HEALTH EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES

CARE OF MOTHER

IEC SECTION MEDICAL BRANCH HQ 14 RAPID (S)

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HEALTH EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES

Objectives

Promote and maintain the physical, mental and social health of

mother and baby by providing education on nutrition, personal

hygiene and birthing process Detect and manage complications during pregnancy, whether medical, surgical or obstetrical Develop birth preparedness and complication readiness plan Help prepare mother to breastfeed successfully, experience normal puerperium, and take good care of the child physically, psychologically and socially

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Objectives

Care from a skilled attendant and continuity of care

Preparation for birth and potential complications

Promoting health and preventing disease
Tetanus toxoid, nutritional supplementation, tobacco and alcohol use, etc

Detection of existing diseases and treatment

HIV, syphilis, tuberculosis, other co-existing medical diseases (e.g., hypertension, diabetes)

Early detection and management of complications

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Look for problems requiring additional care

Parameters Skin, general appearance, night blindness, goiter Increased temperature, dysuria Blood pressure, oedema, proteinuria Decreased haemoglobin, pale conjunctiva, palm, tongue Breast examination Babys movement, fundal height, babys heart beat Condition Malnutrition Infection Pre-eclampsia Anaemia Breast disease Fetal distress

Pelvic and speculum examination

STDs

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Topics for counseling for women

Nutrition and micronutrients

Rest and avoidance of heavy physical work Danger signals of complications and disease/illness Family planning Breastfeeding Malaria prophylaxis Tobacco and alcohol use

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Complication Readiness
15% of all pregnant women develop a life-threatening complication requiring obstetric care Arrange a system of transport Establish a plan for blood donation

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HEALTH EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES

Complication Readiness
15% of all pregnant women develop a life-threatening complication requiring obstetric care

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HEALTH EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES

Nutrition

Good antenatal nutrition includes:

Meeting the caloric needs Eating foods which supply specific micronutrients Providing micronutrient supplementation

An underweight mother increases the likelihood of a low birth weight (LBW) baby; low iron intake contributes to anemia.

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Nutrition

Iodine deficiency is associated with

neonatal deaths,
stillbirths and abortions. growth retardation, brain damage, mental retardation, increased perinatal mortality

Iodine supplementation is a very low-cost, effective nutritional intervention. Iodizing salt is an effective public health measure for preventing iodine deficiency
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HEALTH EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES

Nutrition

Vitamin A
Can be found in foods such as :
carrots eggs fish oil liver broccoli

High doses of vitamin A can be unsafe during the first two months of pregnancy. but it is safe to give as much as 10,000 IU daily at any time during pregnancy.

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HEALTH EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES

Nutrition
Iron Folate Supplements
All women should consume daily iron folate supplements for 6 months during pregnancy. Where anemia prevalence is <40%, women should receive supplements of 60 mg iron and 400 micrograms of folate. In areas where anemia prevalence is high among pregnant women (40%), women should continue the same dosage for 3 months into postpartum.

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HEALTH EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES

Care of the mother after birth

Eat more and healthier foods, including more meat, fish, oils, coconut, nuts, cereals, beans, vegetables, fruits, cheese and milk. Take iron tablets as explained by the health worker.

Rest when you can.

Drink plenty of clean, safe water. Sleep under a bednet treated with insecticide. Do not take medication unless prescribed at the health centre.

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HEALTH EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES

Care of the mother after birth

Do not take medication unless prescribed at the health centre. Do not drink alcohol or smoke. Use a condom in every sexual relation, if you or your companion are at risk of sexually transmitted infections (STI) or HIV/AIDS. Wash all over daily, particularly the perineum. Change pad every 4 to 6 hours. Wash pad or dispose of it safely.

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HEALTH EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES

Care of the mother after birth

When to seek care for danger signs Go to hospital or health centre immediately, day or night, DO NOT wait, if any of the following signs: Vaginal bleeding has increased. Fits. Fast or difficult breathing. Fever and too weak to get out of bed. Severe headaches with blurred vision.

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