Question

recognized that prenatal care is a critical factor in helping to ensure an optimal outcome of pregnancy what can a nurse do encourage and facilitate the participation of pregnant women in early and ongoing prenatal care?

Answer 1

The prenatal care nurse can actively involve in the care of pregnant women and facilitate the participation in the early and ongoing prenatal care. The encouragement is mostly wanted in pregnant women from low socio economic community.

• The nurse can assure sufficient dietary intake of nutrients and calories by stressing on the need for it during pregnancy and also by providing data on cost effective places for buying fruits and vegetables.

• Also make a less expensive and locally available diet plan to ensure adequate dietary intake.

• Encouraging increased intake of fruits and vegetables and promote the fruits and vegetables seasonally and locally available.

• Assist to provide free supply of Folic acid, Iron and Calcium tablet through Government or other NGO aid.

• Constantly enquire on smoking habit and educate and re educate to refrain from smoking, on each visit.

• Educate on the effect of passive smoking and also on how to avoid it.

• Encouraging a half hour of walking each day.

• The antenatal/ public health nurse can opt for voluntary health visit to the pregnant lady's home, if the lady is not interested in visiting the prenatal clinic.

• Research on their mental health and discuss on solutions to deal with stress and anxiety.

• Provide counselling assistance and psychological reassurance.

• Discuss and find aids for the post delivery care of the baby .