Antenatal Care

Aims of prenatal Care: Introduction The World Health Organisation (2003) defines antepartum maintenance as care before birth, and includes education, counselling, masking piece and treatment to monitor and to promote the well be of the produce and baby. According to Johnson and Taylor (2000) the bespeak of prenatal care is to assist women in remaining healthy, monitoring the progress of gestation in ordain to endure normal fetal development and thus caution the health of the unborn. Antenatal care should also provide support and guidance to the woman and her partner to help them in their enactment to parenthood. The midwife can provide sufficient prenatal care by developing a partnership with the woman, providing a holistic approach that meets her individual needs, exchanging information with the woman and her family to enable them to net informed decisions about pregnancy and birth and to recognise complications of pregnancy and facilitating the woman and her family in their preparations to meet the demands of birth. Henderson and McDonald (2004) believe that an essential aim of antenatal care is the role of the midwife in being an advocate for the woman and her family during pregnancy, and supporting her right to chose care that is captivate for her own needs and those of her family.

This paper will focus on the role of the midwife in antenatal care and provides a good insight on health promotion during the antenatal period. Areas such as smoking, alcohol, diet, and exercise are explored in circumstance with attention also given to the role of the midwife in antenatal classes and the promotion of breastfeeding. The frequency of antenatal visits is also explored as well as the importance of foetal development. Antenatal Visits: Antenatal care should be sought early in pregnancy. It should be provided by a small group of carers with whom the woman feels leisurely and there should be continuity of care throughout the antenatal period. Antenatal visits should occur... If you want to get a full essay, fix up it on our website: Orderessay

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