Maternal and Paediatric Care in Nursing Field - Literature review Example

Introduction Nurisng incorporates numerous fields, are bestowed with different responsibilities, and are supposed to fulfil these roles effectively (Powell and Hughes, 2012). There roles ranges from providing day to day medication to informing patients best methods to ensure that there health is championed. Maternal and paediatric care is an important component in nursing field since it encourages the wellbeing of the parents and their children. Good antenatal care has numerous benefits to both the pregnant women and the foetus/newborn baby (Powell and Hughes, 2012). Thus, the aim of this paper is to analyse what constitutes good antenatal care, importance of antenatal care to the pregnant woman and the child, information on antenatal education, and importance of health literacy to the wellbeing of the parent and the child. Good Antenatal Care for a Childbearing Woman and her Foetus and Importance to the Health and Wellbeing of Mother and Child In women life’s, pregnancy plays a major role whereby socio-demographic factors defines her health and the health of her children (Madhavi and Singh, 2011). Women face numerous challenges and difficulties within this period and it is important to understand their position and formulate appropriate strategies that ensure they give birth successfully. Good antenatal care is important for both the pregnant woman and her foetus and what constitutes good care may include appropriate nutrition and dietary provision. Diet plays an important role in life of pregnant women but there are a times where overweight and obesity are reported. Powell and Hughes (2012) associate overweight and obesity to more that a half of women who die at the hospital and they state that overweight and obesity contributes to numerous complications for both the mother and the baby. Appropriate dietary approach is important because it reduces chances of maternal cardiovascular diseases and longer gestational duration (Powell and Hughes, 2012). The importance of longer gestation period includes reduction of newborn sepsis, respiratory distress, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, hypoglycaemia, and mechanical ventilation. According to Powell and Hughes (2012), educating and informing pregnant women on their dietary position is important. The authors present strategies such as dietary counselling, nutritional education, education of women by post, and behavioural intention. This also brings into consideration the health of the pregnant woman. Pregnant women suffer numerous conditions that are associated with the pregnancy. For example, Madhavi and Singh (2011) observed that high prevalence of anaemia (66.7%) was reported in pregnant women. It is appropriate to determine the cause of a health condition to ensure appropriate measures are introduced. In another perspective, King et al (2012) asserts that psychological conditions should be monitored to ensure that both prenatal and postnatal challenges are addressed in advance. For example, depression is common both for post- and prenatal conditions and it is imperative for appropriate screening procedures to ensure the position of pregnant women are known. The peri-natal psychological disorders may be associated with behavioural, cognitive and emotional difficulties. In addition, some diseases can easily be addressed and controlled. Some diseases may affect the outcome of a pregnancy and may provide means to avert certain challenges in the future. Some diseases that are common in pregnant women include HIV aids, high blood pressure, sexual transmitted diseases, and genetic diseases. For example, HIV aids affect the mother and may also affect the child if appropriate strategies are not employed. HIV positive women should informed and be told on measures to be taken to ensure that the baby is protected from been infected and measures to ensure that the baby grows healthy even without the milk from the mother. This means that pregnant women should be informed in measures of ensuring that their pregnant life is not faced by numerous challenges. Many women saw importance of seeking information from health institutions but when it comes to birth, Madhavi and Singh (2011) states that many women gave birth either at the hospital or at home, and thus their decision on importance of health institution is divided. This means that the pregnant women should be advised and informed on the importance of giving birth at health institutions. Lifestyle is another component that determines the outcome of pregnancy. Fendall et al (2012) view that smoking during pregnancy has serious consequences for both the baby and the mother. Some of the risks associated with smoking include premature birth, increased risk of miscarriage, sudden and unexpected death in infancy, low birth weight, and stillbirth. The women should be introduced to strategies that may assist them to quit smoking. For example, nicotine replacement therapy aids immensely in helping people to quite smoking and this strategy can be utilised in ensuring that pregnant women or women who are planning for pregnancy quite smoking. Thus, right support is crucial for antenatal women (Powell and Hughes, 2012). Madhavi and Singh (2011) say due to lack of enough family support and illiteracy both associated with socio-economic conditions, many women have lower body mass index. Powell and Hughes (2012) state that support from specialists such as midwife in day-to-day activities of the pregnant women is important because it controls obesity and weight loss. The midwife and other specialised persons can easily women on appropriate exercise, motivational techniques, and dietary education. Frequent intervention ensures that the pregnant woman sees the importance of the intervention and she will be motivated towards following on what she has been advised. Thus, the support provided by midwifes should be complemented by the support that the society presents to the pregnant women. Such strategies ensure