Encouraging early antenatal care

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Kunle Emmanuel
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Encouraging pregnant mothers to visit antenatal care clinics

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

The antenatal clinic caters for expectant parents'; the mother's and baby's health is monitored, maintained and optimized to ensure a healthy pregnancy, safe delivery and post delivery period. The clinic helps to detect problems during pregnancy and arrest them so that they do not affect the health of the mother and baby.

The ante natal clinic is run by an obstetrician/gynecologist and experienced midwives who assist mothers as well as counsel them during pregnancy.

Many large public hospitals also make available specialist antenatal clinics that cater for specific pregnancy health conditions or complications. For example, they may offer a diabetes clinic, or high blood pressure clinic, or a premature labour clinic or multiple pregnancy clinics. The hospital may also run a special clinic for women during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy to monitor and investigate threatened miscarriage (or this may be dealt with in the hospital's general emergency department).
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Re: Encouraging pregnant mothers to visit antenatal care cli

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

KILLING MOTHERS AND INFANTS
PRE ECLAMPSIA is responsible for the death of 76,000 pregnant women and 50,000 infants per year. Is gradually increasing and come with symptoms like: High blood pressure, presence of protein in the urine, sudden weight gain, headaches, swelling and blurred vision.
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Re: Encouraging pregnant mothers to visit antenatal care cli

Unread post by Kunle Emmanuel »

Preeclampsia is a condition of during pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in the urine (proteinuria).

Preeclampsia usually occurs after the 34th week of gestation, but it can develop after birth.

Preeclampsia and eclampsia are most common in first-time pregnancies. Pregnant teens and women over 40 are also at increased risk.

Eclampsia is the development of seizures in a woman with severe preeclampsia. It has a 2% mortality (death) rate.

There is no cure for preeclampsia other than delivery of the baby.

Women with mild preeclampsia may be monitored closely to allow the baby to mature. They may be given corticosteroids to help the baby's lungs mature and magnesium sulfate to prevent seizures. Sometimes, medications to lower blood pressure are needed.

Fetal complications of preeclampsia include risk of preterm delivery, oligohydramnios, and slow growth.

Maternal complications of preeclampsia and eclampsia include liver and kidney failure, bleeding and clotting disorders, and HELLP syndrome.

There is no known way to prevent preeclampsia.
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Re: Encouraging pregnant mothers to visit antenatal care cli

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You can feel wonderful during your pregnancy if you take good care of yourself. Increase your odds of a healthy pregnancy by following these sensible steps to keep yourself in top condition:

Eat- Eat five or six well-balanced meals each day and take a prenatal vitamin each day as directed by your obstetrician or midwife. Remember to drink plenty of fluids — at least eight to 10 glasses a day and avoiding caffeine, artificial coloring in food and alcohol. Don’t smoke or allow yourself to be exposed to secondhand smoke.

Exercise – it’s important for your general health and also can help reduce stress. Take a pregnancy exercise class or walk at least fifteen to twenty minutes every day at a moderate pace. Walk in cool, shaded areas or indoors in order to prevent overheating.

Sleep – at least eight hours a night. If you’re suffering from sleep disturbances, take naps during the day and see your physician for advice.

Comfort – wear comfortable, non-restricting shoes and put your feet up several times a day to prevent fatigue and swelling of the feet, legs, and ankles.

Safety – Continue to wear a safety belt while riding in motor vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the shoulder portion of the restraint should be positioned over the collar bone. The lap portion should be placed under the abdomen as low as possible on the hips and across the upper thighs, never above the abdomen. Also, pregnant women should sit as far from the air bag as possible.

No self medication-. Don’t take over-the-counter medications or herbal remedies without first consulting your obstetrician or midwife.

Sources: National Women’s Health Information Center; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
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Encouraging early antenatal care

Unread post by Matron Ben »

When 18-year-old Beatrice Okonkwo (not real names) became pregnant in her auntie’s house, she couldn’t start antenatal clinic until the day her water broke in her 36th week. Her pregnancy, being accidental, weighed her auntie down. Her anger was unbearable as the four young men Beatrice said were responsible for the act denied paternity of the unborn child. The four accused men lived in the same neighbourhood.

