Foundation · Discharge · Nursing
Going home after a birth with gestational diabetes
This case practises: Purpose up front · Leaving out what the reader doesn't need · Including every key fact
Writing task
Today's date: 19 November 2026. You are the registered midwife on the Postnatal Ward, Riverside General Hospital. Write a letter to Dr Helen Brooks, General Practitioner, Riverside Family Practice, 3 Quay Street, Riverside, about Mrs Rahman, who is going home today after giving birth. Write in full sentences, not note form, using letter format. Aim for a body of about 180–200 words.
Case notes
In the test you get 5 minutes to read, then 40 minutes to write.
Patient details - Mrs Aisha Rahman, DOB 05/09/1994 (32 y.o.) - 22 Elm Grove, Riverside - Admitted 16/11/2026 in labour; discharge 19/11/2026 Social background - Husband works as an IT engineer - Son (4) attends nursery - Moved from Manchester 2 years ago - Enjoys baking - Pharmacist; plans to return to work in 2027 - Attended antenatal classes at community centre Obstetric history - Second baby; first birth 2022, normal vaginal delivery, no complications - Blood group O positive; rubella immune This pregnancy - Gestational diabetes diagnosed at 26 weeks (glucose tolerance test) - Managed with diet + metformin 500 mg BD - BMI at booking 29 Birth - 17/11/2026: normal vaginal delivery at 38+5 weeks - Baby girl, 3.4 kg; baby blood glucose stable, feeding well - Perineum intact Postnatal - Metformin stopped after birth - Blood glucose 4.8-6.2 mmol/L over 48 h (normal) - BP 118/74; Hb 118 g/L on day 1 - Breastfeeding established Discharge plan - GP: fasting plasma glucose 6-13 weeks after birth to check diabetes has resolved; if normal, annual HbA1c - Pt wishes to discuss contraception at 6-week check - Advise healthy diet, activity, weight management - Early glucose testing in any future pregnancy
Write your letter
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Model answer Try writing your own letter first
Dr Helen Brooks General Practitioner Riverside Family Practice 3 Quay Street Riverside 19 November 2026 Dear Dr Brooks, Re: Mrs Aisha Rahman, DOB 05/09/1994 I am writing to inform you that Mrs Rahman, a 32-year-old woman whose pregnancy was complicated by gestational diabetes, is going home today, and to request a fasting plasma glucose test 6 to 13 weeks after the birth. Mrs Rahman's gestational diabetes was diagnosed at 26 weeks and was managed with diet and metformin 500 mg twice daily. Her BMI at booking was 29. On 17 November, she had a normal vaginal delivery of a healthy baby girl weighing 3.4 kg. Her metformin was stopped after the birth, and her blood glucose has since remained normal, between 4.8 and 6.2 mmol/L. Breastfeeding is well established. I would be grateful if you could arrange the fasting glucose test to confirm that her diabetes has resolved and, if the result is normal, an annual HbA1c. She would also like to discuss contraception at her six-week check. In addition, she would benefit from advice on diet, physical activity and weight management, and she will need early glucose testing in any future pregnancy. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information. Yours sincerely, Registered Midwife Postnatal Ward Riverside General Hospital
What the reader needs
- Gestational diabetes diagnosed at 26 weeks, treated with diet and metformin
- Normal vaginal delivery on 17 November
- Metformin stopped after the birth
- Postnatal blood glucose normal (4.8–6.2 mmol/L)
- Fasting plasma glucose 6–13 weeks after birth; annual HbA1c if normal
- Wishes to discuss contraception at the 6-week check
Details to leave out
- Husband's job
- Son at nursery
- Move from Manchester
- Baking
- Her job and return to work
- Antenatal classes
- Blood group and rubella status
- Intact perineum
- Normal blood pressure and haemoglobin
One good way to write this letter, not the only one. Written by Kurippu; awaiting nurse review.