that pregnant women feel loved and appreciate and aid these women towards successful births. It is also important to support pregnant to leave certain lifestyles that may contribute to challenges during and after pregnancy. For example, pregnant women should be advised to stop smoking or using alcohol when they are pregnant. Fendall et al (2012) state that this condition is common in certain peer communities and peer groups, and appropriate support should be provided to ensure such incidences are stopped. Other factors that may contribute to a person smoking include the occupation that a person is in, the age of the women, and the situation of the women. Current Evidence related to Antenatal Education Literature exists on the importance of antenatal education ranging from involving the parents/pregnant women to training midwife on the appropriate measures in ensuring that the pregnant women receive best assistance. For example, AWHONN (2011) analyses the contribution of nurses in promoting prenatal education to diverse cultures. Nurses should be aware of cultural perspectives and be aware of measures that can be utilised in ensuring women and newborns are accorded optimum support. To achieve success in educating diverse cultures, the institution started a certification program that addresses diversity requirements. The aim of the program is to integrate prenatal educational requirements to the roles and responsibilities of nurses. This means that not only the midwife can educate pregnant women but also the nurses can play this role in their day-to-day activities. This illustrates importance of informed health providers in ensuring information given to the patients is beneficial. Effectiveness of prenatal education programs has also been analysed. Lin et al. (2007) carried out a research aimed at determining the effectiveness of prenatal education on breastfeeding. The authors utilised a structured educational program that spanned 90 minutes and the evidence showed that knowledge and attitude on breastfeeding improved immensely. Lin et al. (2007) concluded that effectiveness in prenatal education played an important role in maternal satisfaction, attitude, and knowledge towards breastfeeding. This shows that it is important to determine whether an approach is effective before proceeding with it since it will prevent loss of resources. Moreover, prenatal and postpartum adaptation is also analysed. Sercekus and Mete (2010) analysed the importance of antenatal education on prenatal and postpartum adaptation. According to Sercekus and Mete (2010), numerous literatures expound on some sections of prenatal education but the literature misses on adaptation after birth and whether individual or group educational is beneficial. The researchers’ concluded that many pregnant women preferred group schemes compared to individual approach in disseminating important pregnancy information. Moreover, Sercekus and Mete (2010) champions the use of Roy’s adaptation model in analysing the importance of antenatal education. This means that it is paramount for health givers and other stakeholders to analyse situation and determine whether it fulfils requirements set. Weiner et al. (2011) analysed the importance of prenatal education on neonatal illnesses in reduction of neonatal mortality rates in those institutions with limited-resource nurseries. According to Weiner et al. (2011), antenatal education is important because it informed the women of basic newborn care. This knowledge helped women both at prenatal and postnatal in raising their newborn and this contribute to the reduction of mortality and morbidity. Informing pregnant women who had previously limited information on newborn is important since numerous challenges will be avoided. Thus, such educational strategies ensure feasible and sustainable means of ensuring pregnant women are informed on caring of newborn. In addition, pregnant women should be educated in presence and absence of their partners. Educating both the prospecting partners ensures that a sense of togetherness is cultivated and this issue is analysed by Ahlden et al (2012). Ahlden et al. (2012) analysed the impact of antenatal parenthood education and to determine whether the requirements are defined by age, gender, and educational level. From the study, the participants believed that antenatal education is important in introducing and making them more secure in accomplishing their parental obligations. Positive expectations were reported from the men side on childbirth more than in women side. The participants were affected mostly by been prepared for parenthood followed by childbirth preparation. In addition, the expectations were affected by educational level, age and gender. Many men based on culture, ignorance, and occupations find minimal time to be associated with their partners in prenatal and postnatal training. From the analyses (Ahlden et al. 2012), men also can play an important role in championing prenatal and postnatal requirements. Other authors such as Warriner et al. (2012) also discussed this issue. Warriner et al. (2012) analysed the importance of wellbeing and good mental health in antenatal childbirth education. Healthy mental state and wellbeing of the parent is important in both preparing for birth and postnatal care. Mindfulness strategies have been utilised in managing anxiety, pain and reduction of stress. Mindfulness, according to Warriner et al. (2012), removes negative thinking and encourages positive thinking that enables the success of antenatal and postnatal care. Generally, the research studies indicates that prenatal and postnatal education is important in ensuring that pregnant women and their partners understands there requirements and measures that ensures healthy wellbeing of the newborn. Health literacy influence on the Health and Wellbeing of the Childbearing Woman and her Foetus Maternal health literacy can be defined as the social and cognitive skills that define the motivation and ability in which women access