Prenatal Patronage: Purpose, Features, Timing

Pregnancy is an important and responsible period in the life of every woman. At this time, the future mother and her baby need increased attention from health professionals. Antenatal patronages allow you to monitor the course of pregnancy and the state of health of a woman, as well as to monitor the implementation of the necessary recommendations, conditions for the successful carrying of a new man. This article provides answers to the most important questions: why such visits are needed in our time, their approximate plan, as well as the terms and purposes of antenatal care.

Definition

Patronage is one of the forms of work of medical institutions aimed at conducting health and preventive activities at the patient's home. It is conducted for citizens who are especially in need of attention of doctors: seriously ill, people with mental disorders, babies, pregnant women.

Prenatal patronages are the most important preventive measures for pregnant women. They allow not only to control the future parent, but also establish friendly relations between the mother and the medical staff, since in the first year after the birth of the baby their contact will be regular.

The implementation of prenatal care is the personal visit of a responsible medical worker. At the meeting, the nurse assesses the social and living conditions in which the woman lives and is to grow up to the newborn. The same visit establishes the family's belonging to risk factors, which will be discussed later.

Value of patronage

The future mother visits the midwife-gynecologist on her own to track the health of her and the baby. The longer the period, the more often she is forced to go to a women's consultation. However, this approach does not allow to reveal real living conditions for a pregnant woman, which are of great importance for the successful carrying of a child. All data are recorded by a doctor only from the words of a woman and may not correspond to reality.

An antenatal patronage of a pregnant woman allows you to get a true picture of a woman's life: bad habits, psychological conditions in the family, material prosperity. In addition to the "espionage" activities, the medical worker performs other duties. During the visit, the nurse gives the future mother a lot of interesting and useful information, as well as advice on the bearing of the child, the upcoming birth, the care of the baby.

Basic moments

For the entire period of pregnancy a woman is expected to visit three visits from the hospital. This is the standard number of visits of a nurse, which can be increased in the following cases:

• Problem pregnancy;
• Suspected congenital pathology in the infant;
• If the future mother is at risk;
• Irregular visits to a woman's consultation;
• After hospitalization of a pregnant woman.

As a rule, prenatal patronages are performed by a nurse of a children's polyclinic or a midwife from a women's consultation. Sometimes they alternately visit the future mother. All visits are supervised by a physician of a medical institution, who sometimes spends patronage together with a health worker. All observations of the nurse, as well as recommendations and appointments are recorded in the patronage sheet. With these data, a doctor is regularly acquainted, who, if necessary, takes appropriate measures.

First Patronage: Goals and Terms

The first visit to the future mother is carried out by a midwife from the women's consultation when registering for pregnancy. Usually it's 7-13 weeks. As already mentioned, the first prenatal patronage reveals the way of life of a woman, the household and sanitary conditions in the house, the psychological atmosphere in the family. Dysfunctional living conditions negatively affect the health of both the mother and the future baby, so the data received by the midwife on the first visit are very important for further work with the future mother.

The purpose of the visit is also to continue the discussion of the preventive measures with which the pregnant woman gets acquainted when registering. The following topics are mandatory for discussion:

• Protection of the child, prevention of preterm birth;
• Rules for a healthy lifestyle;
• balanced diet;
• Personal hygiene (prevention of constipation, wearing a bandage and others);
• The need for regular monitoring by a doctor.

A nurse from a children's polyclinic usually comes to a future mother a little later, during the period from 20 to 28 weeks of pregnancy. The purpose of prenatal care is pursued similarly - acquaintance with the woman and the living conditions of the future baby.

Algorithm for the first patronage

During the visit, the medical worker appears to be getting acquainted with the pregnant woman. In this period it is important to create a benevolent mood that will help to maintain contact in the future. After the conversation, the nurse fills out the health card, which contains the basic information about the future mother:

1. Surname, name and patronymic of the woman.
2. Address of residence.
3. Full age.
4. Profession, education, specialty.
5. Place of main work.
6. FULL NAME. Husband.
7. Age of the spouse.
8. Data on his specialty, education.
9. The place of work of the husband.
10. Data on other family members who live with a pregnant woman.
11. Hygiene of housing, living conditions, material prosperity.
12. Bad habits of the father and mother.
13. Chronic diseases in the family.
14. Preparation for the birth of a child (for a pediatrician).

Sometimes a nurse fills the data not with the words of a woman. For example, if a woman claims that a drunk spouse does not have bad habits, then the actual information is recorded by the medical officer.

Second patronage

The next visit is carried out to monitor the fulfillment of the appointments received on the first visit. The district nurse comes on the 32-34 week of pregnancy, and the midwife is closer to the delivery, that is, on the 37-38 week. Preventive conversation is devoted to the future baby. Below is an approximate plan for antenatal care:

1. Collection of data on the course of pregnancy, past illnesses and general health.
2. Compliance with the recommendations received last time.
3. Psychological climate in the family.
4. Preparation for the birth of a child (purchase of a dowry).
5. Preparation of the breast for lactation.
6. Talk with relatives about the upcoming event, the importance of supporting a pregnant woman.

Sometimes at this stage the future mother receives an invitation to the school of young parents. Usually classes are held in a women's consultation and help prepare the future parent and her husband for the appearance of the child.

Sample second patronage

After the conversation with the future mother and, if possible, with her close people the nurse fixes the received information. Below is a sample of prenatal care.

All received data are subject to comparison with the information provided during the first visit of the medical officer. Is there an improvement in sanitation, was there any relief for the work of a pregnant woman? Identified and the level of preparedness for the appearance of the child (the purchase of personal belongings and furniture for the baby, arrangement of the children's room and so on).

Primitive women have the opportunity to get a free consultation about the upcoming birth and ask the most burning questions. Midwives always make contact and share their knowledge with young parents with pleasure.

Third patronage

Another visit may be made by a district pediatrician. This visit is optional and is appointed in a strictly individual order. Typically, a doctor comes in if the pregnancy is complicated and there is a risk of having a child with developmental pathologies or congenital diseases. Increased attention is paid to dysfunctional families.

The need for a third patronage is determined by analyzing the information obtained after the previous two visits. Based on the results of the visit to the future parent, the doctor raises the question of the need to register the family. In this case, after the birth, the infant and his mother will be under the close attention of the pediatrician and other specialists.

Risk factors

It has already been said that there is such a thing as risk factors in patronage . Women who fall under this category need the increased attention of local specialists:

• Young mothers under the age of 18;
• Primiparous after 30 years;
• Single mothers;
• Having many children.

In addition, close attention from the obstetrician and pediatrician can be caused by the following reasons:

• Risk of miscarriage;
• Attempts at abortion;
• Severe toxicosis;
• Increased blood pressure, heart problems;
• The mother's illness;
• Bad habits of parents;
• Unfavorable environment for the life of the future baby.

According to these indicators, a probable risk to the life and health of the child is revealed, and the precinct pediatrician takes measures to minimize the adverse factors. The complex of preventive measures is designed to prevent possible problems.

Problems of doctors

Despite the fact that prenatal patronage implies exceptionally good intentions, doctors still face certain difficulties. Firstly, it is not always pregnant at home during a nurse visit. To get an idea of the real situation in the family, as well as about household and hygienic conditions, it is possible only if the visit is spontaneous. Therefore, medical workers do not warn about the upcoming visit, and the timing of antenatal care is not discussed with patients. As a result, experts often knock on the door of an empty apartment.

Secondly, not every woman is positive about such control by the women's consultation and children's polyclinic. For this reason, not all pregnant women are in contact and agree to provide detailed information about their lives.