pregnancy Care Guidelines have specific advice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.