MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NURSING LECTURE (MCN1)
Overview:
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Family is the basic fundamental unit of society, wherein it comprises more than 1
individual with social bonds, and is not limited by distance.
Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Act of 2012 (RA no.
10354).
o The RPRH Act is a Philippine law that ensures universal access to reproductive
health care services, including family planning, maternal care, and sex
education. It promotes responsible parenthood, informed choice, and the right
of individuals and couples to decide freely on the number and spacing of their
children.
Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3): Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.
Protection of Mother & Unborn (1987 Constitution, Articles 11 & 12).
MCN is the promotion and maintenance of optimal family health (Pilliterie, pg. 61, 8th
Edition; Maternal & Child Health Nursing).
Maternal Death – the death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days of the end
of pregnancy, from causes related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its
management, but not from accidental or incidental causes.
Ban Ki-moon – “No woman should die giving life.”
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o Childbirth is highly anticipated.
o The extended family provides extensive support throughout the pregnancy.
Stage III: Families with Preschool Children
o Appropriate values and behavior are instilled.
Stage IV: Families with School Children
o Education is highly valued as a means to uplift socioeconomic status.
Stage V: Families with Teenagers
o Teenagers’ desire for independence, obedience, and respect for family come
into conflict.
Stage VI: Families Launching Young Adults
o Some working adult continues to live in their parents’ household, which
sometimes helps with financial support.
Stage VII: Middle-Aged Family
o Stage before the retirement of their parents.
o Balancing the needs of their elder parents and their own needs.
Stage VIII: Family in Retirement and Old Age (Aging Family)
o Stage where elders are typically cared for at home.
Maternal and Infant Services
1. Antenatal Care - care is given before pregnancy until childbirth.
Antenatal Visits
Levels of Prevention
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Primary Prevention - Primary prevention aims to prevent disease or injury before it
ever occurs.
Secondary Prevention - Secondary prevention aims to reduce the impact of a
disease or injury that has already occurred.
Tertiary Prevention - Tertiary prevention aims to soften the impact of an ongoing
illness or injury that has lasting effects.
Reference: https://www.iwh.on.ca/what-researchers-mean-by/primary-secondary-and-tertiaryprevention
Stages of the Family and Their Tasks
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Stage I: Stage of Marriage
o Establishing a new home and marital identity.
Stage II: Childbearing Families
1st Antenatal Visit
Takes place within 0 -12 weeks
2nd Antenatal Visit
13 – 26 weeks
3rd Antenatal Visit
27 – 34 weeks
4th Antenatal Visit
35 – 36 weeks (symptoms of delivery)
2. Prenatal Care
 Care given throughout the entire duration of pregnancy; comprises at least 4 prenatal
visits.
3. Intrapartum Care – Intrapartum care begins at the onset of true labor and
continues through delivery of the baby and placenta, usually up to one hour
postpartum.
Nuclear Family
Extended Family
Single Parent
Family
Blended Family
Transnational
Family
LGBTQ Family
Different Structure of Family
A family unit consisting of two parents (a mother and a father) and
their biological or adopted children living in the same household.
A family that includes additional relatives beyond the nuclear family,
such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, often living
together or maintaining close relationships.
A family where one parent (either mother or father) is solely
responsible for raising one or more children due to separation,
divorce, death, or choice.
A family formed when one or both partners in a marriage or
relationship bring children from previous relationships, combining
them into a new family unit.
A family with members who are separated by national borders but
maintain close ties and support across countries, often due to
migration for work or education.
A family where the parents identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer, or other non-heteronormative identities, and may
raise children through adoption, surrogacy, or biological means.
Anatomy and Physiology Overview: Female Reproductive System
 Ovaries: These are the primary female reproductive organs, producing eggs and the
sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.
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Fallopian Tubes: These tubes transport the egg from the ovary to the uterus.
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Uterus: A hollow, muscular organ where a fertilized egg implants and develops during
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REMINDER: The Placenta is not part of the female reproductive organs but rather part
of the endocrine system.
Menstrual Cycle
(Please analyze and study the picture below)
pregnancy.
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Cervix: The lower, narrow part of the uterus, connecting it to the vagina.
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Vagina: A muscular canal that extends from the cervix to the outside of the body,
serving as the birth canal and the pathway for menstrual flow.
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External Genitalia (Vulva): Includes the labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, and other
structures that protect the vaginal opening and contribute to sexual sensation.
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Mammary Glands (Breasts): While not directly involved in reproduction, the breasts
play a crucial role in nourishing the infant after birth.
Reference: https://www.medcomic.com/medcomic/the-menstrual-cycle
The menstrual cycle is the monthly series of changes the body goes through to prepare
for pregnancy. Each month, one of the ovaries releases an egg. This is called ovulation.
Hormonal changes at this time get the uterus ready for pregnancy. If the released egg isn't
fertilized during ovulation, the lining of the uterus sheds through the vagina. This is a menstrual
period.
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14th day of a 28-day menstrual cycle.
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Terms and Definitions
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Gravida - Total number of times a woman has been pregnant, regardless of
Ovulation - The release of a mature egg (oocyte) from the ovary, usually around the
Gestation - The period of time from fertilization to birth; typically about 40 weeks in
humans.
Lecture 2
outcome.
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Nulligravida - A woman who has never been pregnant.
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Primigravida - A woman who is pregnant for the first time
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Multigravida - A woman who has been pregnant more than once.
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Para - Number of pregnancies that reached 20 weeks or more, regardless of the
number of fetuses or whether the baby was born alive or stillborn.
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Nullipara - A woman who has never given birth at 20 weeks or more.
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Primipara - A woman who has given birth once (at ≥20 weeks gestation).
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Multipara - A woman who has given birth two or more times (≥20 weeks).
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Parity - the number of times a woman has delivered a pregnancy at ≥20 weeks
gestation.
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Oocyte - A female reproductive cell (egg cell) that develops into an ovum after
maturation.
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Preterm - A birth that occurs before 37 completed weeks of gestation.
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Term - A birth that occurs between 37 and 42 weeks of gestation.
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Post-term – Birth that occurs after 42 weeks of gestation.
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Abortion - The termination of pregnancy before the fetus reaches viability (usually
before 20 weeks or fetal weight < 500g); can be spontaneous (miscarriage) or
induced.
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Stillbirth - The birth of a baby with no signs of life at or after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Lecture 3