The auntie wondered how she would release the sad news to Beatrice’s parents. It was this confusion that made her to forget enrolling her in antenatal clinic.

The first time Beatrice went to hospital, a stone throw from her auntie’s house, she started having slight contractions. No sooner had he gone than she had her baby safely. A similar thing also happened to a certain lady who became pregnant and had to start her antenatal barely three months to the time she was delivered of her baby.

But for the fact that the above mentioned pregnant mothers were lucky to have safe delivery without antenatal does not make it right. Every expectant mum might not be lucky. Don’t be carried away by such examples people make about mothers in the hinterland not going for antenatal who still have their babies strong and safe.

When you are examined and confirmed pregnant, you may start antenatal as early as possible. Some start at eight weeks depending on health condition. The supervision should be regular and periodic according to individual need.

Early antenatal is necessary for the following reasons:

It helps to prevent high blood pressure-induced pregnancy as you would be checked each time you go to the clinic.

Enables the screening of some risk cases, to prevent, detect or treat any early complication. Your doctor would in the process educate you about the physiology of pregnancy and labour by demonstration, charts and diagrams so that fear is removed and psychology is improved.

It is meant for the discussion of delivery. You would know about the place, time, mode, importance of breast-feeding, post-natal care and immunisation.

You would be told the importance of the right diet, rest and enough sleep.

A pregnant mother learns about the importance of taking her drugs at the right time.
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Re: Encouraging early antenatal care

Unread post by Queenet »

Early antenatal is necessary for the following reasons:

Will promote and maintain good physical and mental health during pregnancy through health education on nutrition,
hygiene etc.

Will promote an awareness of the socio-logical aspects of childbearing and the influence these may have on the family.
Build up a trusting relationship between the family and the care-givers, which will encourage client to participate in and
make informed choices about the care she receive.
Will enable the midwife to monitor the progress of pregnancy in order to ensure maternal health and normal fetal development.
Early recognition of deviation from the normal and provide prompt management and treatment as required or referring the woman to appropriate health team.
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Re: Encouraging early antenatal care

Unread post by Queenet »

The choice of your healthcare provider is as important as your growing bump.

Register with a good hospital, attend your antenatal classes, take your supplements, drink enough water and be comfortable with your doctor and feel free to ask any questions. You have a right to know.

If you have any reservations about your healthcare provider, make your concerns known. If unattended to and reservations persist, kindly consider other healthcare providers.

In pregnancy, every little detail counts.

Stay safe, Moms!
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Re: Encouraging pregnant mothers to visit antenatal care cli

Unread post by Queenet »

Good nutrition is the best way to prevent anemia if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Eating foods high in iron content (such as dark green leafy vegetables, red meat, fortified cereals, eggs, and peanuts) can help ensure that you maintain the supply of iron your body needs to function properly.
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Re: Encouraging pregnant mothers to visit antenatal care cli

Unread post by Queenet »

The choice of your healthcare provider is as important as your growing bump.

Register with a good hospital, attend your antenatal classes, take your supplements, drink enough water and BE COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR DOCTOR and feel free to ask any questions. You have a right to know.

If you have any reservations about your healthcare provider, make your concerns known. If unattended to and reservations persist, kindly consider other healthcare providers.

In pregnancy, every little detail counts.
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Re: Encouraging pregnant mothers to visit antenatal care cli

Unread post by Naijanurse »

Antenatal classes ( where you are taken through birth, delivery and newborn care process) help prepare an expectant mom for labour, birth and early parenthood.

You can register for your antenatal class anytime from the 12th week of your pregnancy term. It's recommended that you attend these classes. It may help you have a better birth experience, as well as prepare you for coping in the early weeks after the birth.

Also remember to make it to all your antenatal clinic appointments. No matter the number of times you have been pregnant, attending your antenatal clinic appointment ( when the doctor checks on you to ensure baby and you are fine) is important!

Ensure you don't miss your next appointment moms.
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