CARE IS BETTER THAN CURE-2

Nagenthiram Harivallavan

25/08/2012

2^nd Post

The primary preventive measures designed to promote general health; well being and quality of life are accomplished via actions taken prior to the onset of the disease. One such measure is the antenatal care during the pregnancy. This care begins with the early identification of a pregnant mother by the public health midwife and provision of antenatal care at the field antenatal clinic and through domiciliary visits. There are various aspects concerning maternal health in which the PHM plays a main role.

PHM maintains update three registers mainly which contain the information about her area, those are;

Eligible book
Pregnancy register
Birth and immunization register.

During the antenatal period PHM should visit once in trimester. Not only antenatal period but also she visits in post natal period.

Duties of the PHM during the antenatal visit

examination of the pregnant mother
filling the pregnancy record chart
educate the mother about nutritional status & personal hygiene.

PHM has to identify the mothers who are at risk of developing complications in pregnancy such as the mother who’s BMI is less than 18.5 or more than 30,
who are having diabetes mellitus,
who has history of still birth, miscarriages, PIH, GDM. She will refer them to the hospital where they will receive the special care.

Duties of the PHM during the post natal visit

examination of mother
examine the neonate
assess the nutritional & mental status of mother
assess the breast feeding technique and the attachment
educate about the contraceptive methods.

We were able to gain experience on antenatal and postnatal visits during our clerkship programme.