Have peace of mind during pregnancy

Being pregnant is said to be one of the most beautiful experiences a woman can go through. If the expectant mother takes good care of herself and unborn baby, it is bound to be a relatively complication-free pregnancy. To shed the light on pregnancy and bring about awareness relating to health, nutrition and lifestyle, Pregnancy Awareness Week is observed from February 10 until 16.
The Estcourt News spoke to Matron Wasilah Adam to find out more about what Estcourt Hospital does to promote pregnancy awareness. To observe the week, the hospital will be hosting a Health Information Talk for all mothers on Thursday. The talk, which will concentrate on the risks, education and dietary and medical requirements will be held at the High Risk Clinic, starting at 8am. Besides the birth, pre and postnatal care, Estcourt Hospital also offers other services for expectant mothers.
“We have a dedicated waiting mothers area, which is a four-bed ward. Here mothers, who are poor or cannot afford or have transport problems to get to the hospital, can stay until their delivery. This service is exclusively for mothers who live far away from hospitals,” explained Matron Adam. In addition every mother who is discharged is assigned a community caregiver who is tasked with visiting the mother and baby within six days. Their duty is to give support advice and ensure that the mother and baby are going for regular check-ups.
A provincial initiative called Mom Connect is also a revolutionary new method employed by the Health Department.
“Pregnant mothers register their pregnancy via SMS with the provincial department. The mothers then receive SMS’s with health and support messages as well as reminders for check-ups. This is a very useful tool, which is a free service that all mothers should use,” said Matron Adam. When asked what the best piece of advice to pregnant women would be, Matron Adam said women should visit a clinic as soon as they miss their first menstruation cycle.
“This way the mother can also be tested for HIV and if she is positive, she can get treatment early, which also helps the baby,” she added. Speaking about common misconceptions, Matron Adam said the use of ‘isihlambezo’, which hastens labour, must be avoided.
She explained that the potion is duplicated by sangomas and contains mercury. “In about 30 percent of the cases, the baby swallows or inhales the potion and may contract pneumonia. We have also had cases where the baby develops a blue or green hue. This is, in some cases, fatal.”
Matron Adam also says women who have been scheduled for an Elective Caesarean Section often forfeit this operation and opt to deliver naturally. “Some mothers do not understand that the size of their body would not allow a normal vaginal birth and this can lead to several complications like a ruptured uterus or a still born baby because the baby cannot negotiate its way out of the birth canal,” explained Matron Adam.
She encourages pregnant women to take their iron and folic supplements, saying that this replenishes the supply that is digested by the baby. Not taking these supplements could result in post delivery bleeding or anaemia; this too has fatal consequences. Lastly, Matron Adam encourages women diagnosed with Pregnancy Induced Hypertension to take their medication religiously. The medication should be taken at eight hourly intervals.
“Almost every mother is exposed to this and if it is not controlled, there is a high risk that the baby may develop convulsions or the mother may even lose the baby,” concluded Matron Adam. If you have any questions or queries, please contact your nearest clinic or hospital for advice.