Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care Basic Skills Course ...
Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care Basic Skills Course ...
Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care Basic Skills Course ...
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Reference Manual<br />
Informing the pregnant woman about options for family planning gives her the time to reflect,<br />
talk with friends, talk with her husb<strong>and</strong>/partner, <strong>and</strong> become educated about what choices she<br />
has. Contrary to popular practice, talking about family planning is very important during the<br />
pregnancy, although it may be taboo in some cultures. If the woman is not ready to talk about<br />
all the methods, you can plant the seed <strong>and</strong> provide future opportunities for discussion.<br />
Nutrition during pregnancy<br />
All pregnant women need particularly nutritious meals throughout their pregnancy. A pregnant<br />
woman needs the nutritious foods available to the family: milk, fruit, vegetables, meat, fish,<br />
eggs, grains, peas, <strong>and</strong> beans. All these foods are safe to eat during pregnancy.<br />
Women will feel stronger <strong>and</strong> be healthier during pregnancy if<br />
they eat foods that are rich in iron, vitamin A, <strong>and</strong> folic acid.<br />
These foods include meat, fish, eggs, green leafy vegetables,<br />
<strong>and</strong> orange or yellow fruits <strong>and</strong> vegetables. Growing<br />
adolescent girls may have higher nutritional requirements in<br />
order to support their own growth.<br />
Health care providers can provide pregnant women with iron<br />
tablets to prevent or treat anemia <strong>and</strong>, in vitamin-A-deficient<br />
areas, an adequate dosage of vitamin A to help prevent<br />
infection. Pregnant women should not take more than 10,000 international units (IU) of vitamin<br />
A per day or 25,000 IU per week. Advise mothers to take iodized salt. Women who do not have<br />
enough iodine in their diet are more likely to have miscarriages <strong>and</strong> risk having an infant who is<br />
mentally or physically disabled. Goiter is a clear sign that a woman is not getting enough iodine.<br />
Rest<br />
A pregnant woman needs additional rest during pregnancy. In early pregnancy, the woman will<br />
feel tired as her body becomes accustomed to being pregnant. As the pregnancy advances, the<br />
larger fetus makes greater dem<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> causes greater strains on her body, <strong>and</strong> she will need<br />
more <strong>and</strong> more rest. During pregnancy, in addition to whatever amount of sleep she normally<br />
needs, she should have additional periodic rest periods during the day, preferably lying down<br />
with her feet elevated. In addition, she should avoid sitting or st<strong>and</strong>ing for long periods during<br />
the day.<br />
In most cultures women do not get permission to rest during pregnancy. Many families feel that<br />
if the woman works hard through pregnancy the delivery will be easier. It may be the provider’s<br />
role to play advocate for the woman <strong>and</strong> help her find creative ways to reduce her workload <strong>and</strong><br />
find more time for rest.<br />
Safer sex<br />
To assure good relations between the woman <strong>and</strong> her partner, it is important to address the<br />
issue of sexual intercourse. Sometimes the pregnant woman may not feel the desire to have<br />
sex, <strong>and</strong> she needs to feel empowered enough to refuse. If she does desire having intercourse,<br />
she needs to know that the only time that intercourse is discouraged is if there is suspected<br />
premature rupture of membranes, bleeding, bleeding <strong>and</strong> cramps in the first trimester, or<br />
infection of the partner; <strong>and</strong> that having sex will not harm the fetus. In addition, it may be<br />
necessary to make changes in position to accommodate the enlarged abdomen or find<br />
alternative methods of satisfying both male <strong>and</strong> female sexual needs.<br />
<strong>Integrated</strong> maternal <strong>and</strong> newborn care<br />
<strong>Basic</strong> skills course<br />
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