Don’t Miss These Obstetric Red Flags! History Taking for Exams & Practice

In this episode, we break down how to take a safe, structured obstetric history.Obstetric histories can feel overwhelming — you’re assessing both the mother and the baby, while also screening for potentially life-threatening complications. This episode gives you a clear structure to stay safe in exams and clinical practice.We cover:• How to structure the presenting complaint• Characterising bleeding, pain and discharge• Reduced fetal movements• Head-to-toe maternal screening• Current pregnancy history (scans, screening, complications)• Past obstetric history• Medical and medication history in pregnancy• Vaccines and supplements (folic acid)• Social history and safeguarding• Key red flags (pre-eclampsia, abruption, PE, DVT, sepsis)• When to escalate urgentlyThis episode is ideal for:Medical studentsOSCE preparationObstetrics & gynaecology placementsGP and emergency medicine rotationsFoundation doctorsA clear structure keeps you safe — both in exams and in real clinical settings.