Pregnancy is an important and crucial period in the life of every woman. At this time, the expectant mother and her child need increased attention from medical professionals. Antenatal patronage allows you to monitor the course of pregnancy and the state of health of a woman, as well as monitor the implementation of the necessary recommendations, the conditions for the safe bearing of a new man. This article provides answers to the most significant questions: why do we need such visits in our time, their approximate plan, as well as the timing and goals of antenatal care.
Definition
Patronage is one of the forms of work of medical institutions aimed at conducting recreational and preventive measures at the patient’s home. It is carried out for citizens, especially those requiring the attention of doctors: seriously ill, people with mental disorders, infants, pregnant women.
Antenatal care is the most important preventive measure for pregnant women. They allow not only control the future parent, but also establish a friendly relationship between the mother and the medical staff, since in the first year after the birth of the baby their contact will be regular.
Carrying out antenatal care is a personal visit of a responsible medical professional. When meeting a nurse, she evaluates the social and living conditions in which the woman lives and the newborn is to grow. On the same visit, the family is identified as a risk factor, which will be discussed later.
The value of patronage
The expectant mother independently visits the obstetrician-gynecologist to monitor the health status of her and the baby. The longer the term, the more often she is forced to go to the antenatal clinic. However, this approach does not allow revealing the real living conditions of the pregnant woman, which are of great importance for the safe bearing of the child. All data is recorded by a doctor only from the words of a woman and may not correspond to reality.
The prenatal patronage of a pregnant woman allows you to get a true idea of a woman’s life: bad habits, psychological situation in the family, material wealth. In addition to "espionage" activities, the health worker also performs other duties. During the visit, the nurse gives the expectant mother a lot of interesting and useful information, as well as tips on bearing a baby, upcoming birth, and caring for the baby.
Highlights
Over the entire period of pregnancy, a woman is expected to receive three visits from the hospital. This is the standard number of nurse visits that can be increased in the following cases:
- problem pregnancy;
- suspected congenital abnormalities in the infant;
- if the expectant mother is at risk;
- irregular visits to antenatal clinics;
- after hospitalization of a pregnant.
As a rule, prenatal patronage is carried out by a nursing clinic or midwife from a antenatal clinic. Sometimes they alternately visit the expectant mother. All visits are monitored by the doctor of the medical institution, who sometimes conducts patronage with the paramedic. All observations of the nurse, as well as recommendations and appointments are recorded in the patronage sheet. These data are regularly reviewed by a doctor who, if necessary, takes appropriate measures.
First patronage: goals and deadlines
The first visit to the expectant mother is carried out by the midwife from the antenatal clinic when registering for pregnancy. Usually it is 7-13 weeks. As already mentioned, in the first antenatal care, a woman’s lifestyle, living and sanitary conditions in the house, and the psychological atmosphere in the family are clarified. Unfavorable living conditions negatively affect the health of both the mother and the unborn baby, therefore, the data obtained by the midwife on the first visit are very important for further work with the expectant mother.
The purpose of the visit is also to continue the discussion of preventive measures that a pregnant woman gets acquainted with when registering. The following topics are obligatory for discussion:
- child care, prevention of preterm birth;
- rules of a healthy lifestyle;
- balanced diet;
- personal hygiene (prevention of constipation, wearing a bandage and others);
- the need for regular medical supervision.
The nurse from the children's clinic usually comes to the expectant mother a little later, during the period from 20 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. The aim of antenatal care is similar: acquaintance with a woman and living conditions of the future baby.
First Patronage Algorithm
At the visit, the medical worker seems to get acquainted with the pregnant woman. During this period, it is important to create a friendly attitude that will help maintain contact in the future. After the conversation, the nurse fills in a patronage sheet, which contains basic information about the expectant mother:
- Surname, name and patronymic of a woman.
- Address of residence.
- Full age.
- Profession, education, specialty.
- Place of primary work.
- FULL NAME. husband.
- The age of the spouse.
- Data on his specialty, education.
- Place of work of the husband.
- Data on other family members who live with the pregnant woman.
- Housing hygiene, living conditions, material wealth.
- Bad habits of father and mother.
- Chronic diseases in the family.
- Preparing for the birth of a child (for a pediatrician).
Sometimes a nurse fills in data not from the woman's words. For example, if a woman claims that the spouse who has drunk does not have bad habits, then the health care provider still records the actual data.
Second patronage
The next visit is carried out to monitor the implementation of appointments received in the first visit. The district nurse arrives at 32-34 weeks of gestation, and the midwife is closer to birth, that is, at 37-38 weeks. Preventive conversation is dedicated to the unborn baby. The following is a sample plan for antenatal care:
- Collection of data on the course of pregnancy, past illnesses and general health.
- Compliance with the recommendations received last time.
- The psychological climate in the family.
- Preparation for the birth of a child (purchase of a dowry).
- Preparing the breast for lactation.
- Conversation with relatives about the upcoming event, the importance of supporting a pregnant woman.
Sometimes at this stage the expectant mother receives an invitation to the school of young parents. Usually, classes are held in antenatal clinics and help prepare the future parent and her spouse for the appearance of the child.
Sample of the second patronage
At the end of the conversation with the future mother and, if possible, with her close people, the nurse records the information received. Below is a sample of antenatal care.
All data obtained are subject to comparison with the information provided during the first visit of a medical professional. Is there an improvement in sanitary conditions, was the relief of the labor duties of a pregnant woman carried out? The level of preparedness for the appearance of the child is also revealed (the purchase of personal items and furniture for the baby, the arrangement of the children's room, and so on).
Nulliparous women have the opportunity to get a free consultation about the upcoming birth and ask the most burning questions. Midwives always make contact and share knowledge with young parents with pleasure.
Third patronage
Another visit may be made by a pregnant local pediatrician. This visit is optional and is assigned on a strictly individual basis. As a rule, a doctor comes if the pregnancy is complicated and there is a risk of having a baby with developmental pathologies or congenital diseases. Increased attention is paid to dysfunctional families.
The need for a third patronage is determined by analyzing the information received after the previous two visits. Based on the results of the visit to the future parent, the doctor raises the question of the need to register the family. In this case, after birth, the infant and his mother will be under the scrutiny of the pediatrician and other specialists.
Risk factors
It has already been said above that in patronage there is such a thing as risk factors. Women who fall into this category need increased attention of district specialists:
- young mothers under the age of 18;
- primiparous after 30 years;
- single mothers;
- large women.
In addition, close attention from the obstetrician and pediatrician can be caused by the following reasons:
- risk of miscarriage;
- abortion attempts;
- severe toxicosis;
- high blood pressure, heart problems;
- diseases that the mother has;
- bad habits of parents;
- dysfunctional environment for the life of the future baby.
According to these indicators, the likely risk to the life and health of the child is identified , and the local pediatrician takes measures to minimize adverse factors. A set of preventive measures is designed to prevent possible problems.
Doctors problems
Despite the fact that prenatal patronage implies exclusively good intentions, doctors still have to face certain difficulties. Firstly, the pregnant woman is far from always at home when visiting a nurse. You can get an idea of the real situation in the family, as well as household and hygiene conditions, if the visit is spontaneous. Therefore, medical workers do not warn of an upcoming visit, and the timing of antenatal care is not discussed with patients. As a result, specialists often knock on the door of an empty apartment.
Secondly, not every woman has a positive attitude to such control by the women's consultation and children's clinic. For this reason, not all pregnant women make contact and agree to provide detailed information about their lives.