information, understand the information, and utilise the information in promoting and maintaining their health and the health of newborn baby/foetus (Liljestrand and Sambath, 2012). This means that it aims in aiding and guiding of health literacy in terms of process and content of antenatal classes (Madhavi and Singh, 2011). Health literacy goes beyond usual reading of issued pamphlets and making appropriate appointments to utilising effectively information into ensuring empowerment is achieved. Health literacy improves decision making of an individual. A pregnant woman is faced with numerous questions and experiences numerous challenges that require appropriate information to ensure that the decisions made are effective (Liljestrand and Sambath, 2012). Decisions that women make ranges from preparing for prenatal appointments to postnatal appointments, and meeting these requirements is improved through attending antenatal teaching. Many pregnant women are aware on pain associated with childbirth. Painful moments occur when the uterus starts contracting and the labour is progressing (Madhavi and Singh, 2011). Health literacy ensures that women changes from the perception of pain and utilise the warning signal to pain as a means of defining progress of the birth. In pregnancy educating and training, some information that a prospective mother can receive include childbirth preparation (comfort therapies and best way to birth), desire (experience), emotional support (from both the partner and the medical staff) and flexibility during labour. Women breastfeed for long as they would know the benefits of it – Pregnant women should be informed on benefits associated with breastfeeding and the length of breastfeeding may determine the future of the child medically (Liljestrand and Sambath, 2012). Pregnant women should be informed that breastfeeding protects babies through providing appropriate antibodies and also breast milk is easier to digest compared to formula foods. Moreover, pregnant women knowledge that breastfeeding may benefit them is useful (King et al. 2012). For example, informing pregnant women that they save on breastfeeding (since it is free provided the person eats healthy food) and it is healthy for the women (e.g. lowers risks of contracting diseases such as cancer and postpartum depression). Informing pregnant women on these benefits will lengthen breastfeeding periods and hence the paper will be healthier (Madhavi and Singh, 2011). Parenthood is something that is learned through experiences but information is also available that aids in directing a person on how to become a better parent (Liljestrand and Sambath, 2012). Health literacy classes provide means in which a person can become a better parent before and just after birth. For example, informed women will care better for their newborns compared to uninformed persons. Moreover, the parent has ideas on strategies that can make them to bond with the child. Conclusion Antenatal education is important for pregnant women to ensure they provide optimum service and assistance to their newborn babies. Antenatal care involves numerous tasks but all of them are aimed at ensuring that the pregnant woman is informed on topics such as nutrition and dietary requirements, support, health related issues, and management of their lifestyles. Information in the literature champions prenatal and postnatal education in ensuring the future of the child conducive. Even though the authors approach the issue differently, the entire goal of each of the information is to ensure that the pregnant woman and the newborn/foetus are leaving in healthy conditions. Health literacy plays an important role in ensuring that a women breastfeeds for longer, making appropriate decisions, pain management, and informing on parenthood. References Ahlden, I., Ahlehagen, S., Dahlgren, L., and Josefsson, A. 2012. Parents' Expectations about Participating in Antenatal Parenthood Education Classes. The Journal of Perinatal Education, vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 11-17 AWHONN. 2011. Diversity Certification Program: A Health Care Organization’s Quest for Diversity and Cultural Competence-One Person at a Time. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, vol. 40, no. S1, pp. S40-S41 Fendall, L., Griffith, W., Iliff, A., Lee, A., and Radford, J. 2012. Integrating a clinical model of smoking cessation into antenatal care. British Journal of Midwifery, vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 236-243 King, L., Pestell, S., Farrar, S., North, N., and Brunt, C. 2012. Screening for antenatal psychological distress. British Journal of Midwifery, vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 396-401 Liljestrand, J., and Sambath, M. 2012. Socio-economic improvements and health system strengthening of maternity care are contributing to maternal mortality reduction in Cambodia. Reproductive Health Matters, vol. 20, no. 39, pp. 62-72 Lin, S., Chien, L., Tai, C., and Lee, C. 2007. Effectiveness of a prenatal education programme on breastfeeding outcomes in Taiwan. Journal of Clinical Nursing, vol. 17, pp. 296–303 Madhavi, L., and Singh, H. 2011. Nutritional Status of Rural Pregnant Women. People’s Journal of Scientific Research, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 20-23 Powell, J., and Hughes, C. 2012. Antenatal interventions that support obese pregnant women. British Journal of Midwifery, vol. 20, no. 5, pp. 325-331 Sercekus, P., and Mete, S. 2010. Effects of antenatal education on maternal prenatal and postpartum adaptation. Journal of Advanced Nursing, vol. 66, no. 5, pp. 999–1010 Warriner, S., Williams, M., Barcadacke, N., and Dymond, M. 2012. A mindfulness approach to antenatal preparation. British Journal of Midwifery, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 194- 198 Weiner, E., Billamay, S., Partridge, J., and Martinez, A. 2011. Antenatal education for expectant mothers results in sustained improvement in knowledge of newborn care. Journal of Perinatology, vol. 31, pp. 92-97 Read More