Fakulti Kejururawatan

Prenatal Care
Aims and responsibilities &
Preparation of mother &
Minor disorders in pregnancy

By
Nor Marini Ibrahim
 Prenatal Care :Aims and responsibilities

Objectives:
On completion of this topic, the student
will be able to do the following:

• List the goals of prenatal care

• Explain the nurse’s role in prenatal care
 Prenatal Care :Aims and responsibilities

• Introduction:
- Pregnancy is temporary, physiological
(normal) process that affects the woman
physically and emotionally.
- All system of her body adapt to support
the developing fetus.
- The focus of nursing care during
pregnancy is to teach the mother how to
maintain good health and to improve her
health as much as possible.
 Prenatal Care :Aims and responsibilities

• The major goals of prenatal care are as follows:

i. Ensure a safe birth for mother & child by
promoting good health habits and reducing
risk factors.
ii. Teach health habits that may be continued
after pregnancy
iii. Educate in self-care for pregnancy
iv. Provide physical care
v. prepare parents for the responsibilities of
parenthood
 Prenatal Care :Aims and responsibilities

• The major roles of the nurse during prenatal care

include data collection from the pregnant woman,
identifying and reevaluating risk factors, educating
in self-care, providing nutrition counseling and
promoting the family’s adaptation to pregnancy.
MINOR DISORDER
OF
PREGNANCY

By
Nor Marini Ibrahim
 Minor disorder of pregnancy

Objectives:
On completion of this topic, the student
will be able to do the following:
i. discuss on the types of minor disorders
of pregnancy
ii. Explain the cause and effect of the
pregnancy
iii. Management of pregnant woman with
minor disorders
 Minor disorder of pregnancy

 Result of normal physiologic changes

due to hormonal changes and the
influence of the developing pregnancy
on supporting organs, most of which
revert to normal after delivery.

 Education must be primary component

of intervention in helping the pregnant
mother deal with the discomforts of
pregnancy.
 Minor disorder of pregnancy

1. Nausea and Vomiting

□ CAUSE – occur due to increase level of hormon
estrogen & progesterone and
also emotional factors
□ commonly associated with:
- altered in CHO metabolism
- orthostatic hypertension (sudden change of position
from lying down to upright position)
- may be aggravated by smell of food atc:cooking,
petrol etc.
□ Incidence : 50% of pregnant woman
□ Accepted as a normal symptom of pregnancy. Its does
not disturb the pregnancy or woman health
□ Occurs from 6-12 weeks of pregnancy.
□ Usually occurs soon after waking, often nausea rather
than vomiting
□ Usually stop at 14-16 weeks
□ If vomiting is persistent, mother cannot tolerate any food/drink, may
lead hyperemesis gravidarum.

□ MANAGEMENT :

– Reassure the mother

– Advise on – Frequent, small meats
– Dry carbohydrate food before arising; snack
before bedtime and drinking a glass of warm
milk
– Fluids between meals
– Avoid cooking odors of greasy, highly
seasoned foods
– Vit. B, after meals or at bedtime
– avoid sudden change of position
□ TREATMENT

– usually mild & require no treatment

– If severe, must rehydrate with 6 paint normal saline over 24
hours.
– Antiemetic : tab Avomine 25mg bd, iv maxolon 10mg tds
1. Urinary Frequency
□CAUSE:
– increase blood flow, so increase glomerulo
filtration rate
– Pressure from gravid uterus or fetal presenting
part

□ between 6-12 weeks and later at 36 weeks

of pregnancy
□ MANAGEMENT: advise on

– Empty bladder frequently

– Maintain daytime fluid intake
– Decrease fluids before bedtime
– Avoid caffeinated and carbonated beverages
– Wear panty liners
– Kegel exercises
1. Constipation
□ CAUSE
- increase level of progesterone
- lack of fluid intake
- lack of fiber in the diet
- habit – does not open bowel regularly daily
□ MANAGEMENT
– fluids intake (6 – 8 glasses/day)
– High-fiber diet
– Maintain daytime fluid intake
– Warm beverages
– Regular bowel habits
– Exercise
– Mild laxatives, stool softener or suppository
recommended by doctor/midwife
1. Breasts Tenderness
Cause :
– Elevated estrogens & progesterone
Management :
– Wear supportive bra
– Avoid soap on nipple & areola – Cleanse
colostrum with water
– Change sleep pattern
5.Increased Vaginal Discharge
(Leucorrhea)
□ A whitish, viscid discharge from the
vagina and uterine cavity
□ Cause: increase in vascular transudation
and cervical mucus from the cervical
glands due to the high level of estrogen
□ Management :
– Good hygiene
– Cotton underwear
– Avoid tight clothing
– if discharge is purulent, blood stained,
irritating or offensive – refer to doc for
6. Heartburns
□ A Burning sensation & discomfort felt at the
epigastrium.
□ Cause: – ↑ progesterone causing ↓ GIT
motility
– Displacement of stomach and
duodenum by ↑ gravid uterus
□ Management :
– Small frequent meals
– Avoid fatty, fried foods
– Avoid coffee & cigarettes
– Frequent sips of warm milk or water
– antacids : Magnesium trisillicate 2 tab TDS
– Sleep with > pillows
1. Constipation
□ Cause
– progesterone
– ↑ pelvic pressure
– Iron supplements
□ Management
– fluids (6 – 8 glasses/day)
– High-fiber diet
– Maintain daytime fluid intake
– Warm beverages
– Regular bowel habits
– Exercise
– Mild laxatives, stool softener or suppository
recommended by doctor/midwife
1. Backache
□ Cause
– faulty posture – such as lordosis
– relaxing effects of hormone progesterone on
the ligaments & joints of the pelvic
– normally occurs in multipara

□ Management
– Use good posture
– Use good body mechanics
– Flat, supportive shoes
– Maternity girdle
– Avoid overexertion
– Sleep in lateral position on firm mattress
– Good, gentle back massage
1. Varicose veins
□ cause
- relaxing effect of progesterone causing
veins to dilate
- prolong standing & working
- pressure from the gravid uterus on the
inferior vena cave or other veins
□ Management
– Elevated legs while resting
– Frequent position changes
– Avoid lengthy standing
– Avoid crossing legs
• Tips to relieve swelling and varicose veins:
• Do not sit or stand for long periods of time.
• Elevate your legs whenever possible.
• Rest in your bed on your left side.
• Lie down with your legs raised on a small stool
or several pillows. You may want to also elevate
your hips if you have developed varicose veins
in your vaginal area.
• Do not wear stockings or socks with tight elastic
around the legs.
• Wear support pantyhose.
• Exercise regularly, especially walking,
swimming, or riding an exercise bike.
• Do not cross your legs when you are sitting.