A very common question is to ask you to examine a pregnant abdomen - usually 28 weeks +. This is best learned in clinic or on the ward. Midwives make excellent tutors on this. Your technique can be observed and commented on.
Examine this lady who is 36 weeks pregnant.
![Prenatal medical exam. Source: [http://www.usaid.gov/sv/ USAID El Salvador] {{USAID}}](https://patientcontent.blob.core.windows.net/media/Default/StudentArticle/education/normal-labour/36-weeks-woman.jpg)
Your presentation should follow this outline:
On inspection of the abdomen, there is a swelling, consistent with pregnancy.
- There <are || are no> cutaneous signs of pregnancy, such as striae gravidarum and linea nigra.
- There are no visible scars || are visible scars consistent with a prior...>.
- There <are || are no> visible fetal movements.
[Ask mother if tender anywhere on abdomen before touching, and also ask her to mention any discomfort or if feeling faint during the examination]. I measured the symphysio-fundal height on the inches side to reduce observer error, and found it to be <38 centimetres>, which <is || is not> compatible with gestation. The lie is <longitudinal || transverse || oblique> and the back would appear to be on the <right || left>as it offers more resistance to palpation and I feel small parts on the opposite side.
The presentation appears to be <cephalic || breech || shoulder>. The head <is || is not> engaged. The fetus appears clinically <normal || small || large> in size. The liquor volume appears clinically <normal || reduced || increased> The fetal heart was heard under the anterior shoulder at a rate of < > beats per minute.
The technique can be viewed at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qJrkgh6jhg
