Haematological disorders

When you have completed this course, you will be able to:

• describe the aetiology and the maternal and fetal effects of anaemia in pregnancy
• describe how to detect and manage anaemia antenatally
• describe the aetiology and diagnosis of haemoglobinopathies in pregnancy
• describe the implications for, and management in pregnancy, of thalassaemias and sickle cell disease
• describe the normal mechanism of coagulation and how this alters in pregnancy
• conduct prenatal counselling and the subsequent management of those women with inherited bleeding disorders
• manage the antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care of a women with a previous thromboembolism or with an inherited thrombophilia
• diagnose and treat a thromboembolic event in pregnancy.

Dr Alexandra Emms (2023)
Dr Alexandra Emms MBChB MRCOG is a Senior Clinical Fellow in Fetal Medicine at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire.

Dr Alice Poskett (2023)
Dr Alice Poskett MBBS MRCOG is an Obstetrics and Gynaecology trainee in the West Midlands deanery.

This course is intended to help clinicians gain core knowledge for O&G training and the MRCOG examinations. It can also be used by O&G consultants to refresh their knowledge of the area or for teaching.

The content of this course relates to the following Capabilities in Practice (CiPs) and key skills.

CiP 1: Clinical skills and patient care
All key skills covered

CiP 6: Developing self & others
Commits to continued learning

CiP 9: Emergency gynaecology and early pregnancy
Manages non-pregnancy vaginal bleeding

CiP 10: Emergency obstetrics
Manages pain and bleeding in pregnancy
Manages concerns about fetal wellbeing
Manages labour
Manages induction, augmentation of labour
Manages emergency birth, postpartum problems
Manages maternal collapse

CiP 11: Non-emergency gynaecology and early pregnancy
Manages abnormal vaginal bleeding

CiP 12: Non-emergency obstetrics
Manages pre-existing medical conditions in the pregnant woman
Manages conditions arising in pregnancy
Manages fetal concerns
Supports antenatal decision making

Further details about each CiP can be found within the O&G Core Curriculum 2024 Definitive Document, available here.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Reducing the Risk of Thrombosis and Embolism during Pregnancy and the Puerperium. Green-top Guideline No. 37a.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Thrombosis and Embolism during Pregnancy and the Puerperium: Acute Management. Green-top Guideline No. 37b.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Sickle Cell Disease in Pregnancy, Management of. Green-top Guideline No. 61.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The Management of Women with Red Cell Antibodies during Pregnancy. Green-top Guideline No. 65.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Management of Beta Thalassaemia in Pregnancy. Green-top Guideline No. 66.

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Management of Inherited Bleeding Disorders in Pregnancy. Green-top Guideline No. 71.