"Care of Mother and Child Health"
Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss significance and magnitude of mothers and children
problem.
a. Significance of mother and child as one unit of service.
b. Mother and child health care objectives.
2. Identify factors influencing health of the mothers and children.
3. Describe the role of community health nurse ina. Pre- Conceptional Period
b. Ante-Natal Period
c. Natal Period
d. Post -Natal Period
4. Utilizing nursing process in providing care to the mother and child
in the family.
Mother and Child HealthSignificance & Magnitude of Mothers and Children Population:
 Together mothers & children constitute
about 70% of the total population.
 They are the vulnerable special risk group.
 Working with MCH population is a primary facet of community health nursing.
 More than 70% of nursing practice in official health agencies involves primary
preventive work with mothers and infants.
Mother & Child must be considered as one unit of care because:
 During the antenatal period the fetus is part
of the mother, and all building materials from
the mother’s blood.
 Child health is closely related to maternal health.
 After birth the child is dependent upon the mother for feeding, mental and social
development etc..
 Certain diseases such as syphilis, german measles, AIDS are likely to have their
effects
upon the fetus.
 The mother is the first teacher of the child.
Objectives of Maternal and Child Health care:
For the Mother1. Maintain good health during pregnancy & lactation.
1. Learn the art of mother-hood.
2. Give birth to a healthy baby.
3. Reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.
For the Child1. Lives and develops within a healthy family environment.
2. Enjoys love and security.
3. Obtains adequate nutrition.
4. Obtains adequate medical care.
5. Learns the principles of a healthful living.
6. Reduce infant and child morbidity & mortality.
Factors Influencing the Health of Pregnant Women and Infants:
 Genetic and largely beyond the individual’s control.
 Socioeconomic and resistance to
change.
 Factors related to life-styles choices, that individual woman have made.
Phases of Maternal Care and Role of Community Health Nurse in Each phase
1.
Premarital Care
It is mainly concerned with the following
Physical examination which include examining from head to toe and it will be
documented with the following investigations:
Chest X-ray for detection of TB
Blood investigation of HB & RH-factor
Urine test for sugar and albumen
Tests to detect sexually transmitted diseases.

Health education & Counseling
Teaching about suitable age for marriage, under the age of 20 years might be exposed to
problems during pregnancy and labour.
Health education about personal hygiene, some facts about antenatal care and principles
of child care.
Genetic counseling to prevent hereditary diseases.
2. Antenatal Care
a. Taking general Health History
b.
c.
d.
e.
Obstetric History
Present Pregnancy
Nutritional History
Social History
Medical examination
 Health education about nutrition in
pregnancy & lactation, hygiene, follow up visits, exercise, sleep, safety and
accident prevention, newborn care, family planning etc..
 Frequency of antenatal visits
 Pregnancy warning signs, vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, persistent abdominal
pain, swelling of the feet, foetal movement stopped.
3. Natal Care
The main role of the nurse is to Assist the midwife, Support the mother &
Preparation for labour.
4. Post-natal Care
Home visits must be made to provide home care for the post natal mother, care,
frequency of visits depend on the need of the mother and the child, however after 6
weeks of delivery the nurse may re-schedule her visit to the family as needed.
The nurse uses nursing process to give care to the mother and child:
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A. AssessmentExamination of the mother, head to toe using guide sheet (temperature, pulse,
respiration,
and B.P).
Breast and nipple are examined for the presence of cracks or inflammation or
retracted of the nipple.
Observe the milk secretion
Assess the uterine involution and after pains
Observe the lochia for color, amount and smell.
B. Nursing intervention
 Provide post natal care- Care of the perineum
- Hygienic care
- Care of the breast
- Proper diet
- Meeting the elimination needs
 Care of the newborn- Bathing
- Care of umbilical cord
- Feeding
 Health education about- Breast care and breast feeding
- Personal hygiene
- Nutrition
- Post natal exercises
- Follow up examinations
- Birth spacing
- Care of the newborn, immunization schedule, accident prevention, clothing,
growth and development.
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C. Evaluation of care
Evaluate the health status of mother and child, e.g. weight gain in the child.
Successful involution of uterus
Mother resumes normal functioning
Visit the postnatal and child health clinic as per the schedule
Attains a normal peurparium
Records the necessary information regarding the mother and child